We got the opportunity to take a peek at the ViewSonic VSD240 24-inch Smart Display, what’s essentially an oversized tablet on a stand working with an NVIDIA processor inside. This machine works with a full touch display attached to an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor with 4-PLUS-1 technology. You’ll be working with HDMI via MHL, full-sized USB, and Bluetooth connectivity as well.
This beast is made for someone wishing for the future right this minute, bringing you Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on a display that’ll allow you to watch your videos at a tap. While we’re not sure the uses of this machine are numerous enough for us to want to get such a massive machine with a stand built-in for the desktop running Android, the prospect of an all-touch monitor future does seem encouragingly cool.
The best thing about this monitor from our perspective may be the fact that you’re able to work with the NVIDIA Tegra Zone collection of games. NVIDIA works closely with a variety of developers to make games that work especially well with their processors, and having seen the power of the NVIDIA Tegra 3 over these past 12 months working with high-powered games galore, we’re rather pumped up indeed.
Have a peek at our hands-on video above and photos above and below to see a bit more close-up look at this machine and get pumped up as it hits the market very, very soon. You’ll be able to pick this machine up for MSRP $675 USD and it’ll be in its final form then – what we’re seeing here may be changed just a bit, but it’s essentially complete. Have a peek at our CES portal for all the CES 2013 action you can handle as well!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
During our on-stage broadcast with NVIDIA, while we got another look at Project Shield, we were also surprised by the appearance of NVIDIA’s new Tegra 4 reference tablet. Previously out of reach over at the chipmaker’s CES space, we got to exclusively handle it and play some Riptide GP 2 (another first). The device — which won’t ever make its way to consumers — was incredibly light, while the 16:9 11-inch display beamed out Android 4.0.2. There’s a raft of ports for developers to meddle with, including micro-USB, HDMI and storage expansion, as well as some indentations for docks and fixtures.
In our hands, it’s unerringly light — and the NVIDIA guys seemed pretty proud when we mentioned that. Performance on the game and basic navigations was unsurprisingly very slick — the game we tried was developed specifically for NVIDIA’s new mobile chip. However, we weren’t able to steal a glance at the web browser, but we’re likely to see and hear a lot more next month at Mobile World Congress. After the break, we’ve got some playtime with Riptide 2 and a video tour of the device.
If we were to list the companies that have enjoyed a really, really big CES 2013, NVIDIA would probably rank toward the top. Not only did the company announce new and interesting things like GeForce Experience and NVIDIA GRID, but it also unleashed the Tegra 4 mobile processor on the world and introduced us to Project SHIELD, a new Android-based gaming console of sorts that has everyone talking.
We were there reporting on it live as it all unfolded before our eyes, but if you’d like to experience the whole thing for yourself, then you’ll be pleased to know that fine folks at NVIDIA have popped it up online for everyone to watch. If you’re a fan of NVIDIA or even gaming in general, this might be a good press conference to check out, as NVIDIA has a lot of cool things coming down the the pipeline. Of course, you’re bound to see a stumble or two during the conference as well, so there’s another reason for you to watch.
NVIDIA has put the entire press conference up on Twitch.tv, so head over there if you’d like to give it a watch. At one hour and 48 minutes long, though, it’s certainly one of the more lengthy conferences we’ve seen here at CES, so you might want to make some popcorn or put on your comfy pants before firing this one up. At any rate, get ready to watch a number of very exciting announcements.
We’ll hopefully be getting our hands on some of these new NVIDIA products and services really soon, at which time we’ll be able to better judge the claims NVIDIA made throughout its press conference. We’ll be able to take a much more in-depth look later on, but for now, be sure to have a look at our hands-on with the Project SHIELD to see some early impressions. All of news from the show can also be found at our CES portal, so stop by there while you’re at it!
On Sunday evening, we reported that NVIDIA had launched Tegra 4, its next-generation quad-core chip with four ARM Cortex A15 CPUs, and a new massive GPU. At the same time, the company has announced the NVIDIA Shield, a “pure Android” portable gaming device that is designed to bring a unique mobile gaming experience. Shield has been built as a great game controller which happens to host one of the fastest next-gen mobile chip along with a 720p screen. Shield is obviously capable of running Android games like nothing else can, but that’s not it: using technology specific to NVIDIA, Shield can also stream games from a nearby PC and effectively brings “PC gaming” into your hands. I’ve spent some private time with the device here at CES, and here are my first impressions. (more…)
NVIDIA and Audi have been building high-end infotainment systems for sometime, but until now, the best of the team’s efforts have only been available to European drivers. Not anymore — NVIDIA announced today that Audi’s latest Tegra-based MIB high-end is ready to hit the road, and is due to arrive in major markets in Asia, the US and Canada by 2014. The system uses a variety of technologies to offer drivers live updates from Google Earth real-time updates on gas prices and even weather forecasts.
Audi says it’s planning to bring the MIB systems to all of it’s new vehicles, and is also pimping the tech out to other brands, such as Volkswagen and Skoda. The company didn’t specify which Tegra chip would be making the international tour, but NVIDIA general manager Taner Ozcelik suggests that upgrading the system to the company’s latest is a relatively smooth process. “NVIDIA’s modular VCM approach lets companies like Audi quickly move from a Tegra 2 processor, to a Tegra 3 and beyond.” Read on for the company’s official press release.
NVIDIA’s Project SHIELD won’t rely on premium games or locked-down ecosystems to offset hardware costs, unlike traditional consoles, with the company instead looking to free-to-play titles already proliferating on Android. “We’ll make our money by selling the device to gamers” senior vice president of content and technology Tony Tamasi said today, contrasting NVIDIA’s approach with that of printer ink merchants.
