![]() In other words, it's a subtle difference and won't work miracles. I also noticed some moire in the YouTube clip, but the AI engine didn't clean this up or deal with any other video artifacts like compression. These differences were apparent from a normal 6-foot seating distance, while smaller improvements such as facial detail were only visible from a distance of a couple of feet in its default Medium setting. On a Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon clip, for example, the building backdrop and microphone were enhanced and the screen made more HDR-like with the AI settings enabled. The effects of AI upscaling were more or less noticeable depending on the content, and I found it worked best on YouTube clips. HDR content from Netflix ( Lost in Space) and Disney Plus ( The Mandalorian) looked as impressive as I expected. I also checked out the image quality of the various apps, with particular attention on Nvidia's AI upscaling feature. For instance, most apps have a search box but they don't automatically correspond with voice commands initiated via the handset - if you press the mic, the icon still appears as a separate search in the bottom of the screen. The interface performs in a similar way to other streamers, even if the voice search doesn't always integrate as well as it should. As expected from a Google device, the Shield was able to load YouTube in a very quick 5.7 seconds, but its Netflix load time was one of the slowest I've seen in a dedicated streamer. To test load times properly I opened a different program between each of the three different timing runs. When testing Netflix, for example, if I closed and opened it again, it loaded straight away. ![]() Like a lot of recent streaming boxes, the Shield TV keeps recently used apps in its buffer memory, so if you only use one streaming service, you'll find that it loads almost instantaneously each time. It may not be the most taxing game out there, but the controls, using an Xbox One joypad, were responsive and I never experienced any gameplay lag. ![]() Once I finally managed to find one that was streaming - Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed - I found that the system functioned as if I were a playing local game. But when I finally got it working, the first thing it did was suggest I play Steam games!Įven if the game was listed as a GeForce Now title, the shortcuts kept directing me to the Steam store to buy it. I spent some time setting up both Gamestream and GeForce Now and found them much less user friendly than Steam Link - for instance, I experienced numerous system time-outs and had to make multiple attempts at creating user accounts - despite using a wired connection. I still use the Steam Link box to stream games from my PC and so was looking forward to seeing the corresponding Nvidia solution: an app running on the Shield. Then there's the Steam Link app, which doesn't require an Nvidia graphics card. The Shield includes the beta GeForce Now app for streaming cloud games (also available on mobile devices, PCs or Macs) and the GameStream app for streaming from a Nvidia-toting gaming PC. One annoyance of previous Google interfaces - having to leave an app to adjust settings - is avoided on the Shield TV with the dedicated settings button and sidebar. The interface boasts an attractive high-contrast look, and with some tweaking is easy to navigate. The MIA list still includes AT&T TV Now, Nick Jr., USA Now and Napster, however. Back when we reviewed the 2017 Shield there were quite a few apps missing, but this has since been addressed with big ones like NHL, NBC and Amazon Music now available. For instance, if I asked for "Steam" - which most gamers would as users of this device - each and every time the Shield heard me say "theme." Also, my request for the other Nvidia feature "Gamestream" was hilariously misheard as "famous train." Android TV: Google's best TV menus yetĪndroid TV may not be at the top of mind for people who don't own a recent Sony TV, for example, but the system offers almost every app available, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Spotify and Disney Plus. Having tested and used Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa devices for several years now I'm used to voice assistants getting things wrong, but sadly the tiny mic on the Shield TV remote is one of the worst yet. If you have an older Shield, you can add the new remote for an extra $30. It's a Bluetooth device and also comes with a remote finder (though it's menu-based and not a physical button like on the Roku Ultra remote). The button array now includes dedicated volume, settings and Netflix shortcuts. While on paper this sounds pretty terrible, it's actually quite comfortable to hold. The remote that comes in the package is completely rebuilt from before and features a new, Toblerone-like triangular shape. ![]()
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