SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone coming shortly: $29.99, no 3G support

After what has become one of the longer (and certainly one of the highest-profile) App Store approval delays, SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone has finally gotten Apple's blessing -- with some serious changes under the hood. Most importantly, 3G access has been disabled, meaning you'll only be able to get your Sling on over WiFi -- a serious blow to the app and a huge change from the way SlingPlayer Mobile works on other platforms -- and likely a verification that either Apple or AT&T took serious issue with the bandwidth load imposed by this type of app on the HSPA network. Despite the restriction, Sling will be charging a whopping $29.99 for the download; in exchange for your troubles, though, they've decided to lift the ban on older Slingboxes, with the caveat that they won't be officially supported if you run into trouble.

We've had a chance to play with the app, and it certainly gets the job done -- we just wish it worked a little better. Even on WiFi, control feels laggy, and there's no native guide (though there's an icon to quickly pull up your set-top box's guide). When you're in letterbox mode, you've got black bars around all four sides of the image, meaning that the app isn't taking full advantage of the phone's display; we're hopeful this'll be fixed in a future release, though. Happily, we think Sling really nailed the app's UI -- the on-screen translucent controls are pretty cool and generally work well without obscuring the view. Look to grab your own copy some time between 12:01AM and 6:01AM EDT tomorrow morning, and in the meantime, check out our gallery.

Update: The app's now available, so get ready to part with $30 (and to not part with your 3G bandwidth -- you certainly won't need it here). Thanks, everyone!

Gallery: SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone hands-on

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[pete @ May 12th 2009 12:44PM]

Time for Jail Break!

[Wifigod @ May 12th 2009 12:45PM]

Uhh, what's jailbreaking going to do?

[redbenn @ May 12th 2009 12:46PM]

maybe would work with 3GoverWiFi... doubtful

[munir @ May 12th 2009 12:48PM]

jailbreak + voipover3g = slingplayer mobile on 3g networks

the app essentially tricks the iphone into thinking its on wifi

[redbenn @ May 12th 2009 12:50PM]

but that doesn't always work... i tried that with the ncaa march madness on demand, and it would not recognize the network (confirmed it worked with joost and a couple other apps)

[yode @ May 12th 2009 1:10PM]

jb also means getting the app for free :)

[munir @ May 12th 2009 1:10PM]

voipover3g only works for a couple of apps by default. i believe these are the app store, the itunes music store and skype (after a recent software update following skype's release). in order to get the program to work on other apps, you need to ssh into your phone and update a text string or two.

im told there are other options to voipover3g, but i am not familiar with any of them

[munir @ May 12th 2009 1:11PM]

@yode

dont be a douchebag. you make the jailbreaking community look bad. if you want the app's functionality, pay for it.

[Jasonbot @ May 12th 2009 1:28PM]

I read 'SingStar Mobile for iPhone' FAIL!

[Jon @ May 12th 2009 2:05PM]

I was all set to pay $30 this app the moment I saw it, but no 3G means no money from me!

I'm guessing it's not slings fault, so I'm sorry to them...but flat out, I will jailbreak my phone and steal this app. Then enable the 3g funcionality as it was intended. You can count on the hackers out there to fix this problem for us.

If 3G gets implemented in the future, I will happily pay full price.

FUCK APPLE AND FUCK AT&T!!!

[Mike Vaia @ May 12th 2009 2:07PM]

Wow, no access over 3G... Fuck you AT&T. I can't wait for my contract to expire. My phone is already jailbroken and unlocked -- I'm going to take my money somewhere else -- ANYWHERE ELSE! Jagoffs.

[Lazarpandar @ May 12th 2009 4:41PM]

@munir
People pirate music all the time, whats the difference?

[one2gamble @ May 12th 2009 12:45PM]

yay apple/at&t, disable the features that people pay for.......wow

[Jay @ May 12th 2009 1:09PM]

They stole that idea from Verizon!!!

[Encoding @ May 12th 2009 1:13PM]

http://www.slingmedia.com/go/spm-features

Click "Internet Connection" and it says:

SlingPlayer Mobile supports any type of high-speed Internet connection on your mobile device, including 3G or above cellular services such as EV-DO or HSDPA, WiFi, or USB/Bluetooth-based connections.


