SlingCatcher delayed again, this time until "sometime in 2008"

We've been waiting to get our hands on the SlingCatcher ever since it was announced at CES in 2007 (and re-announced at this past CES) but it looks like we'll have to wait a little longer -- Gregg Wilkes, Sling's VP of sales, has said the product won't be released this quarter as scheduled, but rather sometime later this year. Sling hasn't made this announcement publicly, though: Gregg simply emailed a would-be customer his apologies, saying Sling was committed to providing a "compelling and enjoyable user experience and value proposition," and that the SlingCatcher is still being refined. He also mentioned that Sling's recent acquisition by EchoStar has gummed up the works a bit, but that "all indications point" to a SlingCatcher release in 2008. So reassuring considering the product is already a year late. We talked to our friends at Sling and while they wouldn't comment directly on the contents of the email, they did say the SlingCatcher will only be released when the company "is confident it's designed to our high standards." Yep, that's a delay. Full email exchange after the break.

[Thanks, Christopher]

-----------------

As an owner of a Slingbox Solo looking to put the feed onto a big screen without the use of a laptop, I've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the SlingCatcher. It was announced at the 2007 CES and set to be released the middle of 2007, then pushed back to the fall, then announced again at the 2008 CES (despite having already passed FCC testing late near the end of 2007). The only word on a release date is 'sometime in 2Q08.'

Now, I understand that being bought by EchoStar can mean delays and changes to business plans, but this is getting absurd. We're a week into 2Q08 and there no SlingCatcher for sale, no release date announced...heck, there isn't even a date of when they'll announce a release date for the SlingCatcher. As I said, I understand delays, but it's a very poor business model to completely leave your consumers in the dark. The only thing you're doing is driving the consumers to competitor products like HAVA.

As want to eliminate connecting my laptop to my TV to display the Slingbox feed on a larger display, the SlingProjector and Clip+Sling have very little appeal to me right now. You've driven me to the point of contemplating the complete opposite. I'm tempted to drop hundreds of dollars and build a top notch HTPC to place into my setup instead of your product that's 'coming soon.'

Bottom line, you need to inform your consumers, otherwise you're simply going to lose them. So, I ask, when can we expect an update on the SlingCatcher? When can we expect the SlingCatcher in stores? More delays (after showing working models at the 2008 CES) are not acceptable.

-----------------

I understand you frustration and I apologize for that. You are correct, after being purchased in Q4 of '07, you can certainly understand that product roadmaps and strategies don't happen quickly...certainly not over a quarter.

It is not our intention to frustrate our customer base but to provide the most compelling and enjoyable user experience and value proposition possible.

Will the catcher ship in Q2? No. We are upgrading the user experience and making enhancements to the feature set. These may or may not all ship at the same time.

Will the Catcher ship in '08? All indications point to this happening in 2008.

When we do ship the Catcher, where will it be available? At most of our current retail and online reseller partners as well as Sling Media.com.

I hope this helps...more to come.

Gregg Wilkes
VP Sales
Sling Media, Inc.

[Alex @ Apr 9th 2008 6:13PM]

How about a Sling client in time for the 3G iPhone? Problem with that is, you need a h.264 formatted stream, so we still need a new Slingbox that does h.264. I'll leave it to conjecture as to when we might see that.

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 9th 2008 6:17PM]

What the fuck does this have anything to do with an iPhone?!

I don't mind Apple fans, iPods, iPhones, iClones, iDrones, iStones, iRaqs, or iRans but why must you somehow make every gadget in the world somehow related to the iPhone?

[Alex @ Apr 9th 2008 6:19PM]

Because a Sling client for a 3G iPhone would probably interest quite a few people? And that the new Slingplayers (to my knowledge) are supposed to stream H.264.

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 9th 2008 6:33PM]

I must be missing something.

Please explain why you would an app for a Sling client on your phone when its streaming from your TV/PC.

If you want a smaller screen just pick up that 1" doll TV from the previous posts.

[Alex @ Apr 9th 2008 6:37PM]

Your ignorance bores me, however I'll be sure to hit you up with your request from your Myspace page-

"My GT is Phaiz. Add me. I will pwn you at Halo, Gears of War and Texas Hold 'Em"

Right on Phaiz. You keep pwn'en em dude.

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 10th 2008 12:52PM]

I haven't changed that crap in forever and I hardly go on SpamSpace anymore anyways.

Give me an add if you wish to play, however I suck at those games now. I should probably just list my GT, thanks for pointing this out.

