Tag Archives: nvidia shield tablet

NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1 released: a tablet for gamers

3 Replies
Last updated Monday, May 9, 2016

NVIDIA Shield Tablet K1 just released

It’s baaaaackkk!  The NVIDIA Shield K1 has just been released following the recall of the old NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet for fire-hazard issues. This time though, just the 16GB model, and it’s bring your own stylus. This tablet is aimed at gamers and has a Tegra processor that makes it really fast, faster than other Android tablets. The art app Dabbler that came in the first version provides real-time dripping paint effects, so you can do a mini Jackson Pollack Action Painting.

nvidia shield tablet k1

This time there’s no micro-USB, charger, or stylus included: It’s bring your own accessories. This has allowed the company to introduce it with a far lower price than the last version. But even if it lacks both a stylus and a slot for it, this version still compatible with the Shield DirectStylus 2, which offered sort of an artificial yet effective pressure sensitivity.

At 8″ it’s a little bit small to draw on, but at least lag shouldn’t be an issue.

Specs:

8 inches
1920×1200 pixels
2.2 GHz Tegra K1 192-core NVIDIA Kepler CPU
2.2 GHz quad-core CPU
2 GB RAM
16 GB storage
Wifi (no LTE)
Bluetooth
Android 5.0 Lollipop
Weight 12.5 ounces
8.80 x 5 x 0.36 inches
mini HDMI port
micro SD port takes card of up to 128 GB

It can be turned into a gaming console with the SHIELD controller (optional) and also has an optional kickstand.

Best of all, the NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet is very affordable and considerably less than the last version. They are not including the stylus, the Shield DirectStylus 2 with this release, but you can buy it separately.

See the NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1 on Amazon.

See the Shield DirectStylus 2.

For more info on the art capabilities, please see this related post.

 

 

NVIDIA Shield 2 reported for 2016: gaming tablet, Dabbler art app

Leave a reply
Last updated Wednesday, August 24, 2016

NVIDIA Shield 2 gaming tablet powers its own painting app

NVIDIA Shield 2 gaming tablet reportedly coming in 2016 keeps the Dabbler art app

nvidia shield tablet

NVIDIA Shield Tablet

As you may or may not have heard, the popular NVIDIA Shield Tablet (see on Amazon) was recalled last year because of battery problems (the battery was a possible fire hazard). Customers with the recalled units could get a free replacement. The NVIDIA shield has a fast Tegra processor and has been marketed primarily as a gaming tablet; however, Nvidia makes its own art app, Dabbler, that took advantage of its graphics acceleration to offer effects such as realistically-dripping paint. The stylus is the NVIDIA  DirectStylus 2.

nvidiashielddirectstylus

The pressure sensitivity in the NVIDIA SHIELD is not like Wacom, N-trig, or Synaptics. It’s not even an active digitizer at all. Rather, the processor can read how hard you’re pressing the rubber tip of the Direct Stylus. And it actually works, though not quite to the level of a real active digitizer. Still, it’s a pretty darn good sketchbook. Dabbler’s effects menu includes drawings, watercolors, and oils.

Here’s a video of the NVIDIA Dabbler art app with Direct Stylus 2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7JJqM8oMYQ

Now, reports are saying that a sequel is coming out, the Nvidia Shield 2. Like the original, it will run on Android and have the latest Tegra processor, the Tegra x1. It will have an 8″ display.  THe battery life for non-gaming is said to run 10 hours, with half that for gaming. The rumored list price will be $299. (The original is still for sale in two sizes and prices on the NVIDIA site.) You’d also be able to use other Android art apps.

If you have one of the NVIDIA Shield Tablets facing recall and have not yet returned it to NVIDIA, go to this page on their site that has info about the recall.