Nvidia Shield TV Will Continue to Receive Software Updates, New Device Possible
Nvidia senior executive Andrew Bell announced that sales and software support for the 2019 model Shield TV continue. Bell stated that they are working on new Shield concepts in their labs and could release new hardware if they find something exciting.
A Decade of Support and Hope for New Devices
Nvidia's Shield TV streaming device, launched in 2015, has garnered a loyal user base. In an interview with Ars Technica, Andrew Bell, the company's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, stated that software updates for the device will continue and that there is a possibility of a new hardware model being released in the future.
"If We Find Something Exciting, We'll Do It"
Andrew Bell expressed that he would "very much like" to see a new Shield TV box one day and that it is not a completely closed topic for Nvidia. Bell said, "We are always trying to discover new things in the labs. We have played with new concepts for Shield and will continue to do so. If we find something that gets us super excited, we will probably bring it to life."
The 2019 Model is Still Selling and Receiving Updates
Since the launch of the first model, the Shield TV series saw updated models in 2017 and 2019. Despite its age, the 2019 model maintains its sales performance. Andrew Bell suggested that one reason for this could be that users know Nvidia is committed to releasing software patches to keep the device current and secure.
Bell emphasized that when they began developing the Shield TV, supporting all devices for many years was a priority. Recalling a conversation with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Bell said, "Jensen asked, 'How long do we want to support this device?' Jensen replied, 'For as long as we live.'"
Updates Will Not Stop Anytime Soon
Andrew Bell explained that the 2019 Shield TV is still being purchased and that they have no plans to stop updates "anytime soon." This statement is seen as reassuring for current Shield TV users. At the same time, the possibility of new hardware is creating anticipation among fans.
Nvidia's leadership in artificial intelligence and graphics processing units (GPUs) is also increasing interest in the company's consumer electronics products. The company's AI-focused investments are known to have significant impacts on the global technology supply chain, such as the Taiwanese economy.
