For many..many years I have been running a dedicated HTPC for all my TV, media and gaming needs. The one box to rule them all so to speak. A central place to control and access everything. And to make it simple enough to have the WAF (for those who don't know that means Wife Acceptance Factor).

As time went on though Microsoft dropped Windows Media center, and in their absolute genius didn't add the ability to fully control windows 10 with a remote easily (yet.. I can hope). So now you would need a keyboard and mouse or something like the Lenovo remote keyboards to navigate windows. Not exactly a nice 10 foot user experience and confusing for the non techies.

I could use Plex Home Theater and bit stream TrueHD and DTS-HD to my home theater receiver. (yes I have a plex server with ripping tools... 15TB and counting lol)

I could pop a DVD or Blu-Ray in the drive and play it back.

I could play any of the games I owned.

I Can stream from any of my services (Netflix etc).

I can access pictures, music etc etc (granted though not as easily as before due to lack of good remote support)

While there isn't an app yet, I can access my DirecTV now subscription via browser.

I can access my HDHomerun and even the Hauppauge card in apps to cleanly access local TV. And more.

Anyway With my kids getting older and going off to college the HTPC is used mainly for Netflix when they are home. So I obviously wanted to find a lower power solution than a dedicated HTPC with a gaming graphics card in it. This way when I do go to sit in my living room I can do all the things I want and have been doing all along (and eventually when I get re-married and move in with the fiancee... things need to be simple)

I have been playing around with many streaming devices (I have a Roku 3, Apple TV gen 4, FireTV stick and now shield 2017)

The Roku has always had the advantage of a somewhat clean easy to use interface, but has always been limited by it's own app selection. Plex is nice but no bit streaming DTS-HD or TrueHD (at least on gen 3 last I checked). Right now no DirecTV Now but coming soon. No gaming, no working OTA except one that was ridiculous and required a lifetime subscription.

The Apple TV Gen 4 has been great but I do hate the touchpad input (although voice integration / typing is very nice). The added benefit of HDMI CEC and IR learning allows me to power the TV on and off, Control the soundbar volume etc. This device has the cleanest interface and voice integration throughout has been excellent. But it is an apple product... I'm not invested in the Apple eco system and as with all apple devices as time goes on and features come out the overall experience tends to degrade quickly forcing you to get the newest latest version usually within two years. No Game Streaming, haven't found a working HDHomerun app yet, haven't tried bitstreaming yet.

The FireTV stick has been my favorite device to date. While I do realize it is first and foremost the "Amazon" FireTV Stick I don't like how cluttered it tends to feel pushing amazon video and channels down your throat. Yes I am a prime member now (forgot to cancel the dammed trial after Christmas shopping). But that interface tends to be the most confusing out of all the devices. However it's integration with Alexa is excellent, and I can load android apps on it and it works with my DirecTVNow Subscription as opposed to other Android TV devices thusfar. But since it is the stick it has limited storage that is not expandable. I can use Moonlight also to stream games form my main gaming rig.. but since it is the stick I am limited by the wireless connection which does seem to add quite a bit of input lag at times (even with a AC1900 connection and no one else on). Supposedly I can side load a HDHomerun app for OTA. I haven't tried bit streaming yet. And hey... its CHEAP

Enter what I had hoped to be the one. The Nvidia Shield 2017. It comes with a controller, remote, voice (but due to marketing the voice should be more considered as "coming soon"), expandable storage via USB drives, it can act as a plex server if I wanted it to be one (although I need more than a few USB HDDs lol) and is also geared toward streaming games form my main gaming rig to it. It supports 4K for future expandability and most importantly now supports bit streaming of all the latest HD audio formats so when I do watch in surround I get the full experience. I can buy and use another remote if I wanted to since the included one I would go as far as saying is a bit too simple and not consistent across apps. IR learning and CEC control (still have to set this up BTW) HDHomerun works for OTA, All the apps I need are there (with the exception of DirecTV Now much like the roku... hurry up damn it!!). Gaming support is great so far. And I'm sure I will discover more things to be able to do with it (and on that note things to hate about it... I mean really... I can't change the damned background???? And why the hell did you remove the headphone port from the damned remote!!)

