SlingPlayer 2.0 escapes beta, Slingbox PRO HD "any day now"

Not that any of you would be shy from running beta software, but at least now your milquetoastian friends can experience Sling's latest, Windows-based SlingPlayer 2.0 without fear of the beta baddies. Still no Clip+Sling sharing, but the new 60-minute buffer, EPG, and on-screen SlingRemote certainly makes this a worthwhile update. We've also got good new for those of you waiting for the SlingBox PRO-HD to ship -- Sling says "any day now" in accordance to their late September pre-order promise. Righteous.

[Thanks, Martin]

[brian @ Sep 24th 2008 2:20AM]

sling media doesn't care about mac people

[Jack Elliot @ Sep 24th 2008 3:11AM]

You have no idea how right you are.

[thefiendster @ Sep 24th 2008 5:00AM]

about 90% of the market doesn't care about mac people

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 24th 2008 5:29AM]

It is not that Slingmedia do not care about Apple users, it is more the fact that they, like the rest of the world, can't see the point.
What is the point of developing entertainment software for a machine that is used primarily for professional graphics programs and surfing the net? Buy Windows Vista. Be happy.

[Jeff @ Sep 24th 2008 6:55AM]

You do know that the SlingPlayer has been in beta testing for Mac, right? More updates coming, so drop the no mac love crap. FWIW, Linux too is coming.

[MyPackage @ Sep 24th 2008 2:43AM]

This is cool and all but When is their Sling Player iPhone/iPod Touch client finally going to get a release date?

[MegaZone @ Sep 24th 2008 3:05AM]

We (Sling) aren't planning to announce any dates until we're closer to the release. We got in trouble announcing dates too far in advance on things like SP2.0 and SlingCatcher and then experiencing delays. So now we tend not to announce dates until there is little risk of a change. The SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone is in development, we're in Apple's dev program, and we'll say more when it is closer to release.

[Andrew @ Sep 24th 2008 3:27AM]

MegaZone - if the app is in development can you share if Apple has approved the concept/idea of an iPhone Sling player app??? Is Sling working with or have contact with anyone at Apple? or is it just a submit the app and cross your fingers type of situation?

I would hate to wait for this app only to have Apple flat out reject it because it competes with their iTunes movie/tv store or something stupid like that.

[Ceej @ Sep 24th 2008 3:29AM]

Thanks for the update MegaZone, It's good to know you guys are still hard at work on it.

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 24th 2008 5:32AM]

@Andrew,

Andrew, Andrew, Andrew,

What a complete fool you are ! You are asking the very question that the chap has just answered. You moron.

Mac users really are quite thick. By definition.

[Rudy @ Sep 24th 2008 10:33AM]

kccboy2004 what the hell does the type of computer someone uses have anything to do with one's intelligence?

[Andrew @ Sep 24th 2008 12:11PM]

@ kccboy2004
Why so much hatred toward Mac users?

Anyway, I didn't ask about a release date and no my question wasn't answered.

I have no doubt Sling can make a Sling Client app for the iPhone. They even demoed an early version of it back in June. It looked awesome by the way, much better than the WiMo version which isn't much of a surprise since the iPhone just kicks the snot out of all other 'smart' phones.

MegaZone said they are in the Apple Dev Program but I dont think that guarantees the app will be approved by Apple. For all we know the concept of streaming live TV to an iPhone might be a non starter for Apple or ATT.

Thanks for sharing this info with us MegaZone - hopefully Sling is able to release the iPhone app soon.

[Jash Sayani @ Sep 24th 2008 2:52AM]

SlingPlayer...? hey were supposed to release a SlingPlayer for iPhone during AppStore launch. What are they doing...?

[MegaZone @ Sep 24th 2008 3:00AM]

Uh, no, we (I work for Sling) never said the iPhone client would launch with the App store. In fact, we've never given a date for it - and still haven't.

[Jeryl @ Sep 24th 2008 2:58AM]

and BLACKBERRIES TOO!

[MegaZone @ Sep 24th 2008 3:02AM]

SlingPlayer Mobile for BlackBerry is still on track for later this year, stay tuned.

[Josh_Cali @ Sep 24th 2008 5:19PM]

So, we get a time frame for the BlackBerry, but not for the iPhone? :-(

[greg @ Sep 24th 2008 3:22AM]

I really like the new update but I'm a little worried about how much wear & tear the buffering has on my harddrive. Anyone read anything about this?

[Marco @ Sep 24th 2008 5:06AM]

Megazone - the program guide isn't scraping the Zap2it data properly. For proof check ZIP 90036 and select Time Warner (non rebuild) West Los Angeles. Compare the EPG in Slingplayer vs. the Zap2it website. There are channels missing in the Slingplayer 2.0 EPG that are present on the Zap2it site (417, 432, others). Not cool!

