Slingbox 700U coming from a TV provider near you

Yeah, we don't believe the headline either, but it's exactly what the Sling Media press release states. Maybe we're just cynics when it comes to cable and satellite providers, but with TV Everywhere and Fancast Xfinity out there, it's hard for us to imagine our provider doing something as cool as connecting this sleek 700u to a standard issue HD DVR. We only wish we could grab this from the store, plug only a USB cable into our set-top box and start streaming video around the internet -- apparently the box configures itself. No, that would just be too easy, but thanks for getting our hopes up Sling.

[fatslug Posted Jan 6th 2010 1:43AM]

Looks like an air filter for my furnace.

[brianbobcat Posted Jan 6th 2010 1:52AM]

@fatslug That it does. Maybe I'm just out of the loop when it comes to Sling itself, but I can't figure out what THIS box does and how it does it. That could just be me I suppose.

-Brian

[ryguy222 Posted Jan 6th 2010 1:58AM]

@brianbobcat
A slingbox basically allows you to watch your TV anywhere in the world via internet, and in HD.

If I'm not mistaken, you can plug it into your cable box's output, and it has an IR blaster that can change the channels. All it requires is an internet connection.

It's not really my thing though.

[Smart People Play Tuba Posted Jan 6th 2010 6:38AM]

@fatslug

Holy cow, I can't imagine how hard it would be to DUST that thing. It's a frickin' dusty bunny factory.

[brianbobcat Posted Jan 6th 2010 1:26PM]

@ryguy222 Sorry, I knew what Sling does, I just don't know what This particular product does. So you plug it into your receiver, great. Then what? Is it USB, HDMI, or other? How does it access your channels? Is it 802.11g, n? Box looks sexy, but outside of that, facts of what it does seem tough to come by.

-Brian

[BenD Posted Jan 6th 2010 1:28PM]

@brianbobcat

It connects to your STB via USB and then to your network via wifi or ethernet. That is it, the controls and video go through the USB.

[loop7 Posted Jan 6th 2010 1:52AM]

That is one elegant propane cooktop.

[ddhboy Posted Jan 6th 2010 2:06AM]

Oh wonderful, just what we need, another fucking monthly charge for a technology that should be free with purchase (read: DVR)

Anyway cablevision would rather die than let one of their customers get their hands on this tech, so I guess I'm out of luck.

[TIMMAH Posted Jan 6th 2010 2:19AM]

Cleans mud off boots?

[TPJ Posted Jan 6th 2010 7:53AM]

The box self configures itself? Really? That's what you wrote - on purpose?

[nimbusthegreat Posted Jan 6th 2010 8:24AM]

please allow myself to introduce; myself....

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 6th 2010 10:22AM]

Bullshit, don't buy sling products, you won't be able to use them with your mobile at all since they don't update their software EVER.

[Tipop Posted Feb 15th 2010 12:08PM]

@(Unverified) Strange comment, considering it's the fact that it was the iPhone app being *updated* that lead me to do some research which eventually brought me to this link.

[DoctarPeppar Posted Feb 15th 2010 12:10PM]

@Tipop
The iPhone is the exception. They haven't updated ANY of their other software (windows, mac, windows mobile, symbian, palm) in years.

[ben g Posted Feb 24th 2010 4:09PM]

@(Unverified)

Also when they do finally update firmware software and it breaks your Slingbox Solo. They try to charge you 29.99 to fix a problem they created, deny they created it, and tell you you are the only one with the problem even though sling forums are FULL of people with the same problem.

[Dan Fruzzetti Posted Jan 6th 2010 10:53AM]

... and they fail to mention that you should never ever allow anything to be spilled into the case. Talk about a device that only lives in child-free homes..

[brandonc1 Posted Jan 7th 2010 9:37PM]

Wow, I can't believe how ignorant you are of this product. Do a little research and then get back to us.