And I have no idea about Sling, Slingshot, Sling Ding, SlingCatcher, SlingThrower, Slinky whatever, thats why I'm asking what you would use this application for on your phone. I'm thinking watching the game while on the crapper, but thats all I got.

I may be ignorant on this subject, however I wouldn't mind being enlightened. Just curious. Thanks!

[Christopher @ Apr 14th 2008 7:17PM]

In response to Lowest Ranked. The Slingbox line (Pro, Solo, AV, classic, etc...) can all currently stream from AV device(s) to a PC application called the slingplayer. It's a big hit for people who travel and would normally miss a game in their local market. Now, you can just grab your laptop, use the slingplayer and see whatever you could normally watch at home. Take that a step farther, what if you didn't feel like lugging around your laptop, but had a smart phone. Now you can watch it on there. Connect a 400 disc dvd changer and now you've got a huge media library travelling with you. For anyone who's ever been away on business for a long time at a clip, a slinbox is a must. Now the slingcatcher, among other things, would allow you to connect directly to your tv and pick up the slingbox feed without using a computer and connecting it to the tv.

[Mark @ Apr 9th 2008 6:19PM]

I really hope these delays are worth the trouble. I really want them to add in DTS/DTS-HD/DTS-MA passthrough so that a receiver can decode it.

I'm thinking of buying an istar mini HD or a full-on HTPC which won't have any restrictions.

[Anthony @ Apr 9th 2008 6:29PM]

The real problem for me is that the longer they wait the more likely I am to find an alternative solution. There are media streamers on the market not a-plenty. Slingcatcher proposes some unique functions, but vaporware isn't really that exciting to me.

[Miami Diver @ Apr 9th 2008 6:29PM]

I am guessing the lawyers and copyright holders are doing more to hold up this product than any "quality problems."

[Anthony @ Apr 9th 2008 6:52PM]

I think you're right. It basically okays loading DVDs onto a computer. They might've been under the radar before, but Echostar certainly isn't.

[owl @ Apr 9th 2008 6:36PM]

We will all be playing Duke Nukem Forever on our Fantom game consoles before this thing ships.

[Doug @ Apr 9th 2008 7:24PM]

I really wish they had released this thing forever ago with just the basic "Catching" functionality. Some of the other proposed features just don't sound that valuable, and I'm guessing its these add-ons thats causing the delay, and will probably make this thing cost more than it really should.

[Christopher Wilson @ Apr 9th 2008 8:35PM]

I really wish they'd just release a basic catcher. I dont need the media features, I'm only interested in the sling player part, my friend has no cable and I own a sling box, so it'd mean we can watch tv at his place. I have a popcorn hour coming so I don't need any of the other features.

[Don McNamee @ Apr 9th 2008 9:59PM]

My way around this whole issue is the use of an old mac-mini on my Sony wide-screen. My mac-mini is running slingplayer and VNSea. My iPhone connected to my vlan running touchpad pro remotes slingplayer perfectly. I just wish the Ottawa Senators would start playing well so I would actually want to watch Canadian television.

[Mark @ Apr 9th 2008 10:55PM]

unfortunately, the Mac Mini doesn't have the necessary capabilities to run any of the high-def formats.

[Matt W @ Apr 10th 2008 9:21AM]

It seems that people here are not aware that the current Slingboxes do NOT sling in HD. I believe 480p is the max with the Slihgbox Solo and the Pro with HD add-on.

So, for everyone wanting to broadcast to that "big tv" in the other room over ethernet or wireless -- you might as well stop waiting and look for something that will actually transmit HD.

[Christopher @ Apr 10th 2008 12:59PM]

I'm the guy that corresponded with SlingMedia and sent it over to Engadget. I hope you all enjoy the update that Sling was so hesitant to provide us with.

In response to Matt, the 2008 CES had the announcement of a Slingbox Pro-HD which will Sling in HD within the network. To sling in HD outside the network, they said you basically need a 2Mbps upload speed or higher. I understand it won't be in HD, as I'm slinging from an HD cable box in CT to NJ and I have the Slingbox Solo. But I also understand that using my laptop and s-video out is degrading the quality that's possible. Now, when Fios becomes available in CT, if I can get my parents to switch, I would consider upgrading to the Slingbox Pro-HD, despite the speculated $400 price tag. Especially then, I would want the SlingCatcher built into my setup. It would integrate well with my Harmony One. Heck, I would consider buying two SlingCatchers and integrate one into my bedroom setup and my Harmony 880.