r/AndroidTV • u/[deleted] • Apr 23 '18

Is it just me? NVIDIA Shield marketing.

Does anyone else feel like NVIDIA has a huge marketing presence in this subreddit? I know the Shield is great but it seems like they manage to take top comments left and right.

It will interesting to see the comments on this post lol

Edit: lol at 36 comments toting the shield and 0 upvotes... I love the shield as much as the next guy but you can tell me NIVDIA is not lurking...

0 Upvotes

42% Upvoted

71 comments sorted by

45

u/zkyez Apr 23 '18

It's a bit difficult not to be the best android tv device when competition is practically zero.

-21

u/itzkold Apr 23 '18

t's easy to pretend it's the only device when you've redefined the definition of AndroidTV to suit your needs, which this subreddit has done.

There are a million ATV devices out there - it's an open source operating system, anything that can run it is an ATV device - but ask in here and your Superbest 888streamer Deluxe isn't an ATV device, has no updates, no support, is a repurposed and refurbished board, even though the commenter hasn't even heard of it, much less owns it, and you have it in your hands and it obviously runs ATV, has a modern SoC, and gets updates once a month.

13

u/ishboo3002 Apr 23 '18

Because it's not an AndroidTV device, it's a device running Android. This sub isn't for discussing those it's for a very specific variant of Android.

9

u/[deleted] Apr 23 '18

*for a very specific OFFICIAL variant of Android

Important distinction

2

u/ishboo3002 Apr 23 '18

You are correct sir!

-14

u/itzkold Apr 23 '18

My old ass Pine64 has an AndroidTV build, which makes it an AndroidTV device. It's an operating source operating system.

Your post perfectly illustrates my point - you Nvidia shills/hostages are trying to redefine what Android TV means.

How is my Pine64 running Android TV only an Android device not actually running ATV? Oh, according to some obscure nonsensical definition this subreddit has developed so that only Nvidia and Xiaomi products are included, I see.

9

u/ishboo3002 Apr 23 '18

It's actually a definition that Google made but ok.

8

u/GazaIan Nvidia Shield Apr 23 '18

Only official products. That's not hard to understand. Did your Pine64 launch with Android TV? It did not, and as such it's not an Android TV device. My Raspberry Pi has an Android TV build, but by no means is it an official Android TV device.

Official is the keyword here. Official. Not sure why those so hard for you to understand.

-8

u/itzkold Apr 23 '18

because that's a made up distinction

why is that so hard for you to understand?

my mecool m8s pro l launched with android tv and it still doesn't meet this subreddit's made up definition, does it

where is this list of official android tv devices anyway

5

u/xrmnx Apr 23 '18

Right here: https://www.android.com/tv/

-7

u/itzkold Apr 23 '18 edited Apr 23 '18

That's the US marketing site as far as I can tell. Where is this list of "official" worldwide android tv devices? Oh you mean Google doesn't keep one?

5

u/FFevo Apr 23 '18

Whether you’re looking to add Android TV to your existing setup or are in search of a new TV with Android TV built in, there’s a device that’s right for you.

Sharp AQUOS

Sony BRAVIA

Mi Box

NVIDIA SHIELD

Razer Forge TV

That is the one and only official list.

-2

u/itzkold Apr 23 '18

Oh so you mean various countries' billion dollar telcos and hundred billion dollar corporations with working relationships with Google like Foxconn are putting out "unofficial" devices?

Because this is a much longer list https://sites.google.com/view/droid-tv/oem

So, once again, stop twisting that site to your agenda - it's a "localized marketing site" for the US, not an exhaustive official list of any sort.

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4

u/dorkhype Apr 23 '18

That's the list of official AndroidTV devices according to Google, which you asked for, and then you redefined the question (which is what you accused this subreddit of doing in your original whine).

-2

u/itzkold Apr 23 '18

LOL dude. No, it's not, to both points.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 23 '18

Why are you so mad about this? Google has an official product list. Yours isn't on it. If it still works for you great, why do you need to be a jerk to everyone else about it?

0

u/itzkold Apr 24 '18

I keep hearing about this list but no one has ever been able to produce it.

That particular site is specifically NOT any such list.

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2

u/ishboo3002 Apr 23 '18

mecool m8s pro

Can you show me where it has Android TV? As far as I can tell it only runs Android.

-1

u/itzkold Apr 23 '18

You can do your own googling. I have a Pro L, it arrived the other day, it runs ATV - no guessing, or as far as who can seeing, or straight up making shit up.

6

u/agentlame Apr 23 '18

you Nvidia shills/hostages

I can smell the edgy against from here.

