Still, the current Nvidia Shield TV is more than two years old, and it has the same processor and performance as the original 2015 version. An upgrade is overdue, which may explain why new Shield TV hardware—including both a refreshed streaming box and a possible Shield dongle—recently appeared in FCC filings.

While it’s probably too late at this point to influence new features for the next Nvidia Shield TV, now seems like a good time to revisit what the original Shield got right and wrong, and how a new version could do even better. Read the full column on TechHive.

Also on TechHive this week, we’ve finally updated our guide to the best live TV streaming services. The actual recommendations haven’t changed, with YouTube TV as the best bundle for most people, Hulu with Live TV as a strong value alternative, and PlayStation Vue as the best pick for sports fans, but we now have an up-to-date chart listing all channels and which services carry them. Check it out!

Such moves could be positive for cord-cutters, but as I wrote over at Fast Company, the merger could also lead to more homogenous live TV streaming packages at higher prices. We’ve already seen this play out with Discovery, which acquired Scripps Networks in 2018 and promptly began getting itself inserted into services like Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, and YouTube TV. Price hikes arrived for those services shortly before or after. Several live TV services currently exclude Viacom channels such as MTV and Comedy Central, and Sling TV has held out on adding CBS channels to its lineup. A combined company would have a lot more bargaining power to sell CBS and Viacom channels as a package, whether you want them or not.

Roku’s free streams: Although The Roku Channel started off as a free source of movies and TV shows, it’s been steadily adding more live streaming sources as well. The latest additions include Fubo Sports Network (a mix of sports talk and event highlights, not to be confused with the paid FuboTV service), news from USA today, standup from Comedy Dynamics, and news from Now This. While none of these channels are the same as what you’d find on cable, they’re great for background noise or those moments of analysis paralysis where you’re not sure what else to watch. The app is a free download on Roku players, Samsung TVs, and mobile devices.

Plex’s desktop plans: There’s good and bad news in Plex’s new desktop app. While it has a slicker design and a more reliable download function, it no longer includes a “TV Mode” that optimizes the layout for big screens and keyboard input. In other words, it’s no longer super friendly to home theater PC users.

Plex is still offering the old desktop Media Player app as a separate download, but plans to stop supporting it in 2020. The argument is that most people are better off using a dedicated streaming device instead of a PC in the living room anyway, and Plex’s Apple TV and Android TV apps support nearly all the same formats as the current desktop version. I’m inclined to agree, though I imagine some disgruntled users will be giving Kodi or Emby another look now.

PlayStation Vue mysteriousness: So this is a pretty weird story. On Thursday, Cord Cutters News reported that Sony was “deprioritizing” PlayStation Vue, noting that the company was shutting down its affiliate program for the service. The implication was that Sony was casting doubt on the future of its own streaming service.

A second report from CordCutters.com followed with more details: The message about deprioritization came not from Sony itself, but from a clearinghouse that handles affiliate marketing for various brands. Basically, when a site like CordCutters.com or Cord Cutters News links to a service like Vue, they’ll include a special link that gives them a cut of any resulting sales. Sony is reportedly ending that program.

None of which is to say that PlayStation Vue itself is in jeopardy, especially given that Sony just reupped its agreement with the NFL to carry both the NFL Network and NFL Redzone for the 2019-2020 season. But when a company suddenly makes drastic changes to its marketing plans, it’s at least mildly concerning. I’ve reached out to Sony and will keep you posted as I hear more.

TiVo diehards might also want to consider the current back-to-school sale on a TiVo Bolt OTA, which has the hardware and lifetime service for $380. That’s $120 off the regular price, and TiVo’s throwing in a $20 Vudu movie credit and a three-month Pandora Premium streaming music trial as well. It’s a powerful over-the-air DVR for a single TV, at least.