But I got to thinking.. one thing that could be done to really set this Shield apart and further set it as the "one box to rule them all"... DVD and Blu-ray support. Now I know what you are thinking and I'll stop you right there. Not everyone is going to have a media server. Not everyone is going to be subscribed to so many different streaming services. and internet can have outages. Disc based media may be on its way out, but many people still have movies on a disc, you can still go out and buy Blu-rays and DVDs, you can still go to a RedBox and rent a movie. Not to mention direct Blu-ray playback at higher bitrates still blow away much of this supposed 4k streaming. Yes as stated I have a Plex server with all the ripping tools.. but not everyone knows how to do that. And you shouldn't be ripping your RedBox rental or the movie your friend brought over to watch to your own server....

All we would need is a USB DVD or Blu-ray drive (which exist) and someone like cyber link or anyone to create the "App" for it with the appropriate licensed codecs / decoders. Right?

I tried to compose my thoughts here as I needed to get them out of my head ASAP.. but while not trying to sound like some paid reviewer lol.

So what are your thoughts?

I have a nvidia shield and the android tv remote app on iOS. The app works just fine except the keyboard function. Sometimes in the middle of a word - the cursor will jump back to the first character and mess it up, it always autocorrects everything to make it wrong without warning. Sometimes it doubles up letters - I've never had that happen to me before.

Is there something I'm doing wrong?

Just picked up the 2017 Sheild TV as I have been messing with many different streaming devices looking for the perfect device for my use (doesn't exist yet but I can come close).

One thing I noticed is the Google Home assistant... doesn't seem to be the google home assistant. Is this a feature that isn't officially released yet?

I ask this as I notice a lot of odd things. It doesn't function in the same way as the google home assistant so far (watching various videos on the google home device) it functions more like the OK Google on my S7 Edge.

I cant set reminders or do the goofy stuff like ask it to tell me a joke, it just comes up with search results.

The voice app doesn't work while in Netflix or amazon or plex at all.... nothing happens. I found this extremely handy on the FireTV Stick using alexa, my fiancée would ask how old an actress was or etc... I would hold the button ask my question and it would return a result. Same with AppleTV gen 4. Both also would work in most apps and continue video playback.

When I search for a movie it only shows results from Netflix or the google play store or VUDU.. it isn't working with PLEX. Same with music. Music I typically get results only form YouTube.

I thought they said the mic in the controller was going to be a near filed mic so at any point in time you could say OK Google ask and do without having to push a button or etc.

I notice a lot of times the mic on the remote wont work if I have used the controller at all. It is like it gets confused and doesn't know to use the remote mic. Sometimes if I leave it sit for 20 minutes and come back to it the mic on the remote might start working. Other times voice is picked up fine on the Mic even after I have just set the controller down.

Looking for others input and or help :)

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Android TV's built in daydream doesn't have the options for you to choose personal photos (from Google Photo). I tried another daydream app from Google Play, but the one I tried adds black bars to fill in the screen, whereas I preferred the "blurred photo" background from Chromecast.

Has anyone found an identical replacement or workaround?

Set up my new Shield last night, mounted my nas and pointed Plex at my folders there. I set the libraries to update when something is added and also have it to update hourly. Early this morning something was added to the folder but Plex didn't pick it up. I had to manually refresh library to see it. Anyone else have this issue?

I got this new TV to replace old 2016 Android TV for 4K HDR gaming and watching YouTube.

The good
Very cheap price for a 4K Android TV without having to buy a Android TV box
Shipped with Android 6.0.1 (Nougat coming soon!)
4K with HDR
The OS is really smooth

The bad
The hardware is really suck, only 2GB RAM and 8GB storage
CPU and GPU is very weak, not for hardcore gaming like Shield TV or MiBox
Android TV OS itself does not support touchscreen so most Android phone games will not work properly on TV even you have a mouse (Except few games that support DualShock to play)

Found a refurb of last gen for $160 on Amazon. Don't really need the remote, I have a harmony. Should I get it and save the $40?

I just finished setting up a replacement for my cable box. I am using a HDHomeRun Prime that is connected through Ethernet to my router. My Nexus Player is right next to my router and connected through Wireless AC. I am having really bad lag issues on HD channels with the Live Channels and HDHR View apps.

Every few minutes, it will stall or pixelate. Sometimes it will just show a few green pixels and the audio will pause.

