2015-03-04, 10:53
Nvidia's official webpage for the Nvidia SHIELD Console
http://shield.nvidia.com/console
Nvidia's online shop contain more information and pictures about the Bluetooth Remote Control and Game Controller
http://shield.nvidia.com/store/remote
http://shield.nvidia.com/store/controller
Nvidia's official blog posted about "Why We’re Building SHIELD, the World’s First Android TV Console"
http://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2015/03/03/why-shield/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9Yu3u8yl9I
PC Perspective have run ICE Storm Unlimited benchmark in the SHIELD, and compared the results to the SHIELD Tablet and iPad Air 2. And together with CNX-software they provide a better hardware specification:
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Ca...mpressions
http://www.cnx-software.com/2015/03/04/n...processor/
"Nvidia has just announced SHIELD, an Android TV Game Console powered by the latest Tegra X1 SoC coupled with 3GB, 16GB flash, and which I believe to be the very first consumer ARM system with true 4K video output, decoding/encoding up to 60 fps, as well as both VP9 and H.265 codec at 4K resolution. I’m still not 100% sure gaming will be feasible at 4K resolutions.
The SHIELD will run the latest version of Android TV (Lollipop) with Google Cast support, include PLEX, support NVIDIA gaming features such as GRID, Share, and GameStream, and receive software upgrades directly from NVIDIA. The console will be sold with a SHIELD controller, and optional accessories such as a stand and a SHIELD remote.
SHIELD specifications:
Voice control of the device, either with the remote of the controller, works great thanks o the Google Now voice recognition. You can browse media, load applications, etc. and it seems genuinely useful.
You can now support up to 4 of the SHIELD Controllers at the same time, a first for a SHIELD device. Bring on those coach co-op multiplayer titles!
You'll find the new SHIELD selling in the same locations as the SHIELD Tablet, etc. Think Newegg, Amazon.com, etc.
NVIDIA told me that the device uses 2 watts when idle and 5-15 watts when active. A 2 watt idle level is high for a tablet obviously but since this is not a battery operated device, that isn't an issue. And, running a game like Doom 3 at 15 watts is pretty awesome.
NVIDIA is bringing web cam support in a future update so you can use Skype/Hangouts and your SHIELD for video calls if you want.
Twitch.tv streaming will be supported as well with the SHIELD. You'll need that web cam update to get your ugly mug included in the mix though.
The hardware looks good and the green glow gives the design an edge. Hopefully NVIDIA will offer a setting to disable that green light though for users that are sensitive to it.
Doom 3 played very well as a native OpenGL application and though I couldn't get hands-on, Crysis 3 lookd equally good. We are still concerned about developers drive to get games running on high-end Android consoles like this on their own, without work from NVIDIA, as that is what will be required to make that work in the long run.
http://shield.nvidia.com/console
Nvidia's online shop contain more information and pictures about the Bluetooth Remote Control and Game Controller
http://shield.nvidia.com/store/remote
http://shield.nvidia.com/store/controller
Nvidia's official blog posted about "Why We’re Building SHIELD, the World’s First Android TV Console"
http://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2015/03/03/why-shield/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9Yu3u8yl9I
PC Perspective have run ICE Storm Unlimited benchmark in the SHIELD, and compared the results to the SHIELD Tablet and iPad Air 2. And together with CNX-software they provide a better hardware specification:
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Ca...mpressions
http://www.cnx-software.com/2015/03/04/n...processor/
"Nvidia has just announced SHIELD, an Android TV Game Console powered by the latest Tegra X1 SoC coupled with 3GB, 16GB flash, and which I believe to be the very first consumer ARM system with true 4K video output, decoding/encoding up to 60 fps, as well as both VP9 and H.265 codec at 4K resolution. I’m still not 100% sure gaming will be feasible at 4K resolutions.
The SHIELD will run the latest version of Android TV (Lollipop) with Google Cast support, include PLEX, support NVIDIA gaming features such as GRID, Share, and GameStream, and receive software upgrades directly from NVIDIA. The console will be sold with a SHIELD controller, and optional accessories such as a stand and a SHIELD remote.
SHIELD specifications:
- SoC – NVIDIA Tegra X1 octa-core processor with 4x Cortex A57 cores, 4x Cortex A53 cores, and a 256-core Maxwell GPU
- System Memory – 3GB RAM
- Storage – 16 GB + MicroSD slot
- Video - HDMI 2.0 output up to 4K @ 60 Hz (with HDMI-CEC support)
- Video - 4K playback and capture up to 60 fps (VP9, H265, H264)
- Audio - 7.1 and 5.1 surround sound pass through over HDMI,
- Audio - High-resolution audio playback up to 24-bit/192 kHz over HDMI and USB
- Audio - High-resolution audio up-sample to 24-bit/192 kHz over USB
- Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac 2×2 MIMO 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1/BLE
- Connectivity – USB – 2x USB 3.0 (Type A) + 1x micro-USB 2.0 port
- Bluetooth Remote Control with Microphone for voice search and a Headset Jack for private listening
- Misc – IR Receiver (compatible with Logitech Harmony)
- Power Supply – 40 W power adapter
- Dimensions – 210 x 130 x 25 mm
- Weight – 654 g
Voice control of the device, either with the remote of the controller, works great thanks o the Google Now voice recognition. You can browse media, load applications, etc. and it seems genuinely useful.
You can now support up to 4 of the SHIELD Controllers at the same time, a first for a SHIELD device. Bring on those coach co-op multiplayer titles!
You'll find the new SHIELD selling in the same locations as the SHIELD Tablet, etc. Think Newegg, Amazon.com, etc.
NVIDIA told me that the device uses 2 watts when idle and 5-15 watts when active. A 2 watt idle level is high for a tablet obviously but since this is not a battery operated device, that isn't an issue. And, running a game like Doom 3 at 15 watts is pretty awesome.
NVIDIA is bringing web cam support in a future update so you can use Skype/Hangouts and your SHIELD for video calls if you want.
Twitch.tv streaming will be supported as well with the SHIELD. You'll need that web cam update to get your ugly mug included in the mix though.
The hardware looks good and the green glow gives the design an edge. Hopefully NVIDIA will offer a setting to disable that green light though for users that are sensitive to it.
Doom 3 played very well as a native OpenGL application and though I couldn't get hands-on, Crysis 3 lookd equally good. We are still concerned about developers drive to get games running on high-end Android consoles like this on their own, without work from NVIDIA, as that is what will be required to make that work in the long run.
- 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited
Overall Score:
SHIELD (Tegra X1): 42,406 (+42%)
SHIELD Tablet (Tegra K1): 29,668
iPad Air 2 (Apple A8X): 21,541
Graphics Score:
SHIELD (Tegra X1): 56,179 (+47%)
SHIELD Tablet (Tegra K1): 37,983
iPad Air 2 (Apple A8X): 31,419
Physics Score:
SHIELD (Tegra X1): 22,823 (+15%)
SHIELD Tablet (Tegra K1): 19,837
iPad Air 2 (Apple A8X): 10,256
