Nvidia Corporation’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) Shield Portable will finally be getting the much-needed upgrade from Android 4.4 to Android 5.1 Lollipop.
The changes include the removal of Miracast in favor of built-in support for Chromecast. The Android browser has also been removed in the latest update, and Nvidia has updated Twitch application in the new OS. By far, the main changes revolve around Sonic and Expendable: Rearmed. These games were available to users of the handheld since their launch; however, instead of finding solutions to make these games compatible with Android 5.1, Nvidia has decided to scrap them for good. The update has been made available to users via the system update menu.
Nvidia is well-known worldwide for its high-end graphics processing units (GPUs), along with system-on-a-chip units (SOCs) for the mobile computing market. The company’s GPU line competes directly with Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD). The company has further expanded its portfolio of products into the gaming industry, via its handheld devices called the Shield Portable and Shield Tablet.
Nvidia launched its Shield Portable back in 2013, a one-of-a kind hybrid device which could function not only as a handheld gaming device but also as a mini-tablet computer. It was the first gadget in the market to make use of the company’s Tegra 4 processor, featuring a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels, and running on Android KitKat since its launch. The device supported a design quite similar to an Xbox 360 controller.
The device received mixed reviews from critics. It was applauded for its exceptional performance; however, a lack of compelling games, coupled with a high price of $300, were the main reasons why the handheld device didn’t take off as the company would have liked. CNET’s Eric Franklin reviewed it, saying: “The NVIDIA Shield Portable is an extremely well made device, with performance that pretty much obliterates any mobile product before it; but like most new console launches, there is currently a lack of available games worth your time.”
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