SHIELD console by NVIDIA: The next best thing

The Shield portable gaming console by NVIDIA is a peculiar device. Unlike most other members of the species, the gadget runs Android, meaning that it can be loaded with all kinds of games and applications straight from the Google Play store. Also, it can be used for all kinds of tasks you would usually do on a smartphone, such as checking email or browsing the web. Of course, all of the latest games are playable on it thanks to the Shield's powerful Tegra 4 chip paired with 2GB of RAM. Anyone who has been waiting to get one of these will be happy to know that NVIDIA has dropped the price of its Shield console. Initially expected to launch for $349, the portable gaming console is now on pre-order for a bit more acceptable $299 with a limit of 4 consoles per person. And for an extra $39.99 you can add a deluxe carrying case, while the custom tags to personalize your Shield with are priced at $19.99 apiece. A couple of full Android games come pre-loaded – Expendable: Rearmed and Sonic 4 Episode II THD. As for its hardware specs, the NVIDIA Shield comes with a 5-inch screen, the resolution of which is 720 by 1280 pixels. Storage is limited to 16GB, but a microSD card slot is present for expanding that space further. Android 4.2.2 comes running on the console out of the box. To learn more about it, our Shield hands-on would be the right page to visit. The NVIDIA Shield portable gaming console can be pre-ordered from the company's web site. Shipments are scheduled to begin before the end of June. Source: NVIDIA