Popular media-streaming service Plex has long depended on a dedicated, always-on PC to operate. But the media player is stepping out on its own, with the help of Nvidia's Shield TV.
The Nvidia Shield Pro will serve as the first all-in-one Plex box, combining the power of Plex's Media Server with playback capabilities like 4K video at 60fps and voice search. It comes with 500GB of storage, expandable via USB or over the network.
"If you're not familiar with the Nvidia Shield, we think it's one of the most exciting streaming devices on the market," Plex co-founder and CTO Elan Feingold wrote in a blog post.
"This thing was born to run Plex," Feingold said, pointing to its Tegra X1 processor, 64-bit CPU, and 256 Maxwell-class GPU. The smart TV media box, unveiled in early 2015, also comes with 3GB of RAM and an ARM-based central processor, plus two USB 3.0 ports, a micro USB 2.0 port, and a MicroSD slot supporting up to 128GB cards.
The Shield runs the Plex Android TV interface "better than just about anything out there," but also carries the full media server—"including support for hardware-accelerated video transcoding," he boasted.
A package that includes a Shield wireless controller, high-speed HDMI cable, micro-USB-to-USB cable, and power adapter costs $299.99.
New and existing Shield owners can download the Plex app, which should appear as a tile on the Android TV home screen. Then just tap to launch your library of audio and visual content.
The company is still working with Nvidia on some finishing touches, which will be included in the next firmware update scheduled for later this month.
For more, see PCMag's reviews of Plex and the Nvidia Shield Android TV, as well as the slideshow above.