so i wanna cut the cable , i can typically stream any show but i would like to have reliable Sports,PPV and shows HD with like a tv guide kind of setup so its basically like using cable ... ive read the Nvidia shield is by far the best android box ( more pricey of course) before buying id like to know it works for all the things i need....
also would i need to get somebody to program this for me once i bought the box???? my friend was saying he pays somebody $100 a year to program his box
You can hire someone to “program” your shield or you can spend a half hour on YouTube and research it. It’s not rocket surgery to add apps to an android tv box.
I use my shield for everything.
I cut my chord over two years ago and it works perfectly. If you want IPTV you have two options. Legally or illegally. Obviously legally is more expensive. You can do it all yourself with a little research. (Both methods)
One thing to be very aware of though, your download data will be significant. I use close to 2tb if data per month just from streaming everything (IPTV, Plex,Kodi,Netflix)
I've had a shield for a couple of years now. You can do many things with it but you can also keep it simple. If are looking at using a T.V guide experience you can simply download the app that will do that for you. Some are free some cost money.
I use Sling for 35 dollars a month and it's just like your normal T.V experience. (including DVR). They have custom channels you can add including sports. (5 bucks) I also have Youtube T.V (30 dollars /month)which is pretty much the same experience. (Probably will cancel that one after I get a digital antenna for local T.V)
There is Tubi T.V and Pluto that are available in the app store and are free. This also work like your normal T.V guide experience. (I've tried Pluto works fine).
All this is basic and easy to set up. (You could look up sling on Youtube and see if that's the way you want to go, same goes for the other apps)
After that of-course there is a ton more you can install/use. Youtube, Netflix, Hulu, HBO. ESPN, Amazon prime, etc. they all have their own app and it's just simply a matter of installing it and setting it up.
No need to pay anybody money for this.
If you are looking for more free content you can install Kodi Or Kodi builds that will preform like custom standalone apps for movies, sport, T.V. series and live T.V.
(for some weird reason I am liking live Australian T.V at the moment). (do get a VPN but again it's just a matter of picking the VPN app you like and installing it).
The shield can do it all (including gaming ofcourse) and you can find tutorials on the more complicated stuff on Youtube.
Now, I am not an expert on the shield. Most of the time I simply want to watch T.V and not get too involved. I feel like I am still only scratching the service on it's capability. I do have a technical background but most people will be able to figure it out. For everything else there is youtube.
Me and my wife have been happy with the switch. We do safe money although we have added some services back in like Sling, YouTube TV HBO now and Netflix. that adds up again to about 75 bucks a month.
Bottom line is that it's up to you how complicated or simple, how cheap Or expensive you want to make it.