NVIDIA Launches Tegra K1-Based SHIELD Tablet, Wireless Controller 42
MojoKid (1002251) writes NVIDIA just officially announced the SHIELD Tablet (powered by their Tegra K1 SoC) and SHIELD wireless controller. As the SHIELD branding implies, the new SHIELD tablet and wireless controller builds upon the previously-released, Android-based SHIELD portable to bring a gaming-oriented tablet to consumers. The SHIELD Tablet and wireless controller are somewhat of mashup of the SHIELD portable and the Tegra Note 7, but featuring updated technology and better build materials. You could think of the SHIELD Tablet and wireless controller as an upgraded SHIELD portable gaming device, with the screen de-coupled from the controller. The device features NVIDIA's Tegra K1 SoC, paired to 2GB of RAM and an 8", full-HD IPS display, with a native resolution of 1920x1200. There are also a pair of 5MP cameras on the SHIELD Tablet (front and rear), 802.11a/b/g/n 2x2 MIMO WiFi configuration, GPS, a 9-axis motion sensor, and Bluetooth 4.0 LE. In addition to the WiFi-only version (which features 16GB of internal storage), NVIDIA has a 32GB version coming with LTE connectivity as well. NVIDIA will begin taking pre-orders for the SHIELD Tablet and wireless controller immediately.
SHIELD, SHIELD, SHIELD (Score:4, Interesting)
I take it the primary function of this style was not intended to simply annoy me.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
I think it's great when they do that with a product with a long name.
Re: (Score:2)
Because NVIDIA paid to have this story put up. That's why.
Re: (Score:2)
NVIDIA likes naming their mobile stuff after comic book heroes and related paraphernalia.
Tegra 3: Kal-El
Tegra 4: Wayne
Tegra K1: Logan
2015 Tegra: Parker
SHIELD was the codename for their first handheld gaming console, and they just sort of stuck with it.
LOL ... (Score:3)
Marvel's Androids of SHIELD?
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Seriously, if nVidia and Marvel don't get on that, and kit all the characters in that not-very-good-show with SHIELD tables....
1920x1200 1920x1080 (Score:2, Funny)
Welp, gamers aren't going to want to buy this, since they think 1920x1200 is lower resolution than "full HD" 1920x1080.
Re: (Score:3)
You can't call it the 'device'. It must always be referred to as the SHIELD Tablet.
Re: (Score:2)
I vote for El SHIELD.
Re: (Score:2)
Will Scarlett Johansson break my wrist otherwise?
What's it called? (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Not if you're reading comic books. 9:16 is perfect for that.
Trojan Shield (Score:1)
nVidia (Score:3, Interesting)
I truly think that nVidia doesn't get enough credit for what they're doing here. These are essentially reference devices similar to the Nexus program that Google runs. We get to see nVidia's vision of a standard tablet with a non intrusive android skin running their shiny new SOC and at the same time they're doing it at a price point that's far from painless.
I can already do this on Android... (Score:2)
With something as simple as a USB OTG adapter and a wired Xbox controller.
Believe it or not, most modern Android games already support the Xbox controller, and if you're gaming on such a tiny screen you can believe me that the wireless controller is NOT a necessity (will be 1-2 feet away at most). You can buy a $200-ish entry-level Android tablet that can handle games just fine, and reuse the Xbox controller you undoubtedly already have. So, why would you spend $300 + $100 for the same thing with an Nvidi
Re: (Score:2)
The K1 has *vastly more GPU power* than any other ARM SoC out.
And your point is?
Games are being produced for the mainstream to high-end currently out there, so a SoC with twice the power brings nothing useful to the table. And streaming PC games requires none-of-the-above GPU power, so it's one of those questionable value cases.
Then there's also the concern about whether K1 will throttle under load, since this tablet doesn't have a fan like last year's Shield did. You'll notice that NONE of today's review
Re: (Score:2)
With something as simple as a USB OTG adapter and a wired Xbox controller.
I was under the impression that the point of handheld gaming was that the player can hold up the screen and controller at once. What contraption do you use to hold your tablet up while holding your Xbox 360 controller? Or do you instead put the tablet on a stand on a table (like with a Vectrex console) and play it that way?
and reuse the Xbox controller you undoubtedly already have
I happen to own a Wii, not an Xbox 360, and Google made changes to the Bluetooth stack between Android 4.1 and Android 4.2 that broke Wii Remote support.
Re: (Score:2)
You'll notice in the second half if my post that I called the separate controller + tablet + stand gaming method CLUMSY, and praised the original Shield for including all-in-one. This is because I also agree with you that this sort of gaming is untenable, and I actually gave up and bought a 3DS about 6 months back to get my portable gaming fix.
Touchscreens suck for gaming!
Also, you'll notice I suggested the WIRED 360 controller because it's not nearly as complicated as pairing a wireless bluetooth controll
Re: (Score:2)
nVidia SHIELD facts: great processing power! (Score:2)
According to http://techreport.com/news/268... [techreport.com] :
- It can stream games from a PC
- It has a stylus to allow handwriting recognition
- It has processing power to emulate a nintendo wii (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com] )
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Get an external hard drive, hack your Wii with the letter bomb exploit. Once it's hacked you can dump all your games to the external hard drive using Wiiflow or USB LoaderGX.
To get your Wiiware off the Wii, I think you would need to use a wad manager. At least that's how you install them...
www.gbatemp.net has better and more detailed instructions.
One step forward, 3 steps back? (Score:3)
This product is baffling. The original nVidia SHIELD's competitive advantage was the built in controller. Now they give you a tablet and a wireless controller. Just like ANY other tablet out there already. With all of the same problems. How do I play on that tablet when I'm on the train or bus with the controller? Balance the tablet on my lap? I tried that with my Nexus 7, it doesn't work worth a crap. I don't play GTA 3 on my N7, not because it can't handle the game, but because using a separate controller with the tablet is a logistical nightmare. SHIELD v1 solved that problem, and now v2 re-introduced it. I don't get it.
Re: (Score:2)
This product is baffling. The original nVidia SHIELD's competitive advantage was the built in controller. Now they give you a tablet and a wireless controller. Just like ANY other tablet out there already. With all of the same problems. How do I play on that tablet when I'm on the train or bus with the controller? Balance the tablet on my lap? I tried that with my Nexus 7, it doesn't work worth a crap. I don't play GTA 3 on my N7, not because it can't handle the game, but because using a separate controller with the tablet is a logistical nightmare. SHIELD v1 solved that problem, and now v2 re-introduced it. I don't get it.
I don't play games that I need a controller for on my tablet. Thought it would be cool, but seriously? No.
There is enough decent games that have an interface that works great with tablets. Anything else I can play on a handheld or my computer.
Use case? (Score:2)
I don't really see the need for gaming on the go, and if such a need exists, isn't it sufficiently covered by existing gadgets (smartphone or non-gaming tablet)? Furthermore, are the current tablet games worth buying hardware specifically for the job? What would be the point of Angry Birds at 120fps?
Anyway, the hardware looks cool, but the fact that no other manufacturer bothered to use the nvidia hardware is a bit disconcerting. If it were the best thing since sliced bread, many designs would have flooded
Re: (Score:2)
There are certainly tablet games that benefit from more power.
Riptide GP2, for instance, uses a lot of water and transparency effects. It's a jetski racing game. It has a Tegra 4-optimized version and also supports the Shield controller properly.
The Mass Effect shooter looks better on a Tegra device, though I doubt it'll be updated for K1. Shadowgun or its sequels might be.
Quite a few games have nVidia Tegra-specific versions, and major publishers have been backporting Shield controller support into titles.