Nvidia Shield Portable Console gets Android Lollipop 5.1 update

Nvidia has announced that a major update is now available for their Android-based Shield Portable Handheld Console. This new update follows last February's release, which featured system stability fixes and improvements to how the console's system runs and handles emulators.

Android Central reports that the 435 MB package, called Software Upgrade 103, updates the console's entire operating system to Lollipop 5.1 from the previous Jellybean version.

In addition to the OS update, Software Upgrade 103 also adds Chromecast support to the device, meaning users can now use the Shield Portable as a source device for Chromecast or any Google Cast Ready device connected to a TV.

On the bug fixes front, the latest software upgrade to the Shield Console fixes a bug that prevents books to be read using Google Play Books.

The Twitch app also gets updated along with the operating system. According to Nvidia, users will find two Twitch icons in their app drawer, one purple and one white. Users simply need to delete the purple icon, as only the white one is supported in Android Lollipop.

However, as Nvidia gives, it also takes away. Software Package 103 removes several apps that were previously bundled in the Android installation of the Shield Console. The update permanently takes out Sonic 4: Episode II THD, Expendable: Rearmed, and the default Android web browser app.

Also, with the previously-mentioned inclusion of Chromecast support, the Shield Console has officially dropped support for Miracast technology.

An article on Maximum PC meanwhile clarifies that Nvidia does not require Shield owners to upgrade their consoles to Android Lollipop.

Users that have upgraded their unit to Lollipop and are not satisfied with the performance of the unit may reflash their console back to Android Kitkat through an older OS image available for download through the Nvidia developer's website.

However, the company does warn users that rolling back the unit to Kitkat after upgrading to Lollipop will cause it to lose all data previously stored on it before the OS update.