How to set up your Shield Android TV to control your TV, receiver or soundbar

It would be great if all of your entertainment devices just worked together, wouldn’t it?

The new NVIDIA Shield Android TV is stepping up to the plate as a more complete entertainment solution, and part of that process is playing nice with more of the various devices around it. To that point, the new versions of the Shield Controller and Shield Remote that ship with the new box have integrated IR blasters so they can control your TV and receiver, acting in effect as simple semi-universal remotes.

With a little bit of configuration, you can easily use just the Shield Android TV’s controller or remote to turn on your TV and receiver right alongside the box itself, and then control the volume of the receiver instead of just adjusting the Shield’s own volume. While it won’t work for every entertainment center setup, it could be just the fit for you. Here’s how to get it done.

A quick primer: What you need

In order for this setup to work, you’ll need to have the IR ports on your TV, receiver or soundbar visible from a typical remote. NVIDIA has included codes for the Shield Controller and Shield Remote to control “most” TVs, receivers and soundbars, so if you have relatively modern components you should be good to go.

Part of this overall “control your home entertainment setup” story is HDMI-CEC as well. This is the protocol that allows items connected together by HDMI cables control each other’s basic functions. For the most part, this is used by set top boxes to turn on and switch inputs on the TV they’re connected to. It’s a useful piece of this puzzle, for sure, but there isn’t much to set up there — so we’re focusing on IR for the step-by-step porcess.

If you still have an original Shield Android TV, don’t worry — once the box is updated to the new Android 7.0 software, you can purchase the new Shield Controller to enable these functions. If you didn’t know already, that new controller will also enable always-listening voice control once Google Assistant rolls out later this year — two for one bonus.

Setting up IR control on the Shield Android TV

Open up the Settings on your Shield
Find Display & Sound
Under Display or Sound select Power control or Volume control
Select Setup IR for TV and follow the steps

• Make sure your controller or remote are close to the device and visible to the IR receiver on it
• The interface will walk you through a basic process by which you determine that the controller or remote can control your TV, receiver or soundbar

Once complete, repeat steps 3-4 for your TV, receiver and/or soundbar as necessary until all of your components are set up

Once you’ve set up the devices, you’ll be able to quickly determine if things are properly configured by adjusting the volume on your Shield Remote or Controller. Now when you adjust the volume, the TV, receiver or soundbar’s volume should adjust rather than the Shield Android TV’s own volume.

Customize your IR and HDMI-CEC controls

After going through the process of actually having the Shield Remote and Controller configured to control your devices, you’ll have to go through a bit of trial and error to get everything just right. Inside the Settings area of your Shield, you’ll see there are separate options when it comes to both power and volume for each of the devices you’ve set up — everyone will have a different combination of settings that works for them.

For example, you can configure your TV to turn on and off via your Shield over HDMI-CEC control which is more reliable than IR, but if your TV doesn’t accept volume over CEC then you can do that over IR. Play with the toggles and see what works best for your setup, including using different combinations of IR and CEC for each component in your entertainment center. Chances are, between some combination of HDMI-CEC and IR control, you could have your TV and receiver working flawlessly with a single remote whenever you power up the Shield Android TV.

NVIDIA Shield Android TV

• Read our Shield Android TV review
• The latest Shield Android TV news
• Shield vs. Shield Pro: Which should I buy?
• Join the forum discussion
• Complete Shield Android TV specs

Amazon

Google Maps now factors in parking time for your trip

The perpetually late can easily see how long they’ll be circling around the block for a spot.

Be honest: when you’re factoring how long it takes somewhere, you sometimes forget that parking your car is actually a part of the equation. This is especially an issue if you live in a giant metropolitan area, which is why Google has introduced a parking difficulty featurette to Maps.

Now when you look for directions or driving time to your Friday soiree, Maps will factor in the usual parking time in that particular area based on historical data. Unfortunately, the feature is only available in 25 areas right now. They are: San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, St. Louis, Tampa, Washington, DC, Cleveland, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Portland, and Sacramento.

The parking ability will arrive in a Google Maps software update on your mobile device.

BoomTouch first impressions: The ‘As Seen on TV’ speaker isn’t … horrible?

There’s no way something this inexpensive and lacking any real tech can be any good, right? RIGHT?

You can spend a lot of money on a speaker. Or you can spend a little. But you’ll forgive my skepticism of a cheaply produced commercial that lauds the merits of a speaker that lacks Bluetooth, or even a line-in option.

