In keeping with its trend of releasing patches for the Shield tablet roughly a month a part, Nvidia has released another update to improve the performance of its gaming tablet.
Update 1.2 brings enhancement to the features in the Shield Hub. Much like Valve's Steam, the Shield Hub is a portal that gives Shield users access to their video game libraries and a storefront to purchase new content.
The other additions and enhancements included in Update 1.2 include network test capability, customizable "My Android Games" and "My Media Apps," "Share" functionality for news stories, a swipe feature and improved touch performance. The update also included miscellaneous stability and localization improvements.
Update 1 was released on July 28 and followed by Update 1.1 on Aug. 28. The latest update was released on Sept. 30, arriving just as the 32-GB LTE version of the Nvidia Shield launches.
The Nvidia Shield Tablet pushes forward the evolution of tablet gaming and is a descendant of the GPU maker's Shield handheld, a gaming device designed to stream video games to its display from a gaming PC. Reviewers have praised the Shield Tablet for its sharp display and solid connectivity, but have warned that its gaming experience isn't flawless and the device is more valuable to individuals who actually need a tablet.
With the LTE version of the Nvidia Shield now out in the wild, reviewers have had a chance to test the gaming tablet's performance on cellular networks.
After testing out the 32-GB Shield Tablet's ability to stream games from home to a tablet at a cafe miles away, the reviewer stated that the Wi-Fi connection made for unbearable gameplay. But a switch to an LTE connection returned playable frame rates on the Shield Tablet, though it was still imperfect.
"When I tried streaming Borderlands, it was like trying to play a game of Who Can Advance The PowerPoint Slidedeck With a Fishing Rod," states the reviewer. "But since I had the brand-new LTE version of the Shield Tablet, I didn't need to play that laggy, disgusting game. The moment I disconnected from Starbucks Wi-Fi and fired up my AT&T LTE connection, Borderlands was nearly as playable as if I had an Xbox 360 hooked up to a TV."
While Nvidia pushes its gaming tablet and the powerful Tegra K1 processor inside of it, the GPU maker has waged a legal war with Samsung and Qualcomm. Nvidia alleges that the pair infringe on seven of its GPU patents, though Samsung denies those claims.
