set top box

It isn't uncommon for companies, especially those with fewer resources to devote to multiple generations of products, to discontinue an old model once a new one becomes available. The common practice, however, is to make sure that the new one is really available to consumers before yanking the old one out of the picture. Whether by mistake or by design, that isn't the case of NVIDIA's new SHIELD Remote and anyone who needs to buy one will have to wait for the new Remote to start shipping in about two months' time.

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For something intended to be hidden out of sight, the NVIDIA SHIELD TV (2019) sure is a funny shape. Then again, after four years solidifying its reputation as the go-to Android TV box, perhaps NVIDIA's brand new SHIELD TV is allowed to step outside the lines a little. One thing's for sure: with a new AI-powered upscaler, lower sticker price, and brand new remote, there's more to this 2019 model than just a fresh shape.

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NVIDIA's much-loved SHIELD TV is getting an upgrade, and this time the two versions of the Android TV set-top box each pack a new, AI-powered upscaling system. For gamers and the most demanding users, there's the SHIELD TV Pro, while those who simply want a potent way to watch streaming content get the SHIELD TV (2019).

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Voice control was meant to save us from the TV remote, but even with heavy-hitters like Amazon and Apple in the living room, we're still not quite there yet. That's a problem startup Dabkick believes it can fix, with its Dabby streaming entertainment system. Pairing a flexible dedicated tablet with an unexpectedly capable AI-powered search, it promises voice access to any content you can find online - without falling foul of the media behemoths.

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TVs are getting as smart as phones these days but not everyone may want or need a full-blown smart TV. Most, however, will have some set-top boxes, media centers, consoles, and speakers around that could benefit from a single hub. That's what Caavo's Control Center offered when it launched late last year and, this year, it's opening its doors to even more feature that will make you think you already do own a smart TV.

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While connected TVs are becoming more common, there isn’t really much of a platform war going on in that space unlike, say, smartphones and smartwatches. Almost everyone has their own smart TV implementation but the quickest way for smaller players to get into the game is usually by adopting an existing one like Android TV. Long-time DVR giant TiVo promised to do just that earlier this year but it seems like its first actual Android TV product won’t debut until next month, at least based on a lone FCC filing.

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One could argue that given how few NVIDIA SHIELD units there are, it’s relatively easy for NVIDIA to update it. That said, one can also argue that given how few NVIDIA SHIELD units there are, NVIDIA could have also just as easily abandoned them in obsolescence. Fortunately, that isn’t the case and the latest SHIELD Experience 7.2 upgrade not only fixes or updates existing apps, it even brings new experiences, including Amazon Music.

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T-Mobile is working on a TV service that it plans to launch before the end of the year, at least based on comments it made back in January. The Uncarrier previously acquired Layer3 TV, helping position it to launch its own service, and now newly surfaced FCC documents indicate something big is underway.

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Comcast is developing products to target its cord-cutting customers, according to a new report. The alleged platform is intended for customers who only have a broadband Internet subscription, though it'll be an uphill battle against established competitors like Roku and Netflix. Comcast's alleged products will include a set-top box.

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Sports fans recently got access to a new service that provides games and more for a low monthly fee, cable not required. Called ESPN+, the service offers access to the network's original content, such as 30 for 30, as well as some live games from major leagues and access to events. As of today, the streaming sports platform is now available through Roku devices.

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The back and forth between Google and Amazon has become both entertaining and also frustrating for consumers. It is the common folk who get caught in between the clash of the titans and, at least for Amazon Echo Show and Fire TV users, that meant being deprived of the time-wasting joys of YouTube. While peace negotiations are supposedly on the way, hope comes from a new, outside source. Mozilla has just announced that the Firefox web browser is now available on Amazon’s Fire TV platform and, yes, it can play web videos, including YouTube.

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Amazon has begun selling the Apple TV again, ending a two year standoff between the retailer and Apple, though supplies of the set-top box are already constrained. The two companies found themselves at loggerheads in late 2015, when Amazon announced it would be pulling the Apple TV from its virtual shelves. Ironically, the reason it gave to justify the decision was quickly thrown into disarray.

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