See at Amazon

No, BoomTouch is one of those things that you see on on TV — As Seen on TV!!! — and think “there’s just no way this thing can be any good, right?” I mean, it’s a $20 speaker that uses magnets to transmit sound from your phone to the speaker. No wires. No Bluetooth. Just magnetic magic.

Well guess what. It sorta kinda works not too horribly! I know, right, that’s not exactly a glowing endorsement. But have a listen. It’s surprisingly good! Or at least surprisingly not horrible. Is this the sort of thing I’d want in my living room? No. Is this the sort of thing I’d send with my kids to the beach, to be baked in the sun and buried in sand? Absolutely.

More: The best portable Bluetooth speakers

Make the switch to Bluetooth headphones for just $8 right now!

Right now Aukey is offering a set of its great Bluetooth headphones for just $8 with coupon code 6MHX7EOV, a savings of $12. Featuring a design that wraps around your ears, the headphones will stay in place when you are being active, and with around 7 hours of playback per charge, you won’t have to worry about the battery life. The lightweight headphones have built-in volume controls to easily adjust while on the go, and the noise isolation will help improve audio quality.

Whether you need a spare set of headphones to keep in your travel bag or want to see what all the hype is about, you won’t want to miss out on this deal. Remember, you need coupon code 6MHX7EOV for the full savings.

See at Amazon

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Which should you choose?

It’s not long to go until the new Nintendo console is released and the Japanese gaming giant starts to prove once again that it has what it takes in the field.

The Nintendo Switch is a different kind of machine to the Wii U, being able to play at home on a TV and out and about in handheld mode. It is also different to other currently available options – most notably the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

But because it’s roughly the same price, it will ultimately come down to a straight choice between them if you’ve got a few hundred quid spare.

That’s why we look at the three major games consoles to see which would best suit you.

• Nintendo Switch preview: Return of the king?
• 5 Nintendo Switch games to pre-order first, and one well worth the wait
• Nintendo Switch vs Wii U: What’s the difference?

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Hardware

The Nintendo Switch is markedly different from the other two in hardware terms. Without going too deep into the specifications, mainly because Nintendo is yet to officially release the specs for the Switch, we do know that it has a mobile processing architecture, while the PS4 and Xbox One S opt for more conventional computing power.

What this means in real terms and how the games will run is yet to be seen, but from actual hands-on experiences so far, we’ve seen Switch games running at sub-1080p on a big screen (Zelda: Breath of the Wild runs in 900p we are told) and 720p in 60 frames per second in handheld mode. Most Xbox One S and PS4 games run at 1080p these days, with some achieving 60fps.

Both the Xbox One S and PS4 are capable of high dynamic response (HDR) graphics these days too. The Switch, as far as we know, is not.

Where the Switch has a distinct advantage over its direct rivals is in portability. Because it doubles as both a home console and handheld games machine it is the only one you can take on your travels with you, to play the exact same games on its built-in 6.2-inch screen.

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Disc drives and storage

Both the Xbox One S and PS4 both have physical disc drives, with the Xbox One S even able to play 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays. Weirdly, Sony, even as a founding member of the Blu-ray Disc Association, decided against adding a 4K deck to its latest PS4 or PS4 Pro consoles. They are still able to play conventional 1080p Blu-rays, however.

The Nintendo Switch can do neither. The Japanese firm has opted to dispense with discs altogether, with games coming on cartridge instead, much like the 3DS and Nintendo consoles of yore.

Games will also be available via download stores, but considering how stingy Nintendo has been with on-board storage, you’ll have to invest in microSD cards to store more than a couple at a time.

The Xbox One S can be spec’ed from 500GB to 2TB, although the 1TB version is the max you’ll really find in stores. The latest PS4 and PS4 can be spec’ed up to 1TB. Both also have the ability to increase the storage through third-party hard drives – the Xbox via external USB 3.0 HDDs, the PlayStation through 3.5-inch internal drives.

The Switch, on the other hand, comes with 32GB of built-in storage. 32GB. The new Zelda takes up around half of that if you buy it from the Nintendo eShop. 

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Games

When it comes to quantity, the Xbox One S and PS4 clearly win hands down thanks to being around for more than three years apiece. The Nintendo Switch is only just starting its life cycle.

