Weekly Wrapup: Nvidia Shield TV Bluetooth vs. Wifi Controller, Old TVs & App Updates, & More!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. New Content on the Channel
3. Review of the Analog NT Console
4. Controller Lag and Its Impact on Gaming
5. Review of the Me Air 13 Laptop
6. HDHomeRun and its DRM Playback on Xbox One
7. Voice Control of Plex with Amazon Alexa
8. The Android Nougat Update for Nvidia Shield Tablet
9. Verizon's Unlimited Data Plan
10. Issues with Smart TV App Updates
11. Q&A: Using Amazon Alexa and Google Home
12. Channel of the Week: The Daily Woo
13. Upcoming Reviews: Lenovo 510s Laptop and More

✨Article✨

Introduction

Hey everybody, it's Lon cbin and welcome to your weekly wrap-up! First of all, I want to express my gratitude to our newest Patreon supporters - Ryan Williams, Michael, Eki, Ken, Andad, and Martin Kosi, who made an upgrade to his Patreon support. Thank you all for your continued support and for contributing to the success of the channel. This week was Jam-packed with exciting content, so let's dive right in!

New Content on the Channel

We had a lot of new content on the channel this week due to the launch of the extras channel. Along with the main channel content, I uploaded a bunch of test footage from the Analog NT gaming console, which is a NES clone that can also run other consoles like the Kico Vision, Sega Master System, Game Gear, and NES. I also unboxed the Analog NT and gave a tour of my shelf behind me as per the request of one viewer.

Review of the Analog NT Console

Moving on, I also posted a detailed review of the Analog NT console. This console, targeted towards aging gamers, is a bit expensive but well worth it for those with disposable income. It functions as a NES clone console and allows you to run ROMs off of SD cards and play various retro games. The FPGA code designer, Kevis, will be adding additional cores to the machine in the coming weeks, which means more systems can be added to the console. I find this concept really cool and can't wait to explore more of it in future content.

Controller Lag and Its Impact on Gaming

One of the topics I delved into this week was controller lag, specifically in relation to emulators. I noted that many controllers and devices introduce button lag, which can significantly impact gameplay. This lag is caused by a combination of factors, including the controller itself, the emulator being used, and the device it's running on. I even discovered that even TVs can introduce delay. This issue has frustrated many game developers, as they have to consider the varying performance of different PCs and TVs when programming their games. It's something worth paying attention to, and I'm curious to hear about your experiences with controller lag.

Review of the Me Air 13 Laptop

I also got my hands on the Me Air 13 laptop, which turned out to be a great option for those looking for a 13-inch laptop that can handle gaming and video editing. With its i5 Skylake processor and Nvidia GPU (940MX), it offers decent performance for playing games like GTA 5 and editing videos. However, it's worth noting that this laptop is not widely available outside of China, so support may be limited if any issues arise. Nonetheless, it's a solid machine for the price and worth considering if you're in the market for a mid-range laptop.

HDHomeRun and its DRM Playback on Xbox One

For those interested in media streaming, I explored the HDHomeRun device this week. HDHomeRun recently introduced DRM playback on the Xbox One, allowing users to watch protected content. This is a significant development, considering some cable systems have restrictions on viewing certain channels on non-approved devices. HDHomeRun will also be adding Android support in the near future, making it even more versatile. If you want to learn more about this device and its features, check out the corresponding video.

Voice Control of Plex with Amazon Alexa

As some of you may know, Plex is now sponsoring one video per month on the channel. In one of these videos, I demonstrated voice control of Plex using Amazon Alexa. It's pretty cool to be able to ask Alexa to recommend something to watch, and then have it automatically play on your TV. This feature is especially convenient if you own an Nvidia Shield TV or other Android TV devices that support HDMI CEC protocol. I'm excited to explore more of Plex's features in future videos.

The Android Nougat Update for Nvidia Shield Tablet

In other news, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Nvidia Shield tablet, despite being around since 2012, received another free Android operating system upgrade. It's now running on version 7, thanks to Nvidia's commitment to supporting their hardware for an extended period. The update brings improvements to standby battery life, notification management, and split-screen multitasking. The latter feature allows you to run two apps simultaneously, which is quite handy. It's great to see Nvidia continuing to support their older devices, and I'm eager to see how this tablet performs with the latest update.

Verizon's Unlimited Data Plan

In terms of mobile data plans, Verizon recently reintroduced an unlimited data plan. Although it does come with a catch of being throttled to 3G speeds after surpassing the 22GB data limit, it's still a significant improvement over their previous offerings. The plan costs around $80 per month for a single line, with an additional 10GB of tethering data. This move by Verizon is a response to T-Mobile's removal of video playback data caps. The competition among mobile carriers is beneficial for consumers, as we now have several options to choose from. Share your experiences with different data plans and carriers in the comments!

Issues with Smart TV App Updates

One topic that has been brought to my attention is the lack of app updates for older smart TVs. A viewer shared their frustration with a ViO television purchased in 2012, as apps like YouTube and Amazon are no longer functional or have not received updates. Unfortunately, this is a common issue with many TV manufacturers who eventually stop supporting their older models. It's an ongoing challenge, as manufacturers need to decide when to discontinue support for older TVs to focus on new models. This can be disappointing for consumers who expected their smart TVs to continue functioning as advertised. Let me know your experiences with smart TV app updates and if you have found any satisfactory solutions.

Q&A: Using Amazon Alexa and Google Home

I received a question from a viewer regarding the use of Amazon Alexa and Google Home. They asked how to avoid accidentally triggering Alexa and the need to remember specific command prefixes for different skills. This issue arises because Alexa requires users to say the skill name before issuing a command to avoid confusion. While it would be convenient to avoid using explicit skill names every time, currently, there is no workaround for this limitation. However, I'm interested to hear your thoughts and experiences with voice control assistants. What are some of the things you are controlling with your Amazon Alexa or Google Home? Share your experiences in the comments!

Channel of the Week: The Daily Woo

It's time to spotlight another non-tech channel that I personally enjoy - The Daily Woo! This channel follows the travels of its creator as he explores various locations across the United States. Each day, he visits different towns, sharing unique tidbits and experiences with his viewers. What's impressive is that he posts a video every single day, even editing them on his iPhone. The content may not always be super exciting, but it's beautifully crafted and gives viewers a glimpse into the diverse tapestry of American towns. If you're interested in travel vlogs and want to discover Hidden Gems, I highly recommend checking out The Daily Woo.

Upcoming Reviews: Lenovo 510s Laptop and More

Finally, let's take a quick look at what's in store for upcoming reviews. I recently received the Lenovo 510s laptop powered by the 7th generation KB Lake processor. This laptop boasts an i7 and an AMD GPU, making it a promising candidate for mid-range gaming. I'm excited to put it through its paces and compare its performance to similar laptops. Additionally, I have some other exciting products to review, such as a mesh router from Lynus, a low-cost Thunderbolt 3 dock, and more! Stay tuned for these reviews in the coming days.

That wraps up our weekly wrap-up. Thank you all for watching and supporting the channel. Your comments, suggestions, and engagement mean a lot to me. Don't forget to subscribe to the channel and hit that notification Bell so you never miss an update. If you'd like to help out, consider becoming a Patreon supporter or contributing through YouTube fan funding. You can also engage with the channel on lon.tv/extras, join the email list, or follow us on Facebook. Lastly, check out the lon.tv store, where I sell items I've reviewed or used on the channel. Thank you again, and I'll see you in the next video!