The NVIDIA Shield is for us the unquestioned monarch of the Android TV world, it’s powerful, regularly updated and the only thing it’s missing is Coaxial input for broadcast TV (fingers crossed for the Gen 3). Today NVIDIA continued that trend of updating by announcing deeper integration with Google Assistant for the NVIDIA Shield.
I know what you’re thinking, didn’t it already work with the Google Assistant? Well yes it did to a degree but now those controls go just a bit further into controlling the functioning of the device, with commands for controlling everything from opening an App, to controlling the volume to launching specific content on your favourite streaming app you can now do it all via the Google Assistant in your other devices such as a Google Home.
Here’s a full list from NVIDIA of the new controls:
Basic Commands
“Turn on SHIELD”
“Turn off SHIELD”
“Open [name of app] on SHIELD”
Volume Control
“Set volume to 50% on SHIELD”
“Increase/decrease volume on SHIELD”
“Mute/unmute volume on SHIELD”
Playback Features
“Play [name of Netflix, HBO NOW, CBS, Viki, or Starz show] on SHIELD”
“Play [name of song] on [name of app] on SHIELD”
“Watch [name of channel] on YouTube TV on SHIELD”
“Play on YouTube on SHIELD”
“Pause on SHIELD”
“Play on SHIELD”
Photos and Smart Home
“Show me my pictures from Egypt on SHIELD”
“Show me my pictures from last weekend on SHIELD”
“Dim the lights”
“Set the temperature to 72 degrees”
Most of these commands work from the Google Assistant built into the Shield TV but with Assistant integration, you’ll be able to utilise them from any Assistant-enabled device.
The update has started to roll out now and NVIDIA says it will be completed within a month, however, if you own a Shield and you want the new features they recommend restarting you Shield TV and that will apparently deliver the update within 24 hours. I’ve restarted mine so I’ll see how that goes…..
Be interesting to see if support for SBS on demand, 9now, ABC iview or preferably even just Freeview FV will be added in the next update if not this one.
I wouldn’t be holding my breath, unfortunately. While we know ABC has an Android TV App (I’ve sideloaded it) The Australian Broadcast networks are just refusing to support Android TV customers. I know for my family we simply no longer watch any catch-up TV if the app isn’t on the Shield.
As for Freeview I just don’t see that coming, I do wonder if it’s a licensing issue, reading between the lies with 9 being the only major network not on Android TV in any way I wonder if they are at the center of it?