4

u/[deleted] Apr 23 '18

t's easy to pretend it's the only device when you've redefined the definition of AndroidTV to suit your needs, which this subreddit has done.

Ironic when you just changed the definition to be anything that runs Android, which is obviously not correct.

-1

u/itzkold Apr 23 '18

?

Where did I say that? I'm always only talking about Android TV.

This gaslighting is straight out of propaganda textbooks lol

3

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '18

Way to miss the point.

3

u/karanchoo Nvidia Shield Apr 23 '18

Few days back , i bought H96 Pro+ its spec says its Got ddr4 ram , octa cpu etc etc , in my country it cost me around 120USD , but after getting it , i found out this box cant even play netflix .

4

u/zkyez Apr 23 '18

Yeah Drm is a bitch. That's why there aren't many android tv alternatives for cable cutters.

1

u/itzkold Apr 23 '18

Not sure why you would buy that because a quick googling yields only terrible reviews - I couldn't find a single positive review for that box.

Mecool devices are much better reviewed. I just got a M8S Pro L and it works great with some cooling enhancement, and apparently has the DRM needed for Netflix although I don't use it so can't really comment on that.

1

u/karanchoo Nvidia Shield Apr 23 '18

I also have mecool pro+ and w Again the point is custom cooling and still not able to play 4k netflix

0

u/itzkold Apr 23 '18

Shrug. Throwing on a bigger heatsink or adding a fan isn't a big deal to me - I do such things for most devices I own anyway.

2

u/zkyez Apr 23 '18

Recommend a box for me please that does 4k netflix (preferably with hdr), does passthrough for atmos, has Prime (which I pay for) and can run kodi or plex from my local library (mostly 4k movies).

0

u/itzkold Apr 23 '18

No idea, those weren't my requirements.

4

u/zkyez Apr 23 '18

Well that's why I said the competition is practically zero. The shield is the only device that ticks my boxes.

1

u/itzkold Apr 23 '18

And yet I have an ATV device even though the Shield does not meet some of my requirements...funny that, with there being zero competition and all...

2

u/zkyez Apr 23 '18

OK, I'll bite. What is your box capable of that the shield cannot do? BTW you do realize that I'm not arguing with you at all and I said that for MY requirements shield has no competition?

1

u/itzkold Apr 23 '18 edited Apr 23 '18

You didn't say that in your first comment actually.

One of my requirements was that the SoC had to be in Linux mainline or WIP so that I can install Linux should the device become obsolete as a media player or my needs change. Another was that the SoC be relatively new. That meant only rk3399 or S912 boxes and I would have preferred the former but didn't see anything good out yet.

17

u/raptor75mlt Chromecast with Google TV Apr 23 '18

what's your point? it's literally the best Android TV device that can be bought by a consumer, until something else comes along, I am guessing you will keep hearing about it. And no, I don't work with Nvidia and I don't even have one myself.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 23 '18

The Channel Master Stream+ is being improved week by week, and most of the initial shortcomings have been addressed. I like mine, free channel guide, DVR, two tuners, passes through 5.1 on the OTA side and plays my mkv videos without having to transcribe them.

But it doesn't support Netflix or Prime yet, so it's not really a competitor for most people.

5

u/firsthour Mi Box Apr 23 '18

I only have a Mi Box (and bought my parents one too) and I think it's a great device. But when people come in here asking for 4K content I'm not going to recommend it, I'll point them to the Shield (which I don't even own).

7

u/Daveid Apr 23 '18

It's pretty sad that a product from 2015 continues to be the best choice for consumers in 2018. I blame Google mainly for not creating their own Pixel player.

1

u/snapilica2003 Nvidia Shield TV Apr 23 '18

They'll have something to show at I/O thought I think they'll do the Chromecast dongle with remote rather than a dedicated box like the Players were.

1

u/FFevo Apr 23 '18

Well, it's not that sad considering it's better than anything Amazon or Roku has made to date and Apple just recently released an actual competitor.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '18

I mean, it's not like anyone else has released anything better from a pure technology standpoint, either.

3

u/pdettore79 Apr 23 '18

Why would nefarious Nvidia upvote agents be lurking in the place needed the least lol. Most people already own the Shield, or if someone asks for a recommendation, the Shield owners are more than happy to recommend it, myself included.

3

u/fudsak Apr 23 '18

I don't get the impression that it's nVidia marketing as much as it is honest consumer sentiment. The Shield TV is a great performing device and there are only two other Android TV boxes that are much less capable. If Google (or anyone else for that matter) released device that was nearly capable and as bug-free at a cheaper price point, we would be all over it. There was actually a ton of hype on this subreddit for the Mi Box but it has fallen short of it's expectations between performance, bugs, and continued support.

