Nvidia Adding Google Assistant, Hands-Free Voice Control to Shield Android TV
LAS VEGAS-Nvidia is refreshing its Android TV-based Shield microconsole and media streamer with some handy new features for 2017. The company showed off the newest version of the Shield Android TV at CES, where we got a good look at the device.
The Shield itself is slightly smaller than its predecessor, while keeping the same signature Nvidia aesthetic. The included gamepad is sleeker, lighter, and also more angular than the original Shield controller, with a polygonal grip that feels unique but comfortable. It features a hands-free microphone, which lets the Shield work as a voice assistant even when you aren't holding it. The Shield also comes with a separate remote control for using the device as a media streamer; the previous model only came with a gamepad, and the wand-shaped remote was a $50 optional accessory.
Google Assistant is the biggest addition. Google's voice assistant will be added to the Shield in the coming months, bringing a slew of features like voice commands for smart home control and media searches. The hands-free mic in the Shield's new gamepad will let users access Google Assistant without touching anything. Google Assistant will have the same features we've seen in its implementations in Google Home and the Google Pixel, and an optional Samsung-built USB dongle will let the Shield function as a SmartThings Hub for home automation.
Users will be able to expand their Shield to become a whole-home voice assistant with Nvidia Spot, a networked device that plugs into wall outlets to provide Google Assistant features to other rooms of the house. The plug-in microphone taps into the Shield over your home network, letting you use it to control your SmartThings, ZigBee, and other home automation devices anywhere.
From a processing standpoint, the new Shield is identical to last year's model, with a Tegra X1 processor that remains one of the more powerful APUs available for mobile devices and microconsoles. The original Shield Android TV stood out as the first media streamer capable of displaying 4K content, so it wasn't lacking for multimedia power. Nvidia has been using that power to add high dynamic range (HDR) support to a variety of apps and services like Amazon and Netflix.
While the Shield itself isn't any more powerful, Nvidia has been upgrading its streaming GeForce Now game service to add a performance boost to at least some gaming on the Shield. Nvidia upgraded its GeForce Now cloud processing systems with Pascal architecture, which the company claims quadruples streaming game performance. GeForce Now can stream games in 1080p at 60 frames per second (though, like all streaming services, actual results depend on your bandwidth and network speed).
Ubisoft is joining Nvidia to improve its GeForce Now selections. Currently, GeForce Now is a $7.99 monthly subscription service that provides access to a library of over 100 PC games, run on Nvidia's cloud servers and streamed on the Shield. Ubisoft is integrating GeForce Now into its UPlay game store, adding all Ubisoft games available on the service to GeForce Now. These UPlay games aren't included in the GeForce Now subscription and must be purchased individually like PC games, but PC users who own any of those games will get access to them over GeForce Now as well, with support for cloud saves. UPlay games on GeForce Now will still require a subscription with Nvidia's service, after purchase.
Local game streaming using Nvidia GameStream also gets an upgrade. If your GeForce-powered PC can handle it, you can stream PC games in 4K with HDR support to your TV with the Shield. We tried out Titanfall 2 over GameStream, and it was surprisingly sharp and responsive over the network Nvidia set up for the demo.
Because the new Shield doesn't have any more processing power from the old Shield, owners of the original Shield Android TV will be able to take advantage of the new features in the future. That includes both Android N updates and Google Assistant, though hands-free voice control will require the new $60 gamepad; the original Shield Wireless Controller lacks the hands-free-capable microphone.
The new Nvidia Shield is currently available for preorder for $199.99 with 16GB of onboard storage, or $299.99 as the Shield Pro version with 500GB of storage. It will begin shipping later this month. Google Assistant will be added later this year, around which time the Nvidia Spot will start shipping as well.
This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.