If there is a new unit this year, my bet is that it won't be a performance boost. They might simply be retooling the box to be cheaper to produce, plus maybe some semi-minor additions (maybe esata for those who don't buy the Pro, since the SATA ability is still there on the board?).
If their SoC is ready, then they might include that just to show it off, even though they don't need a performance boost. I just think it's more likely that they'll wait till at least 2017 for that. Maybe.
I hope Nvidia has finally secured a deal with Amazon to include the Android TV version of the Amazon Video app on the Shield TV. Until now, it's been exclusive to Sony TVs running Android TV. Maybe they'll use the rollout of the updated Shield TV to announce the new app (and hopefully also roll it out to first-gen units).
This needs to hit with Android TV 7.0 (Nougat) pre-installed to make the biggest possible splash. It would also be great if Nvidia has been working with someone (maybe Silicon Dust) to ensure that there's a final (not beta) OTA DVR solution ready to work with it. The Shield Android TV is emerging as the "one box" that can do it all: streaming, gaming, Plex Media Server. It needs to add OTA DVR, hopefully via the native Android TV Live Channels UI, to that list.
Damn. Not sure what to do now. Cancel my Shield TV order and wait for this one or not..
Not to brag too much but I called it 3 days ago.
Let's hope they got a deal with Amazon and Now TV
My dream is that Google and Nvidia have been working together for a couple months to retool the Shield as a mainstream console. It blows my mind that Google hasn't courted AAA game devs to develop for an Android console. If they put out a Shield that at least natively matched XB1/PS4 specs, had a decent launch library and sold it for $199, they would do great during the holidays.
Also would be nice if Google Voice search worked more than 20% of them time...
I don't like this purely from a point of time standpoint. They should wait for the finalization of the HDMI 2.1 spec with dynamic metadata and the Shield TV 2.0 should also have HLG and maybe even Dolby Vision support. Also Android 7.0 should be preinstalled.
Fuck me
The only improvement over the current shield tv would be a tv tuner, then id have no reason to ever leave androidTV