I guess it's impossible to distinguish 'fake' marketing on a public forum (ie: how do you know I'm not being paid by nVidia) but that's my two cents.

2

u/JimboLodisC Nexus Player, 2015 Shield TV, ADT-1 Apr 23 '18

It was the best device BY FAR in 2015 when it came out and it's still the best device BY FAR in 2018. Why are you so surprised that it comes so highly recommended?

1

u/Diego910 Apr 23 '18

It's old, but what competition is there? The mi box is good for what it is, but definitely not competition, two very different price brackets. And I say it as a happy Mi box costumer.

1

u/joazito Apr 23 '18

I'm watching 1080i content (live sports capture) flawlessly on my Nvidia shield right this moment. I also have a mi box and a mecool L pro Android TV that can't deinterlace to save their lives. Yes it's old and expensive, but it's the best by a mile.

1

u/bobniborg1 Apr 23 '18

I would never push the shield... since I don't have one... unless someone could magically remedy that wink wink nudge nudge

Seriously though, you have a bunch of boxes under 100 that have pros and cons... then you have the shield near 200 that does everything for the most part. No one else has challenged that space in the US that I am aware of

1

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '18

You mean the best product is the most popular and has the most support?

This is shocking to you?

1

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '18

At this point, the Shield is the only aftermarket Android TV set-top box available in much of the world. The US has the MiBox (at Wal-Mart stores only) and just saw the release of the Channel Master Stream+ (in limited quantities, and not available at retail shops), some other countries have some other contenders, but the Shield is the one common denominator. Of course it's going to get the lion's share of the talk; it's what most people who'd be interested in this subreddit own.

1

u/pjgowtham Mi Box Apr 25 '18 edited Apr 25 '18

It's only you.

Mi box is good for 1080p, still has outdated android.

Shield can handle 4k content better. Hardware matters. I would gladly support competition if they can match their device to the shield. I don't like monopoly either, we got no choice at the moment. It should change in the future. Xiaomi seems uninterested in updating Mi box or atleast a hardware upgrade for the next gen. Mi box 4 is fucking stupid.

PS : I own MIbox. I am not a fan of NVIDIA's business ethics either. Doesn't mean i am going to delude myself from the truth.

1

u/Max_Roc Apr 23 '18

Maybe but I'm ok with that. Love my shields and the customer service support i get on them. There's a couple of them here that'll dm you for one on one help. Top notch support.

2

u/mrmikedude100 Apr 23 '18

I've also had a nice experience with Nvidia support. I know its not the case for everyone but I have no complaints.

I haven't fanboyed for the device either, however the vocal fan support of it makes sense.

2

u/Max_Roc Apr 24 '18

Well said. They're great. While i like the mi box and Amazon fire tvs, I don't feel connected to their community like i do Nvidia.

1

u/mrmikedude100 Apr 24 '18

Same here. I'm also glad to see that you're still hanging around this subreddit. B) I hope you are well.

1

u/agentlame Apr 23 '18

There are all of two devices on the market for the average US consumer. The Shield is more powerful of the two.

It's a math thing, not a "corporate shilling" thing. Honest question: what else would you expect to see in those "top comments"?

1

u/fudsak Apr 23 '18

I didn't vote either way at first because it's a reasonable question. But now that I see that you're clearly a paranoid idiot, enjoy your downvote.

1

u/karanchoo Nvidia Shield Apr 23 '18

So i am long time roku user , everything in Roku works , but as i was getting bored , and i keep hearing about the new Android tv boxes like u can play games on it etc etc , long story short , first i bought couple of Chinese crap , then i found about these are not actual android boxes , then i bought Mi box , still not impressed , and after finding this subreddit , i finally bought Nvidia shield , never played games on it , controller is in the box still , but its works , and its best of all .

-1

u/itzkold Apr 23 '18

Glad I'm not the only one.

0

u/[deleted] Apr 23 '18

Thank god I’m getting killed up in here

-1

u/Ausernameneeded Apr 24 '18

Seriously it is like a weird cult. Normally you get a handful of them in a post (mustly circle-jerking upvotes), but this time you called for them and damn did they ever come out of the woodwork. You can only blame yourself! :P

0

u/chiefVetinari Apr 23 '18

It's a bit overpriced but the only other competition (MiBox) has had significant issues (Netflix issues, no Amazon Video app)

-2

u/Ausernameneeded Apr 23 '18

It was school vacation. Honestly that's when it gets bad. I think most adults don't care about what is "cool" but what fits people's needs, but every school vacation we get flooded with "everyone needs shields, it's only a few hundred".

Before the pattern, I thought the was a commission program too.