“The business model that stems from [selling direct] means we’ll make our money by selling the device to gamers. (And we hope, by the way, that they’ll love it.)” Tamasi said. “This differs from the razors-and-razor blades approach, which isn’t just used by Gillette and Schick. Printer-companies use it, as well, making money from highly profitable ink. So do game-console companies, who primarily make their profit from premium games. This time-honored approach isn’t the one we’re taking with Project SHIELD.”
NVIDIA Project SHIELD hands-on:
Android games are often free-to-play, supported either with in-app advertising or purchases. As Tamasi also points out, gamers will be able to stream their desktop titles to Project SHIELD. “We want to help game developers keep you happily entertained with the magic that they dream up” the NVIDIA exec concludes. “We’re not looking to create a walled garden of software, even if it sprouts some gorgeous games.”
From our early play with Project SHIELD that streaming process works well – assuming you have sufficient bandwidth. NVIDIA showed us Call of Duty: Black Ops II from a GeForce-equipped PC, which streamed smoothly, albeit in the same room and over 802.11n 2×2 MIMO WiFi.
Avoiding the hassle of creating an ecosystem of its own is a solid approach; even Sony, with its legacy PlayStation titles, has struggled to gain traction with the PlayStation Store on Android. NVIDIA also has its existing TegraZone brand, which corrals together third-party titles particularly fettled to suit the company’s Tegra chipsets, which it can leverage on Project SHIELD.
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Just last night we first heard of the Tegra 4-toting NVIDIA Project SHIELD for the very first time, and right here and now we’ve gotten our own opportunity to get our hands on it. This machine is a large piece in a gaming ecosystem NVIDIA is bringing forth to the world combining not only Android and its brand new Tegra 4 processors, but large screen monitors like your HDTV, and PC gaming too! We’ve been shown this device in its current state playing an early version of the new-to-Android game Hawken, Call of Duty: Black Ops II streamed from a GeForce-packing PC wirelessly, and some interesting moves through the device’s unique user interface.
As we spoke about in the initial announcement last night, NVIDIA intends this device to be not only a key device for accessing their NVIDIA Tegra Zone for Android, but to stream games from GeForce GPU-toting PCs as well. NVIDIA assured us today that until the data connectivity ecosystem is strong enough here in the USA, this machine will be streaming games from PCs only over a local area network. That said, it certainly can roll out with undeniable power completely wirelessly – over wi-fi, that is.
It was also made clear to us that developments still may be made before the final product would be launched – both in its software and its hardware. At the moment it’s clear that NVIDIA has the structure ready for prime time, there’s simply a few kinks to iron out as far as which situation requires what action: certainly forgivable given the fact that they’ve targeted Q2 of 2013 for the release – that being still relatively far off and plenty of time for software bug fixes.
The hardware, on the other hand, is extremely close to being complete. While there could be changes to the level of hardness with which the buttons need to be pressed as well as the materials that the casing will be made of, this beast is essentially ready for action. One important point of order for controller aficionados: the now-hard-plastic surrounding the left, right and front of the machine will likely be replaced by a softer plastic in the future – so says NVIDIA. Grippier plastic for a more controlled action experience.
The speakers on this machine are immense in their ability to blast your ears off. I was personally unable to play a game without turning the sound down somewhat – it can get too loud. That’s not to say that the sound is bad – not at all – in fact the sound is both full and deep, ready to be used on its own without a doubt. Another point of order: while most built-in speakers on devices like these working with heavy bass have a bit of a problem rumbling around on a flat surface, this machine’s audio system is set in a way that keeps it still. High fidelity and a controlled experience, top to bottom.
We saw the game HAWKEN in its newest state: Android-based and as high powered as we’ve seen it played on the PC. It seems every bit as immense here on this 5-inch 720p display as it does on the big screen, and from what we’ve experienced, this Android version is going to turn the mobile gaming world on its ear – in the mech universe, at least.
We also saw some awesome PC-streamed gaming with Call of Duty: Black Ops II from a GeForce-packing PC in the same room with this machine’s 802.11n 2×2 MIMO “game-speed” Wi-Fi. From what we’ve seen, game streaming from a GeForce-powered PC to Project SHIELD works flawlessly. Once you’re in-game, that is. By the time this device is released, we’re expecting an undeniably smooth experience start to finish.
Have a peek at the photos and videos above and below and let us know what you think about the device and the future ecosystem NVIDIA is building around it. Also be sure to tune in to our Tegra hub for all the NVIDIA action you can handle through the future!
Excited for OUYA? So are the folks at Kill Screen — so much so, they’ve seen fit to host a 10-day competition to coax OUYA compatible game prototypes out of the development community. It’s calling the event CREATE, and in addition to drumming up interest for Kickstarter’s favorite game console, it aims to celebrate how OUYA and a new generation of indie game developers are making the television an open gaming platform. Starting on January 14th, Kill Screen will start accepting prototype submissions of playable (but not necessarily complete) games. Ten days later, a panel of indie veterans will cull the fat, and select finalists based on not only the game itself, but the social media efforts of its development team. This is an indie game competition, after all. The contest judges entrants on how effectively they use the OUYA platform too, including processor, sound, controller integration, in-game payments and other elements available in the console’s development kit. Winners can score anywhere between $5,000 to $20,000 in prizes, with an extra bonus if the finished game launches on OUYA. Enough incentive for you? Check out Kill Screen’s full contest rules at the source link below.
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