Maybe the approval process took a month because they needed SlingMedia to rebrand it as SlingPlayer | WiFi.

[Mystic @ May 12th 2009 1:15PM]

Why do you anti-Apple nerdtards always lump Apple and AT&T together. Get over it losers, we all know you don't like Apple.

[one2gamble @ May 12th 2009 1:19PM]

@mystic

If apple didnt have complete control over what its owners can and cant install on the phone then sling wouldnt have had this issue. Im sure it was pressed by att but its still lays at the feet of apple

[TheSuburbanWhiteBoy @ May 12th 2009 1:39PM]

Wait, does Verizon own AT&T now? Crippling phones left and right

[Frankenstein Black @ May 12th 2009 1:48PM]

LOL! @Jay
Yea this is a Verizon style gimping!

Oh, question: Someone tell me why this wont work on iPhone
http://www.sling.com/
Over 3G and for FREE to boot!

[Greg @ May 12th 2009 1:49PM]

Who even wants this without 3G support? If I have to use WiFi, I may as well pull out my laptop. And for $29.99?? Ouch.

[Jeremy W @ May 12th 2009 3:25PM]

Go ahead and bash Verizon, but I can use any app on my Touch Pro over their 3G network. Nothing is restricted, unlike AT&T's highest profile phone.

[malkmus @ May 12th 2009 3:33PM]

@mystic

"anti-apple nerdtards"? The people complaining are iPhone users (translation: NOT anti-apple) who were looking for to buying this app and using it un-crippled.

[Matthew @ May 16th 2009 12:54PM]

@Frankenstein Black:

It's because there us still no fuching Java support.

[munir @ May 12th 2009 12:46PM]

does anyone know if the Pre's classic emulator will be able to handle SPM for Palm OS?

[Talon Trax @ May 12th 2009 12:46PM]

I sense a mutiny coming on...

[Dan @ May 12th 2009 12:50PM]

IF you get Slingmobile (for ANY handset) guard that activation key with your life. They will NOT help you retrieve it if you have to reinstall, change your handset, etc. Terrible customer service and no it won't show up on my sling.com account nor sling store.

[Jason @ May 12th 2009 12:47PM]

$29.99? Not nearly expensive enough for Apple product users to feel trendy and special. Needs to be $50+.

[Joshh @ May 12th 2009 4:08PM]

lol that gave me a good chuckle :]

[Erwos @ May 12th 2009 12:47PM]

$30 and no 3G support? What's the point?

[redbenn @ May 12th 2009 12:49PM]

agreed... if I have wifi... I would much rather use SlingPlayer on my laptop then my small screen iPhone... what is so mobile about this?

[Adam @ May 12th 2009 12:49PM]

Thats what I am thinking. I get this for free already on my computer.

[Leindurstit @ May 12th 2009 12:49PM]

The $30. For them.

[getnate @ May 12th 2009 4:42PM]

ditto.

[GreezyG @ May 12th 2009 12:54PM]

I concur. I am SO glad I didn't upgrade from my trusty old Sling Classic now! I will not be buying this app :(

[BeyondtheTech @ May 12th 2009 1:18PM]

Me, too. I was almost stupid enough to use their $50 "discount" on the SlingMedia site. I could stomach a $29 price tag - after all, LogMeIn Remote remains to be well worth the purchase. However, the omission of 3G support when it clearly works on the BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices on all of the carriers is a dealbreaker.

More of the reason there shouldn't be any further AT&T exclusivity for the iPhone. You wanted it so bad, you got your customers, you shouldn't have squandered your time and network capabilities. I'm loyal to the iPhone, not so much to AT&T. If T-Mobile or Verizon gets a hold of the next generation iPhone, whenever that comes out, the switch is on.

[Mikeweezer @ May 12th 2009 3:49PM]

I believe the WinMo version was about $30 - totally worth it. Works great on Sprint's EVDO - Excellent for catching some baseball while the wife is shoe shoppin.

AT&T needs to pick up their game.