Where do I file this officially, or can you please reproduce and submit it? Thanks...

[Steve @ Sep 24th 2008 10:48AM]

All I can say is that they are already aware of this issue.

[MegaZone @ Sep 25th 2008 4:22AM]

To be clear, we're not 'scraping' Zap2it. We license the guide data directly from Tribune Media Services, who also happen to run Zap2it.com. TMS also provides the guide data to DVRs like TiVo. We can report the discrepancy to TMS.

[Yuriy @ Sep 24th 2008 7:34AM]

questions for Sling workers,

is it working with any DishNetwork or DirectTV?
also what about stream size? because all major High-Speed providers are going to put speed limit when you go over 5-50 Gb's specially for HD and what is the point making stream HD when not even all laptops support that resolution not talking even iPones and other PDA and phones with the screen smaller than 4". You should maybe consider to make web-base user accounts so when i for example in China or Germany i can access to my receiver from any PC or any other internet devices that support for example Flash?

[MegaZone @ Sep 25th 2008 4:33AM]

Slingboxes work with many STBs, including many from both DirecTV and DISH Network. Stream size is highly variable - minimum is 256Kbps max can peak out around 8Mbps (though rarely really that high) - depends on the available bandwidth, content, and the resolution being streamed. SlingStream adapts to the conditions, and in SlingPlayer you can limit the resolution, or manually control resolution, bandwidth, etc, if you want. It isn't going to stream HD to a handheld - there is no point. The stream will adapt to the screen. On many handhelds the stream will be 320x240, but there are a number of resolutions available to SlingStream. For PCs and laptops many displays can handle HD. While 1680x1050 or 1440x900 won't show 1080i at full 1920x1080 resolution, they can show 720 which is 1280x720, and 1080i scaled to the display will look better than 640x480, what non-PRO-HD Slingboxes max out at.

As for a web-based player... now that's an idea, isn't it? ;-)

[Eddie @ Sep 24th 2008 9:33AM]

I am a big sling player fan. I have been a Tivo user for years and I use the Tivo online scheduler to record programs when I am away. Now that I have a sling box I can also connect to my Dish Network HD-DVR box and schedule programs on it from the road like I do for Tivo.

[Poke4Christ @ Sep 24th 2008 9:50AM]

Hopefully it will run a little smother now. It was jerky for me while the normal player runs smoth. I don't know if my computer was just not fast enough for the program, but it should be. It may be 4 years old, but it should still be good enough for this program. Anyone had the same problems with the beta?

[munir @ Sep 24th 2008 10:02AM]

for those of us who dont use our slingbox in-house, but always connect from an outside location, will the PRO HD provide any performance difference?

[MegaZone @ Sep 25th 2008 4:26AM]

That really depends on the connection speed, You'll need 1.5Mbps minimum for HD streaming. At lower speeds and resolutions streaming will be comparable to existing Slingboxes, I don't know that there would be a perceptible difference.

[Rudy @ Sep 24th 2008 10:30AM]

i was going to buy a slingplayer earlier this summer but i was waiting for them to come out with the iphone client before i made an official decision.

[Frankenstein Black @ Sep 24th 2008 11:35AM]

@MegaZone
Hey MZ, tell Jen and Mr. Rao that I haven’t forgotten and will return the NDA so that we can discuss the new inventions I have for you company (code name - SlingShot and SlingBade ;^)...

[jupiterthunder @ Sep 24th 2008 12:32PM]

Don't forget your SlingBacks

[F1Mikal @ Sep 24th 2008 5:15PM]

unfortunately, there will be no iphone\sling client.

AT&t doesnt want all us sling users clogging their network.
(I believe this was an official AT&T comment)

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Love my slingbox.
I use it with my MacBookPro all over the world.

My name is Mikal and I approve this ad.

[Daniel @ Sep 24th 2008 5:31PM]

Slingbox is very cool but annoyes my family at home when I change channels on them and upload speeds pretty crappy for my DSL so I started using http://parkmytv.com which is a 'hosted tv' service for place-shifting devices. I sent them my box and for $49/mo I now have super fast bandwidth ie. video quality, no channel conflicts and free reboots if it locks up. It's a beta currently but accepting limited new customers, was lucky enough to get in and lovin it.

[DoomGaZer @ Sep 25th 2008 10:33AM]

That looks extremely suspect. It has absolutely NO details about how the product works and the only thing you can do on their website is give them your money. There is no contact information. I call bogus on this one.

[Squid7085 @ Sep 24th 2008 7:54PM]

How about a Flash based web viewer or some kind of way to watch on a School or Work computer without having to install the software, heck, even a Portable App. I can do that with the FREE Orb, why not $200 later with Sling?