Nvidia Defend is the AV nerds’ finest various to Apple TV

Relating to streaming gadgets, most individuals go for recognized entities just like the Apple TV 4K, the Roku Ultra, or the Amazon Fire TV Stick. However for the audio-video nerds on the market trying to take their streaming expertise to the subsequent stage, there’s one other nice system to think about: the Nvidia Shield TV Pro.

Nvidia, finest recognized for its high-end graphics processors, debuted the primary Defend TV again in Could 2015. It targeted on downloading and streaming video games from appropriate PCs on the identical community, and a Professional mannequin was even launched in 2017. Then, the system received an enormous refresh in 2019 with upgraded processors and a brand new cylindrical kind issue for the non-Professional mannequin.

Since then, the Nvidia Shield TV Pro has been the go-to system for individuals trying to stream content material in nearly any format possible, with a big quantity of person management over the system, nice options for streaming content material saved on native networks, and the flexibility to play high-quality video games from a PC.

Associated

Nvidia Shield TV update kills off one feature but simplifies the experience

Nvidia has pushed an replace to its Defend TV gadgets that lastly ditches Gamestream in favour of GeForce Now.

Highly effective specs

A system to satisfy everybody’s wants

Regardless of debuting in 2019, the Nvidia Shield TV Pro is still a powerful device. It options the Nvidia Tegra X1+ processor, with a 256-core GPU and 3GB RAM. It has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, in addition to an HDMI 2.0 port that’s HDCP 2.2 compliant. It additionally has 16GB onboard storage, which is a bit on the small finish, however customers can improve the storage utilizing a USB stick or exterior arduous drive utilizing one of many Defend’s two USB 3.0 ports.

Powered by Android 11.0 with Android TV and built-in Chromecast, the Nvidia Defend TV Professional helps all kinds of video and audio codecs. It’s 4K HDR prepared, with assist for HDR10 and Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR, and natively performs MKV, MP4, MOV, WEB-M, and a wide range of different frequent video information. The audio facet is the place the Defend shines much more, supporting lossless Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos, in addition to DTS-X pass-through, and a wide selection of lossless and compressed audio information.

Moreover, the Defend has Google Assistant built-in, and is appropriate with Amazon’s Alexa, for customers on the lookout for hands-free management of the system. The system is bundled with plenty of streaming apps, together with Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, and extra. Plus, customers can obtain further apps from the Google Play Retailer.

Associated

Latest Nvidia Shield update adds Android 11 and other new tricks

The Nvidia Defend is getting a brand new “Defend Software program Expertise Improve 9.0” that provides Android 11 and a slew of different options.

Gaming goodness

Stream all one of the best video games

Xbox

Together with streaming films and TV, the Nvidia Defend TV Professional is nice for avid gamers trying to convey the PC expertise to their televisions. Because of Nvidia GeForce NOW assist, customers can stream video games they already personal proper from the cloud.

Join a wi-fi recreation controller utilizing Bluetooth, and the Defend will provide the video games in high-resolution, turning the Defend right into a surprisingly nice various to a dearer standalone console.

Associated

Nvidia Shield TV getting major Google TV-style overhaul

Nvidia is rolling out a system replace for Defend TV that overhauls the person interface to be rather more just like the Chromecast with Google TV expertise.

The house server life

Streaming a private library

Because of its vast, native assist for a wide range of video and audio codecs, the Nvidia Defend TV Professional can be the right system for individuals who have a big library of video and audio content material saved regionally. Blu-ray collectors who rip their discs to a hard-drive, for instance, can simply stream their information from an area server on the community on to the Defend, with no worries about codecs being unsupported.

Associated

Nvidia Shield gains Apple TV app with 4K and Dolby Atmos support

For these of you who nonetheless use Nvidia’s Defend, it’s possible you’ll be completely happy to know the platform simply gained a well-liked app: The Apple TV app.

It is an all-purpose streamer

Give it an opportunity — you will not remorse it

Nvidia

Although there are newer streaming gadgets in the marketplace, and extra in style ones, the Nvidia Defend TV Professional is a powerful contender for one of the best streaming field accessible.

It helps nearly each format below the solar, is very customizable because of its Android-based working system, and is nice for gaming. It is particularly value contemplating for anyone with an enormous native server full of flicks and TV reveals they’re trying to stream to their TV on the highest attainable high quality.

Associated

Nvidia Shield TV update 8.2.2 adds Xbox Series X and PS5 DualSense controller support

Nvidia has pushed a system software program replace for the Defend TV that provides next-gen controller assist.