#Streaming media player upgrade#
#Streaming media player full#
#Streaming media player android#

On top of that, there are a number of apps that have been carried over from Android TV, Google TV’s predecessor, that bring games and productivity apps to the streamer. And it's all thanks to the remote and Google's 'new' software, Google TV.Ĭombined, the two offer a massive uptick in usability over previous Chromecasts that required you to use your phone or tablet to Cast content rather than giving you an on-screen interface to interact with.īut now that Google has added a dedicated TV interface that you control with a remote, you have instant access to most of the major streaming services, including Disney Plus, HBO Max and even the streaming app of its biggest competitor, Amazon Prime Video. Google's Chromecast with Google TV (2020) is a revelation – it fixes something that wasn't broken, and improves a nearly perfect technology in a tangible way. The only game-changing difference is the new Siri Remote, though it's available to buy separately, meaning you don't need to get a whole hardware refresh to get the benefit. The Apple TV 4K 2021 doesn't do a lot different compared to the previous model, and if you're still sporting the 2017 iteration, there's not much impetus to upgrade.

There’s no denying it’s expensive, but it’s more than just a way to watch movies and TV shows, doubling up a smart hub with Thread smart home technology that enables your smart home gadgets from different manufacturers to work together more seamlessly. The revamped Siri remote is a pleasure to use, and there are plenty of small but handy features, such as multi-user support and the ability to tweak your TV’s color balance automatically. The new A12 processor definitely ups Apple's game here, with improved pictures and power for TV and games alike (great for Apple Arcade subscribers who like playing in their living room). The Apple TV 4K (2021) is a slick streaming device, which can play 4K video in HDR and Dolby Vision, and supports high-frame-rate HDR to make fast action and sports look smooth and clear.

#Streaming media player upgrade#

We finally have an upgrade to the 2017 Apple TV 4K, and it's well worth a look for those of you in the iOS ecosystem.

#Streaming media player full#

Read our full review: Nvidia Shield (2019) / Nvidia Shield TV Pro The Pro model adds an additional 1GB of added RAM and a larger hard drive, too, though you're be forking out a bit more cash for the premium model. It has a few limitations – notably it doesn't offer Apple TV, and it costs a bit more than a Roku Streaming Stick – but you get what you pay for here. It's powered by a neural network that has been 'trained' using thousands of hours of footage and which can hugely sharpen content, making HD content from the last 20 years look like it was shot earlier this year with a 4K video camera. With it, you’ll also get the revamped Shield remote and the latest version of Android TV, which serves as a gateway to Nvidia’s game-streaming service, Geforce Now.īut the feature that puts it miles ahead of the competition is Nvidia's new AI upscaling feature – it's one of the coolest features in any streaming device right now.

At three times the cost of entry-level 4K HDR streaming players, the Nvidia Shield TV isn’t cheap, but it’s an incredibly powerful streaming player thanks to its cutting-edge AI upscaling tech and its support for both HDR10 and Dolby Vision content.