Has anyone else had these issues? How did you fix it?

it works for a few seconds, then freezes before cycling through the screensavers quickly and then crashing. Is there a fix for this? installed on 2016 sony 4k with android tv.

I am getting the above error whenever I try and play anything with the showtime app.

I use multiple streaming services (Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Plex) does Android TVs Global search return results for many different apps? I remember there was alot of excitement when Netflix was integrated. Which ones can people confirm work?

Am I missing something here? I have a Mi Box and I want to browse the web.

What could be causing this? I use the same TV, same cable, and same port. All HDMI ports on my TV are capable of HDMI 2.0, with HDCP 2.2 compliance. I've used three Mi Boxes on this TV, and they all have their FPS capped off at 30 (and SMPTE). It's the same on my brother's TV, which is the identical model. Yet, the Mi Boxes worked fine on my father's 4K TV.

What could possibly be the problem with my TV and the Mi Box, if my television set is obviously capable of 4K at 60 FPS?

• I've tried a few other boxes, like the Roku and the Chromecast Ultra. Both output the desired 4K/60.
• TV's a Westinghouse 50" 4K, WD50UC4300

Also, I had this weird thing with Netflix. It showed 4K content once on my Mi Box (I have the $11.99 subscription to broadcast 4K), then it disappeared entirely. I returned it, bought a new one, and had the same problem. It's like it's unable to detect that my TV is capable.

Game stream seems to be a bit of struggle.. its working i can run games smoothly, but not a smooth experience when I game stream from 4k monitor capable PC to 1080p TV. Steam bigpiture resolution messes up and wont stay full screen and also some apps like transistor messes up. Game stream wont recognize those games in GFE scans.

I'll continue to check in google to fix these problems meanwhile did anyone face and managed to resolve this? My main monitor is configured to 4K and TV is at 1080p. I tried to set the Big picture interface resolution to 1080p still no luck.

Anyone else having this issue with games that worked on Gen 1? Chuck's Challenge, Chariot, Ticket to Ride all do it. Gameloft kiddo games seem to be doing it as well. I presume something to do with Android 6.0 or USB internal storage.

Edit: Factory reset without USB didn't help, so it must be the games.

I have a gen 1 shield and wanted to know what is needed to get the "always on" voice search working. I know the software update is coming... But what is needed? A new gen 2 controller or the new remote?

I have hundreds of GBs of movies in the "Movies" folder. When I go to plex, I can play any of those movies, so I know that they are there. However, when I view that folder on my mac, it says the folder size is empty and when I open the folder nothing shows up in it. Any solutions?

Anyone else having this problem? It is signed in to my account, but when I click on Library and go into Artist or Albums, it is empty.

Hello everyone, I am super excited to get a Shield TV in the very near future. I just want to get the fastest experience possible with the most space. At first, I wanted the Pro with 500GB, but after reading and hearing about other people's experience, the 16gb standard version with the external SSD like Samsung 850 EVO and it's fast. :-)

So which would be better do you guys think? I know the 2017 hasn't come out with the SSHD yet, so we have no way to compare the SSHD vs a SSD, but I have a feeling that using the SSD as the internal drive for the 16gb Shield might be faster than the Pro 500GB internal. What say you guys with the 2015 Shield Pros?

Keep in mind that it would be only $70 more to buy Shield 16gb ($200 + $170 = $370) vs Pro ($300). Your thoughts gents (and maybe ladies)?

I know there are some folks upset here with the Gen 2 16GB losing it's IR port and SD Card slot and I'm thinking of upgrading to a Pro model. So I thought I'd see if anyone here was interested in buying a Gen 1 Shield TV 16GB with a controller, a 64gb MicroSD card and I'll throw in a Logitech Harmony 650.

Since I'm using a Harmony Hub (which is why my harmony 650 is unused), I would also consider throwing in the new remote I get with my Pro model instead of the Harmony (or in addition for a small addition).

I could probably do $190 shipped in US (or local pickup in Greater Boston). I think that's a pretty fair deal since IMO the Gen 1 16gb is better than the Gen 2 16gb (once the 5.0 update hits) and this has some extras (plus no sales tax).

Anyone interested?

I'm new to Android TV but I got a free Nvidia shield tv with my new TV. So what are some sideload