Sling says it didn't change iPhone SlingPlayer for AT&T (Updated)
By Nilay Patel 
posted February 5th 2010 11:11AM
posted February 5th 2010 11:11AM
Update: Sling just called us to clarify the above statements -- while it didn't make any specific changes to iPhone SlingPlayer, its engineers did work with AT&T to make sure the app didn't interfere with other customers and clog up the network. Sling says that once AT&T was involved in the testing process and "saw how the app worked," things went smoothly, and that the app was "refined" to meet AT&T network requirements -- refinements we were told would come to other platforms over time. Sounds good to us, although we're still wondering why this wasn't the party line in the first place.
Then what the hell is AT&T talking about?
@hollis
I thine one of the commenter at Ars is probably right.
What AT&T is doing is that by lying about Sling "complied" with the request, they can "more reasonably" ask everyone to comply with their soon-to-be-published new requirements for streaming products on AT&T's network.
"Hey, even the big player Sling complied to our demand, so you better work with us on our terms!"
@hollis - who cares, just bring it already, Apple?
Its the same way that I don't need to see the cow getting slaughtered behind the scenes. All I need to know is the the steak is damn good. Just sayin...
And just watch it get denied from the App Store. That'd be so typical.
@HardToBelieve
If I remember correctly, iTunes has TV shows for like $2-$3 per episode.
I'm pretty sure Apple won't be happy letting users sling tv shows instead of purchasing them from iTunes.
(Same thing with flash)
@HardToBelieve
Typical how? Apple isn't interested in denying their users more functionality when it has nothing to do with them. So far, the only reason apps like this have been denied is because of AT&T, i.e. bandwidth issues.
@Jack
It'd be like them allowing an app that allows for free iTunes downloads. It'd hurt their sales.
@HardToBelieve
The app is already allowed just not over 3g. Why would Apple care if it is over 3g or not? Damn they way some think.
@iPad
I don't know, maybe I just don't know what I'm talking about.
@HardToBelieve @erb
I think you two are correct. Apple will not do anything to hurt their iTunes $$. Sure you can watch now via WiFi but that really inhibits the user from a functionality standpoint. Allowing a 3G connection will let the user watch anytime, anywhere - now tell me that won't slow down purchasing iTunes media (at least for Slingbox owners).
Personally, I will not be surprised if Apple does the same thing it is doing with the Google Voice applications - that is, state that they are "reviewing the application" - forever and ever.....
@iPad
Because I can't take WiFi with me. I'd have to stay at home, work, some place that has WiFi. In which case I wouldn't buy the video anyway. I'd pull out my laptop and watch it there. That's very little money out of their pocket.
This way, I can stream it over 3G and I still don't have to pay Apple to watch my show.
Apple barely makes anything on tv show sales. Once you factor in bandwidth, then pay the studio, then hardware and support costs, it's next to nothing. They do it to offer a full ecosystem, and for your average Joe who doesn't have/can't setup a slingbox. Buying on iTunes is dead simple.
Maybe AT&T did some non-neutral network-y things without Sling...?
Interesting. If I had Slingbox i'd be excited - good for those who have it. I don't think Slingbox is popular enough to create a real issue with AT&T's network
@TomSawyer
I agree with you...how many people actually use the SlingPlayer on their mobile? I requires an expensive upfront cost of a SlingBox as well as an additional $30 for the mobile SlingPlayer. I have a SlingBox Pro and a few Sprint Windows Mobile devices and whenever people see it streaming and say, "hey cool, how does that work?" I usually lose them at the point of having to purchase a SlingBox.
So then I switch it up and tell them about Orb and lose them when I tell them that they need to have a computer at home that they always leave on. One final note on Orb and the app store...don't buy the $10 app. All you need to do is direct your browser to mycast.orb.com and select the iPhone layout which I believe is preselected for you.
This makes me curious as to how well Sling Player will run over 3G. If it's laggy/choppy/unresponsive/et al...who will really care if you can't use it?
@benson peculiar
It'll be no different than youtube.
@benson peculiar Surprisingly, it isn't too bad. I jailbroke my phone for two reasons, the once or twice a month I need to tether my iPhone to my computer and to bypass the wifi-only restriction of SlingPlayer. I've been using it for about a year around Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pa, both inside AT&T 3G coverage areas, and its clear enough. Watching sports on it though isnt perfect, with the small screen and the minor pixelation, reading the scores displayed during Pens or Steelers games can be tough (when they make the scores bigger right before commercial breaks, its perfectly legible).
