If Nvidia Shield can stream a game via WiFi (~150-300Mbps), where is the 1-10Gbps wired streaming?
- by Enigma
Facts:
It is surprising and uncharacteristic that a wireless game streaming solution is the *first to hit the market when a 1000mbps+ Ethernet connection would accomplish the same feat with roughly 6x the available bandwidth.
150-300mbps WiFi is in no way superior to a 1000mbps+ LAN connection aside from well wireless mobility.
Throughout time, (since the internet was created) wired services have **always come first yet in this particular case, the opposite seems to be true. We had wired internet first, wired audio streaming, and wired video streaming all before their wireless counterparts. Why? Largely because the wireless bandwidth was and is inferior. Even today despite being significantly better and capable of a lot more, it is still inferior to a wired connection.
Situation:
Chief among these is that NVIDIA’s Shield handheld game console will
be getting a microconsole-like mode, dubbed “Shield Console Mode”,
that will allow the handheld to be converted into a more traditional
TV-connected console. In console mode Shield can be controlled with a
Bluetooth controller, and in accordance with the higher resolution of
TVs will accept 1080p game streaming from a suitably equipped PC,
versus 720p in handheld mode. With that said 1080p streaming will
require additional bandwidth, and while 720p can be done over WiFi
NVIDIA will be requiring a hardline GigE connection for 1080p
streaming (note that Shield doesn’t have Ethernet, so this is
presumably being done over USB). Streaming aside, in console mode
Shield will also support its traditional local gaming/application
functionality. - http://www.anandtech.com/show/7435/nvidia-consolidates-game-streaming-tech-under-gamestream-brand-announces-shield-console-mode
^ This is not acceptable to me for a number of reasons not to mention the ridiculousness of having a little screen+controller unit sitting there while using a secondary controller and screen instead. That kind of redundant absurdity exemplifies how wrong of a solution that is. They need a second product for this solution without the screen or controller for it to make sense... at which point your just buying a little computer that does what most other larger computers do better.
While this secondary project will provide a wired connection, it still shouldn't be necessary to purchase a Shield to have this benefit.
Not only this but Intel's WiDi claims game streaming support as well - wirelessly. Where is the wired streaming?
All that is required, by my understanding, is the ability to decode H.264 video compression and transmit control/feedback so by any logical comparison, one (Nvidia especially) should have no difficulty in creating an application for PC's (win32/64 environment) that does the exact same thing their android app does.
I have 2 video cards capable of streaming (encoding) H.264 so by right they must be capable of decoding it I would think. I should be able to stream to my second desktop or my laptop both of which by hardware comparison are superior to the Shield.
I haven't found anything stating plans to allow non-shield owners to do this. Can a third party create this software or does it hinge on some limitation that only Nvidia can overcome?
Reiteration of questions:
Is there a technical reason (non marketing) for why Nvidia opted to bottleneck the streaming service with a wireless connection limiting the resolution to 720p and introducing intermittent video choppiness when on a wired connection one could achieve, presumably, 1080p with significantly less or zero choppiness?
Is there anything limiting developers from creating a PC/Desktop application emulating the same H.264 decoding functionality that circumvents the need to get an Nvidia Shield altogether? (It is not a matter of being too cheap to support Nvidia - I have many Nvidia cards that aren't being used. One should not have to purchase specialty hardware when = hardware already exists)
Same questions go for Intel Widi also. I am just utterly perplexed that there are wireless live streaming solution and yet no wired. How on earth can wireless be the goto transmission medium?
Is there another solution that takes advantage of H.264 video compression allowing live streaming over a wired connection?
(*) - Perhaps this isn't the first but afaik it is the first complete package.
(**) - I cant back that up with hard evidence/links but someone probably could.
Edit:
Maybe this will be the solution I am looking for but I still find it hard to believe that they would be the first and after wireless solutions already exist.
In-home Streaming
You can play all your Windows and Mac games on your SteamOS machine,
too. Just turn on your existing computer and run Steam as you always
have - then your SteamOS machine can stream those games over your home
network straight to your TV! - http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamOS/
