Sling Media's Slingbox PRO HD, SlingPlayer for BlackBerry announced

Sling Media's starting up this year's CES blitz early (like just about everybody else this year) with the announcement of the Slingbox PRO HD box and SlingPlayer client for BlackBerry cellphones. The PRO HD has the full complement of built-in HD inputs, but will actually pass through and stream out video in HD (1080i, to be specific) in real time, unlike the Solo and PRO (which lack the PRO HD's more advanced hardware-accelerated encoding, and stream closer to VGA res). And, of course, the BlackBerry client does as it says -- you can finally use your strictly-business handheld to watch mobile video on the go. The PRO HD will run you $400 when launched in Q3; BlackBerry will be $30 when it comes out "this year," if that's not vague enough for you. Get in line, Sling fans.

Gallery: Sling Media's Slingbox PRO HD, SlingPlayer for BlackBerry announced

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[Luis @ Jan 4th 2008 12:39AM]

Is it at all possible to have a version of slingplayer for the iPhone or is edge just that sucky?

[Raymond @ Jan 4th 2008 2:48AM]

I'd say that EDGE is, as you eloquently put it "sucky". There just isn't enough bandwidth to make it worthwhile. It'll just spoil the whole experience.

[cg0def @ Jan 4th 2008 5:34AM]

Actually the problem is not the network used. Yes EDGE sux a lot but if you look at some of the pictures there is one with the connection settings for the blackberry and the max bitrate is set at 120 ( probably kbps ).
http://www.engadget.com/gallery/slingbox-pro-hd-blackberry-slingplayer-hands-ons/557194/
Now last I checked edge has no problem supporting that. The problem however is that Apple like always would like to control everything and I doubt Sling will go for that. Plus Blackberry gave Sling more than a generous offer considering the stiff competition that BlackBerry has been facing for the last couple of years...

[Michael @ Jan 4th 2008 8:25AM]

I've used the SlingPlayer for Treo on my 650 on EDGE...it's not great. It does work, and if you're stuck at the DMV, it will save your sanity, but that's about it. Who knows, AT&T says the 3G iPhone is due and Apple is set to release an SDK...anything is possible.

[BobTurbo @ Jan 4th 2008 12:42AM]

Well I don't normally comment on Slingbox posts, but I have to congratulate Sling Media on making products that are not unsightly visual pollution such as the leopard skin router and Dell metrosexual monitor below.

[Odd TSi @ Jan 4th 2008 12:42AM]

Let's be realistic here, this will most certainly NOT be streaming out HD with 99.9% of the internet connections out there.

[Ryan Block @ Jan 4th 2008 12:43AM]

It will be if you're doing it in your house on your local network.

[Anthony @ Jan 4th 2008 11:20AM]

We mostly use our sling for in-house streaming (from tv to computer room/exercise) so it would work for us.

However- announcing something now that won't release till Q3 is a bit of a time-waster for me.

Slingcatcher anyone? Bueller?

[Tom @ Jan 5th 2008 5:28PM]

I have FiOS with 2 megabit upload and for about $15 more a month I can have 15 megabit upload, more than enough to do HD with decent codecs.

[Constable Odo @ Jan 4th 2008 1:10AM]

I've had my SlingBox Pro for almost a year, so I guess it'll be time to move up to SlingBox Pro HD when it's released. I mostly use it around the house to watch live or recorded cable shows on my MacBook Pro. I'm using an "n" WiFi network so I guess it should be able to handle the higher data rates. I haven't had a single problem with the SlingBox Pro, so far. It's a handy device.

I certainly wouldn't mind if they developed a SlingPlayer for the iPod Touch, but I guess that will have to wait until well after the SDK is released.

[Bob @ Jan 4th 2008 1:11AM]

I see this device as only relevant over your home network with the Slingcatcher, if that ever comes out. For half the price, I'd rather stick with my Slingbox Pro.

[Ed @ Jan 4th 2008 1:36AM]

Finally, my Blackberry will be useful for something.

[Lazerface @ Jan 4th 2008 1:45AM]

woot! now I can watch my 100 gigs of pron on my blackberry!!!

[Anthony @ Jan 4th 2008 11:22AM]

I imagine you could have some serious "now what's happening here?" moments while viewing on a Blackberry sized screen.

[PalmUser @ Jan 4th 2008 1:06PM]

So what??? I've been watching my slingbox on my Sprint Treo for ages!!

[gibber9583 @ Jan 4th 2008 3:11PM]

Thats why this is news and an announcement idiot.

[ryanweikert @ Jan 4th 2008 8:02PM]

Slingplayer for blackberry! Finally my prayers have been answered. Hopefully they can deliver a product faster than the slingcatcher. We've been waiting over a year for that!

[D Figueredo @ Jan 5th 2008 11:15AM]

Hey - whatever happened to their Vista interface that they announced last year? The ability to time-shift was also suppose to show up, as well. I wouldn't count on anything for Q3!

[Satan_L5 @ Jan 6th 2008 12:49AM]

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