Trade show shocker: Sling to out some new gear at CES

Okay, you're not surprised that some companies are going to have new gear at CES, are you? Well, we''re hearing that Sling -- a company that's not had much news this year beyond the release of its iPhone app -- will definitely unleash some new stuff in Las Vegas, including "WiFi television, ultra-slim Slingboxes, and a next-generation touch screen device." Now, we don't want to get everyone overly excited this early in the day, but those all definitely sound like upgrades to us. We really don't know if Sling will let slip any more specific info between now and CES, but as you know, we'll be In Vegas when it all goes down, so sit back and be patient. It won't be long, now.

[JeremyBenthem Posted Dec 30th 2009 9:43PM]

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/07/sling-medias-new-slingcatcher/

[though Posted Dec 31st 2009 2:34PM]

where is the Palm Pre software??????

[N900 Posted Dec 30th 2009 9:45PM]

SlingTablet! *boos* Kidding! Kidding!

[TSIG Posted Dec 30th 2009 9:53PM]

Slingplayer built into the iSlate. :)

[GMoney Posted Dec 30th 2009 9:57PM]

I can't believe that it has taken this long for them to add WiFi to their slingboxes (if that's what wifi TV means). Not everyone has ethernet jacks next to their cable boxes.

[FarmerBob Posted Dec 31st 2009 11:50AM]

@GMoney

Sling has had HomePlug as well as some of Echostars upper end DVRs. But it's the 85Mbps v1.0 and not the faster version as one would expect. My neighbor got installed from scratch the other day and they used a Sling branded gizmo to connect his DSL to the satellite receivers through the houses wiring. Not sure WiFi is needed now. What would be nice is that they adopt the 200Mbps version.

[GMoney Posted Dec 31st 2009 11:58AM]

@(Unverified)

Dude, networking your house through the electrical outlets?? Is that a standard practice? Sling neglects to add something as simple and standard as WiFi to their hardware and then charges you extra so that you can network through your power outlets??? What if your outlets are on different circuits? I can't believe Sling Media is so behind on this...

[iName Posted Dec 31st 2009 4:12PM]

@(Unverified) or you can just put wi-fi and make everyone else's life easier? why would anyone want to go through all that hassle when sling could just include wi-fi or at the very least provide a wi-fi dongle.

[mknielsen Posted Jan 2nd 2010 4:53PM]

@GMoney I'm waiting untill it's possible to buy routers that support fiber-cables. Till that day, WiFi is just as usefull.

[wyldtek Posted Dec 30th 2009 10:07PM]

They need to get to work on that Android app.

[toadtongue Posted Dec 30th 2009 10:15PM]

How about they release that damn sling-enabled dish 922 that has been announced since about.... oh.... CES last year?

[iName Posted Dec 31st 2009 2:19AM]

@toadtongue sling is as sloooooow as molasses when it comes to releasing things. they are just awful.

[Moobz Posted Dec 31st 2009 7:22AM]

@iName The Slingbox Pro-HD was announced for UK release "soon" in September 2008. There is still no sign of it.

[jfine Posted Dec 31st 2009 10:29AM]

@toadtongue I hear ya. I was really thinking of switching to Dish when I saw the VIP922 last year. Needless to say I'm still with TWC.

[slp15 Posted Jan 1st 2010 8:24PM]

@toadtongue Yeah what happen to the Spring 2009 release for their HD DVR 922. This is ridiculous! There hasn't even been any rumors of anything. The only thing they need to announce at this CES is the release of this DVR!

[bolezhinkov Posted Dec 30th 2009 10:25PM]

man I feel like I should care about christmas and stuff, but its sort of a non-event when you know that CES is so soon after.

[t1c0 Posted Dec 30th 2009 11:08PM]

iPhone 3G support!?

[forcegoat Posted Dec 30th 2009 11:49PM]

How about an Android and WebOS app?

[munir Posted Dec 31st 2009 1:13AM]

Honestly, was anyone clamoring for a slimmer slingbox? How about an android or webOS app? Preferably something with 3g connectivity. In an ideal world, they should make their web viewer not require an additional plug-in, so that all mobile devices that support flash (and most should within the next 6-9 months) are sling-ready

[DaveBach Posted Dec 31st 2009 1:57AM]

@munir

I agree, a slimmer Slingbox is not what I'm looking for. I've had a SlingBox Pro for a few years now and not once taken a moment to wish it was thinner. The two SlingCatchers I have however I have thought about extensively. They have a lot of room for improvement.

[mikeweezer Posted Dec 31st 2009 12:42PM]

@munir

Agreed - my folks aren't complaining about the size SlingBox I've stashed behind their TV. They just get mad when I change the channels on them...
Would love to see some updates for my SlingCatcher and Android support. I can't stick with WinMo forever.

[matto Posted Dec 31st 2009 2:00AM]

The only announcement I'd like to hear from Sling is that they've released a MacOS client that doesn't suck. But I'd probably have better luck hoping for unicorns to shoot out of my Slingbox's ethernet port.

Seriously, the OSX software these subhuman simps crank out should be illegal.

[Frankenstein Black Posted Dec 31st 2009 2:08AM]

I say the "Slingshot" and the Slingblade" shows up at CES.
What and how? ;^)...

[iName Posted Dec 31st 2009 2:16AM]

they need to drop their prices and upgrade not only their hardware but also their software, especially their client for mac.

[bessmilda Posted Dec 31st 2009 5:51AM]

Dont care....call me back when they release a linux client. Hell, I'd settle for a browser plugin at this point.

[SilverBlade Posted Dec 31st 2009 11:28AM]

How about a Slingcatcher that can compete with Popcorn hour/Seagate Theatre HD?

[FarmerBob Posted Dec 31st 2009 11:56AM]

@(Unverified)

A while ago Sling was bought by Echostar the hardware spinoff of DISH Network. I'd pretty much say that their development plans may have been put on hold, changed, or are being reevaluated. In time they'll bow to your commands.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 31st 2009 11:58AM]

@(Unverified)
They aren't just my commands...
http://sling.uservoice.com/pages/18846-slingplayers-for-desktop-and-mobile/suggestions/40962-google-s-android?ref=title
There are over 4000 people asking for android support, and have been for the past year and a half (that thread has 3500 votes but there are other android threads on the site as well that haven't been merged with votes), and sling has done absolutely nothing.
Also, their WM and Symbian players don't run on barely any mobile devices sold in 2009.

[hungarianhc Posted Dec 31st 2009 3:33PM]

Can we just get the iPhone app to not suck?

[Woody Posted Dec 31st 2009 4:37PM]

@(Unverified) at least the iPhone OS has an app for sling, be thankful for that! lol

[Griffin Posted Dec 31st 2009 7:15PM]

when ATT stops fraudulently blocking 3G connections from slingplayer on our iphones...perhaps then slingplayers will come back from the dead.

[mknielsen Posted Jan 2nd 2010 4:57PM]

It would be nice with a Slingbox with build in combined DVB-T and DVB-C (both MPEG-4) and HD.

Another feature: Build in web-server, for streaming directly to iPhone through Safari/Quicktime. This works great with EyeTV from Elgato.