[d889 @ May 12th 2009 4:27PM]

and that right there is the reason gsm phones needs wifi, when youve got a stupid ass carrier that doesnt want its bandwith used.

i dont care what people say, thank god im on verizon and i dont NEED fucking wifi

[MrSoprano @ May 12th 2009 12:48PM]

Oh well..... Guess I'll use that $$$ towards something else since no 3G support. Good thing I didn't buy a Slingbox yet, and now I have no plans on buying one either!

[speck58 @ May 12th 2009 12:49PM]

Man, the gimped the hell out of this. I've been waiting for this since they announced it. I don't have a slingbox but I would totally buy one and pay the 29.99 if they enabled streaming over 3g. Streaming over wifi makes this thing useless.

[iKurt 5D @ May 12th 2009 12:50PM]

Take THAT, Palm Pre.

Public apps downloaded for the iPhone: 1 000 000 000+
Public apps downloaded for the Pre: 0

[jordn @ May 12th 2009 12:55PM]

You're an idiot.

The Palm Pre hasn't even been released yet, and the iPhone has been on the market for almost 2 years.

[CHRiS @ May 12th 2009 1:33PM]

well technically the iPhone has been on the market for ALMOST 2 years, and the app store open for a little UNDER 1 year.

[neodorian @ May 12th 2009 1:47PM]

Take what? Did you design and create the iPhone?

I swear, there are too many people so desperate to have the best and greatest toy that they would rather see all new development and innovation stop than risk their bragging rights.

I have lots of gadgets that I love and use daily but you'll never see me talking shit on something new coming out that is better. I *want* to see better devices come out and dethrone the ones I currently use. That way when it's time for me to upgrade there is a nice cheap reason to do so.

So what exactly is it about the Palm Pre that makes you need to put it in its place? Did it rape your dad? Did it steal your lunch money?

Or are you just blindly talking shit about anything that isn't your preferred device?

Also for what it's worth, I've been streaming my cable to my WM phones via 3G for free over the past 2 years. Orb will take any local media or anything from your cable tuner and stream it over whatever connection you have to your phone, laptop, or whatever you have.

I don't think you're in any position to tell other devices to "take that" when they do a pretty good job of the very thing your preferred one does not.

[DirtyVegas @ May 12th 2009 1:57PM]

Obvious troll is obvious troll. You would think people would ignore them by now.

[Joshh @ May 12th 2009 4:15PM]

@DirtyVegas

ugh, tell me about it...people look more stupid retaliating to the comment the actual troll post itself.

[Samboini @ May 12th 2009 4:27PM]

Engadget can we ban this cockend? And all his alter egos? Seriously, permaban every IP address he ever visits from.

[MS @ May 12th 2009 12:49PM]

In years to come this whole saga will be used to illustrate how not to release a product:

Pre announce it, take forever to release it, totally piss off loyal early adopters, over sell and under deliver.

I'll wait and read some reviews and then decide to drop $30 on this... I wonder also if there will be a 30 day trial, as for at least some of thier other mobile versions - er, probably not...

Oh, and by the way, stuff AT&T, I'm in the UK, and couldn't care less about thier precious network

Shambles...




All of this is disappointing if not surprising.

[Brett Lamb @ May 12th 2009 2:12PM]

I agree this is the worst way to handle a new release. They sent out that $50 Discount (which I almost bought into) and said you NEED the NEW Slingbox and your old one is junk now. Then they don't enable 3G. What a waste of software, and they want $30 for it. I would rather take out my 16.4" widescreen and watch my Sling on there, and by the way AT&T I will use my 3G Broadband card and suck up your bandwidth ALL Day Long watching my Slingbox Classic....STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!!!

[ahmace @ May 12th 2009 12:50PM]

screw that 30 damn rip off

[Tyler @ May 12th 2009 12:51PM]

This is ridiculous!!!! How come my Windows mobile phone (3G mind you) was not even an issue? And don't say AT&T can't support it on their network, because they shouldn't give a device 3G if that can't support it at it's maximum. I pay over $100/month for unlimited banwidth so I want Apps that are all you can handle!!! I mean, I doubt anybody is going to make this tiny screen their primary TV watching experience. So why punish those people? And after spending $30, you BETTER get more than just WiFi! People who buy this app are settling...