Even with that considered, the Switch’s launch line-up is meagre and the confirmed games list for the rest of 2017 is looking thin. Plenty of developers and publishers have committed to the console though, so we expect that to swell considerably over the coming months.

Quality is more subjective. Nintendo has some bone fide triple-A titles coming up that you won’t find on any other platform, such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Karts 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Odyssey. The former will be on Wii U too, but it won’t appear on any non-Nintendo machine.

Of course, both Xbox and PlayStation have their own exclusives, with Halo Wars 2 and Sea of Thieves coming this year for the Xbox One and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and Horizon Zero Dawn coming in 2017 for PS4.

The area where Nintendo Switch needs to improve upon, over the Wii U anyway, is in having some of the same big, multi-platform games as the others. FIFA is coming, for example, but there’s no sign of a Red Dead Redemption 2 or the like.

One area that Switch does trump its rivals is in motion gaming. While the other two have largely shunned the format, the Switch embraces its Wii heritage with its clip-on Joy-Con controllers also doubling as motion remotes. This could bring families back to Nintendo in their droves.

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Media

Both the Xbox One S and PS4 are great media streamers as well as games machines. They each have Netflix and Amazon Video apps, with the Xbox One S offering both in 4K HDR. The PS4 Pro offers Netflix in 4K HDR too.

BBC iPlayer and other terrestrial TV catch-up services can be found on the consoles too.

The Nintendo Switch doesn’t have any of the services available, at least not at launch. Nintendo said that it is concentrating on games primarily and could introduce media streaming somewhere down the line.

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Price

As both the PS4 and Xbox One have been around for a while, prices have dropped dramatically since their original launches in 2013.

You can buy an Xbox One S for around £230 these days and a PS4 Slim for around £220. What’s more, they both come with at least one game.

The Nintendo Switch, at launch, is £280. And it doesn’t come with a game.

Game prices for all three consoles range between £40 and £60. But if you shop around you can make some significant savings, even for brand new Switch games. Check out Amazon.co.uk, for example, it has many of the big titles for as much as £15 off.

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Availability

Both the Xbox One S and PS4, in both its new and PS4 Pro guises, are readily available.

The Nintendo Switch will be released on 3 March and if you haven’t already it’s not likely you’ll get yours on day one. You might be lucky if you’re willing to queue outside a high street store though.

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Conclusion

When and if Nintendo releases the actual specifications of the Switch, we’ll be better placed to make a direct comparison but even now it is clear to see that it is a very different games console to the other two. In many ways, it could be seen as an ideal second machine for hardcore gamers.

If anything, from what we’ve seen so far, it could be a Nintendo 3DS or PS Vita replacement as much as a home console alternative. We’re leaning towards a purchase for that exact reason ourselves.

The motion gaming aspects could be a big draw, especially if there are plenty of family-oriented games available. This is an area where Nintendo excelled with the Wii and it therefore offered something different to the Xbox 360 and PS3 of the time. The same could be true again.

The biggest barrier is price, with the Switch considerably more expensive thanks to being the new kid on the block. It might be worth waiting until Christmas, therefore, when Super Mario Odyssey is due to join the fray. But then, Microsoft’s Project Scorpio will be looming large around the same time.

Square Enix is making an ‘Avengers’ game for Marvel

Yesterday morning, Marvel and Square Enix teased in separate tweets that they had an announcement to make. The internet went into overdrive: A superhero world for Kingdom Hearts 3? Wrong. Very wrong. Today, the two companies revealed a multi-game partnership that starts with “The Avengers Project.” A teaser trailer shows a pair of cracked glasses, Thor’s hammer and an Iron Man gauntlet lying in the dirt, discarded. A sombre voiceover explains how “the world will always need heroes,” even if people think “that if you’re different, you’re dangerous.” It’s all very doom and gloom, buts ends with the hopeful tagline: “We just need to reassemble.”

It’s a surprising partnership. Square Enix is mostly known for Final Fantasy and other Japanese role-playing games. For this particular project, however, it’s turning to its pantheon of Western developers — both Crystal Dynamics (Rise of the Tomb Raider) and Eidos Montreal (Deus Ex: Mankind Divided) are referenced in the teaser. These teams are known for producing big, expensive action games, with dollops of open world and RPG customisation. Together, they have the pedigree to produce a title comparable to Rocksteady’s Batman Arkham series. There’s no word on what the games will be like, however, or when they might start coming out.

