Nvidia might be known for their GPU units or SoCs inside some computers or mobile devices. Their technologies are dedicated to display better graphics so games could look their best. So what happens when this company decides to build their own tablet? The Shield Tablet is a compact but powerful device, it is powered by Nvidia’s Tegra K1 processor with 2 GB of RAM, a Full HD screen, front facing stereo speakers and some gaming software. Grid is a game streaming system that lets users to play Android games with advanced graphics. The company hasn’t forgotten about productivity, so a stylus is included and some apps are preinstalled. An optional Shield Controller is also available to make gaming more comfortable.
The tablet currently runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, and in fact, this has been one of the first devices to get the new versions of the OS. Now, another update for this tablet is available, it’s the Shield Tablet Software Upgrade 3.1.1. It includes a security patch for Stagefright. For those who doesn’t know what this is and the importance of this patch, it was a vulnerability in the media library of Android that came in the form of a media file in an MMS and it allowed the attackers to access personal files and use some components of the devices such as the cameras or the microphones. This has kept companies working hard in a solution, some of them have promised monthly updates to protect devices against this or other threats in the future. Yesterday, it was reported that the code of the threat was made public, so developers can help the companies to find a solution.
The update also includes the typical stability and performance improvements. The changelog also mentions system wide optimizations and fixes, including battery performance and Netflix playback. The Shield Wireless Controller is also getting a firmware update, which will be prompted the next time users connect the controller to the tablet. The update should appear in a near future as a notification, but keep in mind that not all tablets get updated at the same time, so be a little patient.