Weekly Rewind
Nvidia Shield TV review: Also on TechHive this week, I reviewed second-generation the Nvidia Shield TV, which seems like the perfect streaming box for nerds like me. While it’s pricey at $200, it’s a powerful device for over-the-air DVR, Plex home media servers, Kodi, and 4K HDR streaming. For PlayStation Vue subscribers, it’s also the smoothest experience you’ll get outside of a PlayStation 4 console.
Nvidia hasn’t yet enabled the Shield’s most intriguing feature, which is hands-free voice controls through Google Assistant. Being able to “OK Google” and launch a Netflix video, dim your entertainment center’s smart lightbulbs, or control video playback could boost the Shield’s mainstream appeal. Until then, the 4K Fire TV box ($90) and the 4K HDR Roku Premiere+ ($100) are better options for the average user.
Thank you for being a friend … to cord cutters: Although Hulu plans to launch a streaming channel bundle later this year, the company’s not bailing on exclusives for its current on-demand service. That’s the word from Craig Erwich, Hulu’s head of content, at a recent TV industry conference. To that end, Hulu just acquired the exclusive streaming rights to The Golden Girls, which will make its online video debut in February.
As for original series, Erwich said Hulu will be “strategic” about its investments with event projects like 11.22.63. It sounds like the company won’t bet heavily on originals, like Netflix and Amazon are doing, and will instead pick its battles.
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