Source: Marvel (YouTube)

Amazon is now managing its own ocean freight

Amazon has been working for a while now to build out its shipping and distribution network. Now the online retailer has started coordinating its own shipments from Chinese merchants to its warehouses in the US via ocean freighters. The Wall Street Journal reports that the company doesn’t own any ships, but it’s working as a freight forwarder and logistics provider. These are the companies that reserve space on freighters and handle trucking shipments from port to a warehouse. WSJ says that Amazon has coordinated shipment of 150 containers from China since October.

News of Amazon’s intent to get into shipping freight across the ocean first broke last year when the company gained approval from the Federal Maritime Commission to act as a Ocean Transportation Intermediary. During the 2015 holiday season, the retailer bought extra trailers to beef up its shipping capacity at the busiest time of the year. Earlier in 2015, Amazon began leasing planes for the so-called Prime Air that gave it more control over shipping logistics here in the US.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Twitter apps’ Explore tab combines moments, trends and more

A new Twitter tab marked “Explore” has squeezed its way between Home and Notifications in the microblogging website’s mobile app. When it makes its way to your device, that’s where you’ll have to go to find Twitter’s trending topics, Moments, search and any featured live video. In fact, it completely replaces the Moments tab if you have it in your app. While you could find those features through other means, Explore was designed to make searching for trends, popular topics and the latest news much easier.

The company has been testing the tab for quite some time, but now that it’s officially rolling out for iPhones and iPads, all iOS users can take it for a spin. It’ll be available for Android devices in the coming weeks, as well, so keep an eye out for an update to arrive on your phone or tablet

Source: Twitter

A thousand moviegoers will get their minds monitored all at once

It’s an “action film for the mind”. That’s the pitch. To promote new sci-fi movie MindGamers, someone thought it would be a good idea to strap a thousand audience members into “cognitive bands”. Tying into the movie’s debut, the bands will let researchers monitor and record the state of the audience’s mind simultaneously during the feature, resulting in a “mass-mind state” image of everyone’s feelings and brain activity. Details are thin on exactly what’s being monitored, although the screening is bookended by introductory talks and Q and As from experts in neuroscience technology. That may help to distract from having to wear a headband throughout the entire feature.

The movie (starring Sam Neill!) centers around a group of “brilliant young students” that create a “wireless neural network” that could link every mind in the world through a quantum computer. (Yes, that’s an awful lot of science for a movie description.) However, some kind of sinister threat arises from the idea connecting everyone’s brains, and they have to do something about it. I’m sure it has nothing to do with your cognitive headband. It might go without saying, but just in case: your mind will not be connected to your fellow moviegoers. This is a passive experiment. Relax. Relaaaaaax.

This is apparently the first time that researchers have tried to monitor so many people at once: the team behind it all pitches that the “collective conscious image” could drive research into the nature of human cognition. So relax and prepare to be confused, if not by the film then by the cognitive science explanations before and after. Tickets go on sale February 3rd for the March 28th event.

Trump appoints government regulation critic as FTC chairwoman

President Trump has appointed Maureen Ohlhausen as acting commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). She’ll be in charge of the agency that protects US consumers’ safety and privacy, while guarding them from anti-competitive business practices. Ohlhausen, a Republican, has served as an FTC commissioner since 2012, and will take over from Democrat Edith Ramirez, the chairwoman since of 2013. “I will safeguard competition … [and] work to protect all consumers from fraud, deception and unfair practices,” said Ohlhausen in a statement.

Ramirez presided over some historical FTC actions, including the $10 billion US government settlement with Volkswagen over its “dieselgate” emissions. At the same time, she encouraged deregulation of the tech-driven sharing economy, allowing smaller players to participate in the US market.

Ohlhausen is a critic of rules like the FCC’s Open Internet Order (net neutrality), having recently said in a speech that excessive regulation can make large companies “suffer.” Instead, she’s in favor of keeping corporations in line through enforcement and cooperation, and believes the commission should use “a philosophy of regulatory humility … and be mindful of the private and social costs that government actions inflict.”

As with his appointment of Ajit Pai to chair of the FCC, Trump chose to promote from within. Most of his other agency picks came from outside of government, including Scott Pruitt, the EPA administrator who has sued the agency multiple times. So far, the new President has chosen picks along partisan lines, with most leaning strongly to the right on every issue.

Via: The Washington Post

Source: FTC