Nvidia Shield Tablet

[Ravynmagi]

Did it say somewhere that it's being sold through the carriers? That would surprise me. On Nvidia's website it just says it'll be unlocked and compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile in the US.

 

[Eymar]

I was tempted to by the Galaxy Tab S 8.4. I'd love to have an AMOLED display on my tablet, that is a big selling feature for that tablet to me. Unfortunately I held back because of the Exynos 5 processor is not impressive with graphics.

Now if I was buying an 8 inch tablet, it would very likely be the Shield Tablet. Though one reservation I have is it's size and weight. It's about 25% heavier than a Tab S 8.4, also taller, wider, and thicker while having a smaller 8.0 inch display.

Smart choice not to get the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 if you will use it for any kind of 3D gaming. I have the Tab Pro 8.4 and Tab S 10.5 and performance in 3d racing games like Riptide, Real Racing is night and day difference in favor of the pro. Tab S 10.5 as media consumption device, really haven't had any complaints especially with the really nice AMOLED (really notice the better contrast and feels like there isnt any glass if that makes any sense).

Perfect tablet for me would be Tab S 8.4(it is noticeably lighter than Pro 8.4) with TK1 and at least 32GB.

 

[rushmore]

Did it say somewhere that it's being sold through the carriers? That would surprise me. On Nvidia's website it just says it'll be unlocked and compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile in the US.

What other tablet has been released in the US, sans carrier bloat when has data radios? Not being rhetorical, but asking a question.

 

[ams23]

Given that previous NVIDIA devices have had virtually no software bloat (so-to-speak), I cannot imagine that the LTE+WiFi variant would be filled with any bloat. As far as I can tell, this tablet is not being sold nor marketed through any specific wireless service providers (note that the Icera i500 modem has already been certified on AT&T / T-Mobile wireless networks).

This is what the press release said about distribution:

Preorders in the United States are available at shield.nvidia.com, Amazon, Best Buy, Fry’s Electronics, GameStop, Micro Center, Newegg and Tiger Direct, and in Canada at Canada Computers, Memory Express, NCIX and ThinkGeek.

 

[Ravynmagi]

What other tablet has been released in the US, sans carrier bloat when has data radios? Not being rhetorical, but asking a question.

Nexus 7 and Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 are a couple of unlocked LTE tablets that are currently available.

And since Nvidia really doesn't have a direct relationship with carriers, I think there would be a lot of hoops to go through to sell a device through the carriers, certification of hardware, creating additional SKUs for each carrier, branding, an additional layer of software, more QA testing of the carrier changes. It's one thing for Samsung, HTC, and phone manufactures to do this, they already have a well established process for releasing hardware through carriers. Nvidia has never done this and it seems like a lot of trouble just for one device. They are certainly skipping that and selling it directly to normal retailers.

At least I hope. There doesn't seem to be an ETA on the LTE model, hopefully that isn't because they are doing exactly what I fear.

 

[ams23]

So what do you guys think about the front-firing speakers? To be honest, I have mixed feelings about it. I realize that front-firing speakers will give louder and clearer sound (higher direct-to-reflected sound ratio, stereo speakers, lower distortion, yadda yadda). But I really would prefer a cleaner look on the front of a tablet (and I don't think most people care too much about pristine sound quality on a tablet), so for industrial design sake, I would rather have the speakers placed somewhere else other than the front. This is not a deal breaker for me, because I know there are some nice sonic benefits to having front-firing speakers, but I do believe that most people would prefer the cleanest industrial design possible even if it is at the detriment of sound quality. Perhaps the motivation for NVIDIA to do front-firing speakers on their tablet (other than the sound quality benefits) is because their partners will already be covering a more typical clean front face with speakers placed away from the front of the tablet.

 

[rushmore]

I like the FF speakers. Kind of reminds me of a giant M8, but less overall bezel ratio.

 

[tviceman]

So what do you guys think about the front-firing speakers? To be honest, I have mixed feelings about it. I realize that front-firing speakers will give louder and clearer sound (higher direct-to-reflected sound ratio, stereo speakers, lower distortion, yadda yadda). But I really would prefer a cleaner look on the front of a tablet (and I don't think most people care too much about pristine sound quality on a tablet), so for industrial design sake, I would rather have the speakers placed somewhere else other than the front. This is not a deal breaker for me, because I know there are some nice sonic benefits to having front-firing speakers, but I do believe that most people would prefer the cleanest industrial design possible even if it is at the detriment of sound quality. Perhaps the motivation for NVIDIA to do front-firing speakers on their tablet (other than the sound quality benefits) is because their partners will already be covering a more typical clean front face with speakers placed away from the front of the tablet.

That is a tough choice. On a general purpose use tablet, I'd probably want front facing speakers for watching video (if my kids are watching, for instance, I don't want them needing to use headphones unless we're in public). On a gaming tablet, though, I think I'd probably be using headphones all the time, so the speaker quality and ouput would be of little consequence to me, therefore I'd probably opt to have crappy speakers that face whichever direction can whittle the size of the tablet down.

 

[Phobic9]

I do like having both iOS and Android platforms though so I'll probably dump my Moto X for the iPhone 6 when that's available. I'm also strongly considering swapping my iPad mini for this tablet. I mostly use my iPad for some websurfing, light tablet gaming (mostly FTL away from home) and watching some Twitch streams using an AppleTV to watch on my TV in bed. Chromecast should be able to emulate this for the most part, right?

For web consumption, I'm hoping the Shield should do just fine. This will be my first Android tablet (I've used phones for years) so I guess I'm a bit skeptical for whatever reason.

