Nvidia updates the Shield TV hardware

After focusing on getting software onto its box for the last couple of years, either via download or streaming, Nvidia has finally refreshed the Shield micro console at CES. But don't get your hopes up for improved performances, Instead, the company has done away with the HD and micro SD card slot to create a base Shield TV unit, with those options now only available in a more expensive Shield TV Pro machine.

Still powered by a mighty Tegra X1 with four Cortex A57 cores, four × Cortex A53 cores and a Maxwell 2 SMM GPU, the new Shield TV unit is smaller, thinner and lighter, and adds a pair of USB 3.0 ports for expandability. A software update will soon enable 4K TV for the unit, while smart home functionality will be added with Google Voice commands and always-on listening mode.