Here are the specs from Xiaomi's website.

Basic specs

• Output Resolution: Up to 4K 60fps
• Processor: Quad-core Cortex-A53 2.0GHz
• GPU: Mali 450 750MHz
• RAM: 2GB DDR3
• Flash: 8GB eMMC
• System: Android TV 6.0
• Security: Widevine L1 + PlayReady 3.0

Wireless connectivity

• Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Dual-band Wi-Fi 2.4GHz/5GHz
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0/3.0

Video:

• VP9 Profile-2 up to 4K x 2K @ 60fps
• H.265 HEVC MP-10 at L5.1, up to 4K x 2K at 60fps
• H.264 AVC HPat L5.1, up to 4K x 2K at 30fps
• H.264 MVC, up to 1080P at 60fps
• Supports HDR10/HLG HDR processing (software upgrade required)

Sound

• DTS 2.0+ Digital Out, Dolby Digital Plus
• Up to 7.1 pass through

Ports

• HDMI: HDMI 2.0a x 1 port (HDCP 2.2)
• USB: USB 2.0 x 1 port (for storage expansion)
• AV: SPDIF Out / 3.5mm audio output x 1 port

Other specs Remote: Bluetooth voice remote control, powered by 2 AAA batteries

Included accessories: Bluetooth voice remote control, HDMI cable, user guide

Optional accessories: Mi Game Controller

I'm really wanting to know what the price is, and what it is fully capable of: IE: How does it stack against the Nvidia shield in terms of media playback (not games).

I want to see like a full complete listing or review of everything possible: file formats, audio formats (DTS HD/TrueHD), Netflix HD with surround sound, mounting/writing to external hard drives, whole whole 9 yards kind of thing.

Fingers crossed that this it the one! The shield looks good, but I'm not paying for a controller I'll never use.

Does this thing have a gigabit ethernet port or just wifi?

If just wifi this is a big pass unfortunately.