Apple TV vs Nvidia Shield (and where to buy Shield)

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Apple TV vs Nvidia Shield (and where to buy Shield)

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#2861636 4-Feb-2022 11:18

As an alternative idea, I recently purchased a Chromecast with TV (the new one with remote) and its great. It has all the Apps in one place. It searches all services for content. I can talk to it, ask it to turn on/off, find something..... all for $127

Paul1977

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#2861640 4-Feb-2022 11:20

Thanks guys, I know it's not Nvidias fault per se but still annoying. I've read some differing info about Pi-Hole, some saying it doesn't work and some saying it works to block the ads on the launcher with the right config. I guess I'll find out, and will report back if I find a reliable method of stopping them once my new toy arrives.

gehenna

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#2861641 4-Feb-2022 11:21

@MikeB4 Chromecast TV also runs Google TV, so the software is the same as are the things that frustrate some.

plas

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#2861643 4-Feb-2022 11:25

rb99:

As you say, some people don't mind the ads. I don't mind them (which is really unusual for me), reckon they brighten up otherwise dull rows of thumbs on the home screen.

Edit - If they were ads for washing machine powder, it'd be a different story...

I don't mind them either, TBH they are kind of handy for letting me know of new shows to watch.

Also with the Shield you can sideload apps like smarttubenext etc. Also find the Live TV app useful with TVIRL, saves having to use each networks individual stream apps for broadcast tv.

rb99

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#2861645 4-Feb-2022 11:27

Paul1977:

Thanks guys, I know it's not Nvidias fault per se but still annoying. I've read some differing info about Pi-Hole, some saying it doesn't work and some saying it works to block the ads on the launcher with the right config. I guess I'll find out, and will report back if I find a reliable method of stopping them once my new toy arrives.

btw, did you ask on the Emby forum about broken thingies ? worth a try if you didn't, and if you did, hmmm...

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

MikeB4

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#2861646 4-Feb-2022 11:27

gehenna:

@MikeB4 Chromecast TV also runs Google TV, so the software is the same as are the things that frustrate some.

I know. Compared to the mess the OS on our not so old LG TV is the Google TV is a breath of fresh air. Google TV may not be for everyone but its a good alternative and cheap as chips

Paul1977

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#2861651 4-Feb-2022 11:38

MikeB4:

As an alternative idea, I recently purchased a Chromecast with TV (the new one with remote) and its great. It has all the Apps in one place. It searches all services for content. I can talk to it, ask it to turn on/off, find something..... all for $127

I hadn't even realized this existed. Nice looking little device, but it's wifi only which I'd want to avoid and for the price I have to assume it must be lower spec hardware etc. From what I'm reading it's good for those who don't have local media servers, but sounds like the Shield will be better for my needs. The ChromeCast with Google TV does look like one I could recommend to family though.

JB HiFi has them for $99 ATM if anyone was on the market.

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Talkiet

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#2861654 4-Feb-2022 11:42

Don't get the Shield (tube version)... Despite theoretically being on par with the Pro for media playback it's not able to reliably play back 4k content through Kodi - especially higher bitrate stuff. Lots of complaints about it and I have 2 of them here and both exhibit the problem (stuttering, pauses etc). It's not my network - it _is_ the Shield's fault. (Netflix and Youtube 4k are fine)

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Paul1977

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#2861656 4-Feb-2022 11:45

rb99:

btw, did you ask on the Emby forum about broken thingies ? worth a try if you didn't, and if you did, hmmm...

Not this time. I'd had some interactions with the developers a while back, and while always responsive, it was clear that LG OS was never going to be a priority for them so I didn't bother this time. I'm sure someone else will have.

Paul1977

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#2861666 4-Feb-2022 11:50

Talkiet:

Don't get the Shield (tube version)... Despite theoretically being on par with the Pro for media playback it's not able to reliably play back 4k content through Kodi - especially higher bitrate stuff. Lots of complaints about it and I have 2 of them here and both exhibit the problem (stuttering, pauses etc). It's not my network - it _is_ the Shield's fault. (Netflix and Youtube 4k are fine)

Cheers - N

You know me, I don't buy second best!

rb99

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#2861669 4-Feb-2022 11:52

Paul1977:

rb99:

btw, did you ask on the Emby forum about broken thingies ? worth a try if you didn't, and if you did, hmmm...

Not this time. I'd had some interactions with the developers a while back, and while always responsive, it was clear that LG OS was never going to be a priority for them so I didn't bother this time. I'm sure someone else will have.

Oh well, fair enough.

Well probably not fair enough really, no excuses.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

Paul1977

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#2861672 4-Feb-2022 11:53

MikeB4:

I know. Compared to the mess the OS on our not so old LG TV is the Google TV is a breath of fresh air. Google TV may not be for everyone but its a good alternative and cheap as chips

What model is your LG? Our C8 is a few years old now and I still find it pretty good. If I was only streaming NZ based content I'd still be perfectly happy with the TVs OS and (most) built-in apps.

Senecio

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#2861686 4-Feb-2022 12:18

Regarding the adds on Google TV. I haven't tried this myself but I hear a lot of people are using custom launchers to go back to an add free UI.

Does anyone here have any experience using a custom launcher?

jonathan18

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#2861729 4-Feb-2022 13:49

Paul1977:

I hadn't even realized this existed. Nice looking little device, but it's wifi only which I'd want to avoid and for the price I have to assume it must be lower spec hardware etc. From what I'm reading it's good for those who don't have local media servers, but sounds like the Shield will be better for my needs. The ChromeCast with Google TV does look like one I could recommend to family though.

JB HiFi has them for $99 ATM if anyone was on the market.

While I'm not going to try to convert you to a GCCWGTV (doesn't that just roll of the tongue?!), a couple of points -

While it doesn't have an Ethernet port, many (including a number on GZ) use a USB adapter to provide this; I did this with my last GCC but haven't bothered with my GCCWGTV and its wireless performance has been fine.
I run Plex on mine, and it works fine playing content off the NAS; also have VLC for the few files Plex hasn't liked.

Not that I'm saying it's a perfect product - it has had problems with judder on Google Play movies (seems to be sorted now?) and the YT app didn't allow account switching (also now sorted) - but for the price it's pretty damn good.

MikeB4

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#2861750 4-Feb-2022 14:22

Paul1977:
MikeB4:

I know. Compared to the mess the OS on our not so old LG TV is the Google TV is a breath of fresh air. Google TV may not be for everyone but its a good alternative and cheap as chips

What model is your LG? Our C8 is a few years old now and I still find it pretty good. If I was only streaming NZ based content I'd still be perfectly happy with the TVs OS and (most) built-in apps.

Not sure it’s getting old we purchased it in mid 2018. It’s up for replacement this year. The numbers of 65SJ8…… rings a bell.

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