Buy an Android smartphone and you’re lucky to get a few major software updates before the manufacturer abandons your device. The NVIDIA Shield TV may be the ultimate exception.
First released in 2015, the Shield is still one of the most expensive Android TV boxes on the market, with prices starting at $179. But it’s also still one of of the most powerful. And three years later, NVIDIA just released the 20th major update for the platform.
The trend will likely continue for some time to come: NVIDIA plans to build Shield features into its upcoming Big Format Gaming Display monitors.
Here are some of the new features in the Shield Experience Upgrade 7.1:
- Support for TVs and monitors with 120 Hz refresh rates
- New shortcut to instantly put Shield to sleep with a quick Home+ Back button tap
- Firmware updates fro the Shield remote and Shield Controller accessories
- New and upgraded apps and games
- New GeForce NOW game streaming features including support for in-game chat (connect a headset to the 3.5mm jack on a Shield Controller) and keyboard and mouse improvements
- The NVIDIA Share feature is back, letting you capture screenshots, record gameplay, or stream live to Twitch.
Don’t want to connect a physical keyboard? You can also now use a smartphone app to turn your phone into a virtual keyboard and mouse for a Shield TV to enter text more quickly.
Lately I find it will wake up randomly
Been waiting for this update to fix my non responsive remote which went bad after the Oreo update. I have to 2015 model and they addressed this issue in the 2017 model I guess but my remote stays useless unless it is constantly plugged into a power source. Time to post on reddit.