SlingPlayer Mobile for Android ready to entertain you for $30 starting tomorrow

After a public beta spanning a couple months, Sling is rolling out the latest piece of its expanding SlingPlayer Mobile portfolio this week -- this time for Android, plugging the biggest coverage gap it currently has. This is the same app we recently had an opportunity to check out, but since that preview, we're happy to report that it's been massaged into a more stable, more usable setup -- gone are the disconnect crashes we'd had before. Furthermore, Sling claims they've specifically worked to improve load and response times with this version, and we have to say that the effort is noticeable -- this definitely feels like the fastest SlingPlayer Mobile we've used to date. It's officially available starting tomorrow from the Market in Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and the US for $29.99. Follow the break for the full press release.

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Sling Media Launches SlingPlayer Mobile for Android Smartphones

Application now delivers your home TV experience to Android phones anywhere you have mobile phone access

Foster City, Calif., – June 22, 2010 – Sling Media, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), announced today the availability of its SlingPlayer Mobile™ application for Android™ Smartphones. The all new application gives Android phone users easy access to their home TV experience anywhere they have mobile phone or Wi-Fi internet access. Now anyone with an Android phone never has to miss a favorite TV show when they're away from home.

"We're committed to the Android platform, and users of our new and improved SlingPlayer Mobile application will experience one of the most complete mobile television experiences available today," said Sling Media Senior Vice President and General Manager John Gilmore. "Now the full spectrum of viewing, including local channels and sports teams, video on demand, pay per view and even control of their home DVR, is available to the growing number of people moving to Android."

How it Works
When in your mobile phone provider's area of 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi coverage and connected to a Slingbox® SOLO, PRO or PRO-HD, SlingPlayer Mobile makes it simple to watch and control your living room television at any time from any location. Watch live and recorded TV and schedule recordings of new programs from any Android Smartphone.

SlingPlayer Mobile for Android features faster startup and control response times, and it works among a variety of Android-based mobile phones in the market today. It also has a new user interface that gives quick-touch access to the most critical remote controls and recently viewed channels.

Current Pricing and Availability
SlingPlayer Mobile Android is available now for download for $29.99* in the Android Market in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States.
*Price is in U.S. dollars. U.S. dollar to local currency exchange will be carried out at purchase via the customer's bank or credit card provider. Pricing and availability subject to local laws.
Visit http://www.slingbox.com/go/android for more information.

About Sling Media, Inc.
Sling Media, Inc., an affiliate of EchoStar Technologies L.L.C., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), is the leading provider of video placeshifting products and services for consumers and television service providers. Sling Media's product family includes the internationally acclaimed, Emmy award-winning Slingbox™ that allows consumers to watch and control their living room television shows at any time, from any location, using internet-connected PCs, Macs, PDAs and smartphones. For more information, visit www.slingmedia.com.

[tipton Posted Jun 22nd 2010 2:44AM]

The new android app is slick and works great...but WHERE THE HELL IS THE FAVORITES BUTTON !!!

this is ridiculous how can this no longer have a favorites button? you mean i actually have to REMEMBER channel numbers on this mobile device that is as ridiculous as having to buy this software license 3 separate times.

SERIOUSLY WE NEED A FUCKING FAVORITES BUTTON. swiping left or right to go back and forth from channels you entered before isn't going to cut it.

[jones4765 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 3:44AM]

Just downloaded and running on my Evo. The quality is good (coming from a touch pro 2). The frame rate looks to be around 20-24fps and the sound is great. Still can't the setting to do personal adjustments, i.e. resolution, data rate, audio bitrate. However, I do like the new screen adjustments (widescreen fills screen). So far I'm impressed.

P.S. Running a Pro-HD through component cables.

[shaneakus Posted Jun 22nd 2010 6:57AM]

i've been waiting for this since the day i bought my G1 2 years ago. now i have a nexus one with froyo and the app is forward locked, le cry.

[Joe Las Vegas Posted Jun 22nd 2010 9:54AM]

$30 for such a great app is a steal, compared to the $15/month for FloTV

[HerbieDerb Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:53AM]

For all you whiners complaining about the $30... the hardware comes with WM/Mac versions of slingplayer. They have to spend time developing for all the different handheld OS's as they become popular. Cant expect them to keep doing that for free. Don't eat a couple of meals this week and you'll have your $30, as well as lose some of that fat gut of yours.

[ericlin Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:56AM]

bought mine!
slingplayer classical also works well!