The Shield has hardware decoding support for VP8, VP9, H.263, H.264, H.265/HEVC, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, and WMV9/VC1 video codecs. Even if it does, transcoding increases latency and reduces audio/video quality.įortunately, the Shield Android TV supports a number of audio and video codecs as well as container formats. This is because your NAS (file server) likely doesn’t have the spare CPU to transcode. In reality, you don’t want to transcode videos if your client can play audio or video files. One of Plex’s notable features is the ability to transcode any media that a client is not able to play natively. Plex is a major partner of Nvidia, including preinstalling Plex software on the Shield Android TV. And, I run the Plex client on my Nvidia Shield Android TV settop boxes. I run the Plex media server on my Synology NAS. NVIDIA also tossed in accessibility of SHIELD folders from network PCs with drag-and-drop sharing (Settings>Storage & reset>Access SHIELD folders on PC), mounting of a network attached storage device (NAS), an option to turn off your TV when SHIELD goes to sleep, picture improvements to RGB TVs, the latest Android security patch, and more.Plex is one of the best client-server, multi-room media solutions on the market today. If you do, you can grab it here.Īs for the rest of the update, it includes Netflix in HDR, VUDU in 4K, Dolby Atmos surround sound, and YouTube 4K in 60fps.

That update, which also includes a number of other noteworthy features, is now available.Īccording to the release notes, this update builds-in Plex Media Server, so you will be able to use your SHIELD to stream to all of your devices (even outside the home) or “accelerate your media” through SHIELD’s HD transcode. I have not yet updated my SHIELD to 3.2, so I’m still not sure if you need the Plex Media Server app installed. Earlier this month, NVIDIA and Plex announced that through an incoming update to version 3.2, the SHIELD Android TV box would have the opportunity to become a Plex Media Server, all but eliminating the need for you to run a PC as your media box.

Plex on nvidia shield