I currently have a MINIX X8H that has gotten very slow and on its last legs. I mainly use it to play Anime files (10 bit H264, which it struggles with) off a USB or stream shows through websites using the Chrome browser. I am looking to purchase the Nvidia Shield TV. Would it be able to do streaming through a web browser? Are there any other alternatives to the MINIX box?
The Shield has the most powerful SoC out of any streaming device. It can do everything: H265, 4K, HDR.
As far as using a web browser, you can do it using the gamepad but it's not what I would call a "good" experience for the same reason I don't browse the web on a game console. I usually just hop on my laptop and cast the tab to my TV if I have to do something like sports streams. And I'd recommend using Kodi/SPMC or Plex for local files being read off a USB drive. Better yet, have a PC act as a Plex server and stop shuffling files back and forth via a flash drive.
I bought one recently from the sales.. Definitely will agree that it is one of the best boxes on the market.. It is so versatile and does alot more than what I expected.
Cant go wrong with it as there are alot of support for it too in the community!
I got rid of my chromecast since shield has built in chromecast and I can cast from my google home too. It is the best period, fast and smooth. Yes, you can just sideload the latest firefox apk on to the shield, I have ublock origin with it.
You can browse the web and stream from sites using the Puffin browser, but IMHO, it's a far better experience to use the built-in Chromecast and simply cast whatever site you're streaming to it. As for playing off your USB, it can definitely handle that, and will do far better than your Minix box. You can even use the built-in Plex Media Server to serve those files to your other devices, at home or (with a MyPlex account) on the road.
Yes it has chromecast built in so you can cast from chrome there may be alternatives but the shield is the best android based streaming device period