 

[Commodus]

I do like having both iOS and Android platforms though so I'll probably dump my Moto X for the iPhone 6 when that's available. I'm also strongly considering swapping my iPad mini for this tablet. I mostly use my iPad for some websurfing, light tablet gaming (mostly FTL away from home) and watching some Twitch streams using an AppleTV to watch on my TV in bed. Chromecast should be able to emulate this for the most part, right?

For web consumption, I'm hoping the Shield should do just fine. This will be my first Android tablet (I've used phones for years) so I guess I'm a bit skeptical for whatever reason.

Historically, Android has been weakest on tablets. Developers still seem to be reluctant to optimize apps for the screen area, and features like widgets aren't as useful on a tablet by its nature (you don't usually need quick-glance info when you're curling up on the couch).

Yep, Chromecast would help fill some of the gaps, and the Tegra K1 may draw in some developers with high-end titles... but I'm not sure you'd really get a better experience, just a different experience. I'd see if you can hold off until October and the expected release of A8-powered iPad minis.

 

[rushmore]

Emulators and Flash are key reasons I like Android tablets. I already have a Shield 1, iPad Air 128gb and Note 2014 32gb. A 16gb Shield Tablet seems underwhelming due to small storage for apps. Plus have enough gadgets already...

 

[ams23]

Even though release date is tomorrow, Shield tablet is already at #12 in the Amazon.com best sellers list for tablets:

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-E...nav_e_2_541966

To be honest, I am pretty surprised by this. The other devices in the top 12 include five Kindle Fire variants, three iPad variants, two Samsung variants, and something I have never heard of before called Dragon Touch 7" (Android tablet which sells for a ridiculously low $55!).

I plan to get one from NewEgg in a few weeks...

 

[s44]

A 16gb Shield Tablet seems underwhelming due to small storage for apps.

Before everyone flips out about this, shouldn't we at least verify no apps to SD?

 

[ams23]

Before everyone flips out about this, shouldn't we at least verify no apps to SD?

I'm sure we will find out more within a few days @ the Geforce forums when people start to get their hands on these tablets. I have had reasonably good results using the "Move to SD card" feature on Shield portable using KitKat. That said, I suppose one can always root the device to have even more control over what they can do with the device.

 

[TrulyUncouth]

Before everyone flips out about this, shouldn't we at least verify no apps to SD?

If they intend to update to L I think it will be even worse than the kit-kat update was for SD cards. I remember /r/android was filled with people having tons of issues with moving apps to SD cards and files messed up/corruption. That subreddit tends to be pretty hyperbolic so take it with a pinch of salt- but I think the general consensus is that SD cards are on the way out in a big way unless you make your own fork of android.

Even though release date is tomorrow, Shield tablet is already at #12 in the Amazon.com best sellers list for tablets:

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-E...nav_e_2_541966

To be honest, I am pretty surprised by this. The other devices in the top 12 include five Kindle Fire variants, three iPad variants, two Samsung variants, and something I have never heard of before called Dragon Touch 7" (Android tablet which sells for a ridiculously low $55!).

I plan to get one from NewEgg in a few weeks...

Does that include windows tablets? I don't see any on the list. I guess they count things like the Asus T100 as a laptop?

 

[ams23]

Through an extra software update on Shield portable and Tegra Note 7, NVIDIA was able to fix the "Move to SD card" feature on KitKat.

Windows tablets are obviously on the list. VivoTab is at #15, and Venue 8 Pro is at #28.

 

[ams23]

Look which tablet has finally showed up in GFXBench 3.0: http://gfxbench.com/result.jsp

 

[ams23]

Trailer for the 3D Simulator Pure Chess for Android, enhanced for Tegra K1-powered devices: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHY3enqjY8I

 

[Dribble]

imo Move to SD card is just one of those things I don't want to have to do. It's a load of extra work, and can lead to update problems. I want them to give me sufficient space that the software fits in the internal flash, leave the SD card for my movies and music.

16gb is just a silly amount for what is sold as a gaming tablet, you'll fill that up almost immediately with some of those big games and then spend the rest of that tablets life fighting for space.

 

[Raghu]

AT review is up

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8296/the-nvidia-shield-tablet-review

 

[rushmore]

imo Move to SD card is just one of those things I don't want to have to do. It's a load of extra work, and can lead to update problems. I want them to give me sufficient space that the software fits in the internal flash, leave the SD card for my movies and music.

16gb is just a silly amount for what is sold as a gaming tablet, you'll fill that up almost immediately with some of those big games and then spend the rest of that tablets life fighting for space.

Especially since only about 10gb free and 25% more of that gone with the future L update of Android due to ART.

 

[rushmore]

AT review is up

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8296/the-nvidia-shield-tablet-review

Surprised Nvidia did not source a little better display, but might look better than expected in person. I like the choice of 1080p for performance reasons.

 

[tential]

Surprised Nvidia did not source a little better display, but might look better than expected in person. I like the choice of 1080p for performance reasons.

The memo pad is the only one worse and I spent extensive time with it and was happy. I'd definitely say get the display in your hands first.

 

[Soccerman06]

Man that battery drain on full power

 

[ams23]

Yeah, it is a beast in more way than one

Keep in mind that most of the high performance tablets have much larger battery capacity than Shield tablet (iPad Mini Retina and iPad Air have 23% and 64% more battery capacity, respectively, in comparison).

My feeling is that I would rather have a very playable 30-60fps for 3 hours of gameplay than a very unplayable 15-25fps for 5 hours of gameplay.

I suspect that when set to the battery saver mode, the gaming battery lifetime will be quite competitive with other high end tablets.

Do note that the T-Rex HD test is rendered at full [FP32] precision on mobile Kepler but defaults to lower [FP16] precision with most other ultra mobile hardware (virtually all modern day PC and console graphics hardware is designed with full FP32 precision in mind).

The web browsing battery life is quite good though, relatively speaking, especially considering the CPU and browser performance achieved.