@GuppieXX
I jail-broke for the same reason. Watched the Saints win in OT while shopping with my girlfriend. Works surprisingly well over AT&T 3G, in Sacramento anyway.
@GuppieXX Sounds good to me. I retract my previous statement.
@benson peculiar No need to retract it, you didn't know how well it worked. I'm sure it will certainly depend on your coverage area as well as the upload speeds at home, I was just giving you my particular experience with it. Hopefully I'll have a faster upstream soon to possibly make for an even better connection, and once I run some new Cat5, I'll finally be able to move my Slingbox PRO-HD next to my cable box to get all the HD channels instead of relying on the built-in cable tuner.
Assuming all goes relatively smoothly, what kind of time frame are we lookin' at here?
Well, the load sling would put on the system isn't much different than youtube. I think more people are using the youtube app versus have a slingbox.
Anyone else been using it over 3G with 3G unrestricted? On mine it sucks the battery down -quick-. Hopefully its optimized a bit more ;)
As if ATT had wireless access consistent enough to even make this worthwhile---- I think not!
I've been using slingbox on widows mobile devices for years over AT&T and Verizon's 3G without issues. Can't imagine why the iPhone should be any different. I actually found that it's alot better with Verizon though -- not sure if the network is the cause or not thought cause obviously it was on a different device. This is typical of AT&T though; always trying to make themselves out to be the "good guys" when really they are never.
@DoctarPeppar
I've been using SlingPlayer Mobile on Sprint 3G with three different Windows Mobile phones for at least three years now and I've got no complaints.
Hey, any word if any of those guys that left SlingMedia after their year of contracted service was up have started up any other cool ventures that we might be interested in?
ATT, OMG. Terrible
Yeah Right!
whatever the video is gonna look like crap on at&t's 3G anyway.
AT&T has to maintain the illusion of bandwidth scarcity. Nothing else going on here.
Uh, Sling, could you please shut up before AT&T changes their minds already?? If they say you changed it, you changed it. Doesn't matter to me. Just get this thing through the app store approval already.
Why did ATT have to lie?
@WestleyP
So they could blame the crapiness of their network on Sling's alleged sloppy coding.
To my shame, I don't get the screenshot collage of this article. Is this some internet meme or funny bit of trivia I don't know? What does it refer to?
@Gorilla800lbs
That's footage from a very recent video conference (a few hours ago) where Steve Job's on the right it telling the CEO of Slingmedia that their app store is going to reject the 3G SlingPlayer Mobile app and that they need to just suck it up, take it, and sleep it off.
I've never seen any issues with video on an iPhone, at least not in my area (far from the big cities). This is because unlike the *other* 3G phones on their network, AT&T doesn't limit the iPhone's data speed. As one of my best friends likes to say about this, "You'll pay for 3G, but you'll only use...THE EDGE!!!"
I can play sling on my iPod Touch wifi tethered to my Droid....yeah!
@gentlefury
Oh yeah...I can load my SlingPlayer Mobile app on my Sprint Windows Mobile device, connect to my DVR, select a channel to record, and exit the app, all in about 20 seconds...try that on your set-up. I've got an iPod Touch and sometimes I run my mobile as a WiFi router and for connecting to the SlingBox that would get old pretty fast.
It's hard to spin things when the companies you're in bed with don't even like you. That was total spin on at&t's part to explain away why they wouldn't allow it until now. They couldn't just admit that the FCC held a gun to their head...
@Joe McG
My thoughts exactly!
@dark star
Changeable memory cards?
@HardToBelieve
This comment seems to be in the wrong place. Please delete them both, Engadget.
Dear Apple, PLEASE free us from AT&T exclusivity! We need some competition here!
AT&T had to figure out how to replace all the actors on your TV shows with Luke Wilson before they'd allow it.
I bet part of AT&T getting the ipad had to do with this, and voip over 3g, allowing these apps to work helps apple in the long run by providing features people want at no cost to apple
Wait, I thought apple said (back when th GV app was rejected) that AT&T did not have any control over what was allowed in the app store? Hmmm.
My guess is that AT&T wants people to buy the 3g enabled iPad. If Sling works over 3g there is more intensive for folks to pay the extra for the 3g version. If AT&T is seen as limiting their 3g network, people might just but the wifi only version and att won't even have a shot at getting the extra 30 bucks a month.
I'm still a little miffed this is $29 on the app store.
@rkdiddy Then don't use it.
Use that other hardware and software system that lets you watch your TV when outside the home.
Oh, wait...
There isn't one! (At least not that I know of.)