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SlingPlayer for Boxee Box hands-on (video)
Sling Media teased its SlingPlayer for Connected Devices with a Google TV demo last month, but we had a chance to go hands-on with the TV streaming service on a Boxee Box at tonight's gdgt event in NYC. The player launched without issue on the demo system we saw, and the interface should feel familiar if you've used any of the SlingPlayer mobile apps. Sling says the application will appear in the list of Boxee apps and in the Spotlight on Google TV when it hits public beta within the next month, or you can sign up to be notified on Sling's website. Post-beta pricing and availability details haven't been released, but you can get your TV fix for free for the duration of the beta period. Jump past the break for a quick peek in our hands-on video.
Sling Receiver 300 catches broadcast TV over WiFi
Already have a TV and don't need the Sling Monitor 150? Sling's filling out its roster of potential products for some friendly OEM TV provider to offer with the Sling Receiver 300. This box is, like the monitor, meant as a companion to SlingLoaded hardware like the (still unreleased) 922 or T2200S, picking up streamed broadcast TV over WiFi at up to 1080i and delivering it to a connected TV via HDMI, component or composite, in-home SlingCatcher style. Want to try it out? We figure a call to the local cable/fiber/satellite conglomerate couldn't hurt.
Engadget's recession antidote: win a SlingCatcher!
You're probably sitting at home right now wondering why you decided to blow all that money on SanDisk stock, having heard the company just suffered a $1.86 billion loss. Well, cheer up, investors -- Engadget's here for you. Instead of wallowing in the muck and mire of this economic downturn, we've decided to spread some love... by giving things away. We'll be shooting off a new item every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff / companies stop sending things. Today we're handing out a SlingCatcher, so read the rules below and help turn this ship around!Special thanks to Sling for the unit!The rules: Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share a tale of heart wrenching economic strife, that's good too. You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine. Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad. Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one Slingcatcher. Approximate value is $299. Entries can be submitted until Tuesday, February 3rd, 11:59PM ET. Good luck! Full rules can be found here.
SlingCatcher updates reportedly on the way, cheers heard all over
Sling Media's SlingCatcher has been hampered since release due to a few software limitations, but according to ZatzNotFunny, project manager Matthew Feinstein has confirmed that both Slingbox PRO-HD high-def / networked drive streaming are on the way sometime this quarter. Supposedly, resolutions are expected to get bumped from 640 x 480 to 1,280 x 540, with the ultimate goal of hitting 1,920 x 1,080. We're also told that UPnP support could be in the cards, and that OS X, SlingSync and SlingProjector software is in development. Mmm, tasty.
SlingLink Wireless adapter appears then disappears from the company's UK site
So, you've been desperately searching and hoping for a way to connect your SlingCatcher into your wireless network router, right? Well back at CES in January, the company showed off a little accessory called the SlingLink Wireless -- a device that would do just that. Unfortunately, details were scarce. Things may be changing, however, as the adapter just appeared on Sling's UK site looking all fancy and official. There doesn't seem to be any indication of a price (last we heard it was $49.99), release date, or regional availability, and when we contacted Sling, they didn't seem to know much more than what the page conveys... and then pulled the info from the site. Oh well -- thank goodness for Google's cache. [Thanks, Brian]
SlingCatcher unboxing and hands-on
We knew the SlingCatcher was sneaking out into the wild, and hey -- we just snagged one at retail in Chicago. We're busy tearing into all the projector, Sling streaming, and media streaming features, but we figured we'd throw up the unboxing photos right away so you can get a feel for Sling's latest, long-awaited box.%Gallery-34821%
SlingCatcher now officially for sale
It's been over a year and half since Sling first announced the SlingCatcher, but the mythical streamer is finally, finally here -- it's now officially for sale on Sling's site and at other major retailers. You already know most of the details about the $299 box -- Slingbox playback, SlingProjector computer streaming, extensive codec support including XviD, eventual Sling.com content delivery -- so we'll just let you hit the order page, but rest assured we'll be tearing this thing apart when our test unit arrives.
SlingCatcher gets unboxed, our hearts beat ever faster
After seemingly endless delays, it looks like the SlingCatcher is finally making its way into the world, as evidenced by this grainy unboxing at the SlingCommunity forums. Sure, it looks exactly the same as the prepro boxes we've toyed with, but we won't lie -- we've been waiting for this box with breathless anticipation ever since it was announced at CES 2007, and combined with the recent launch of the Sling 2.0 software, the Slingbox PRO-HD, and the seemingly-imminent launch of the Sling.com video portal, Sling's ending the year strong. Click on for a few more pics, and don't worry -- we'll be blowing this thing out as soon as we get our hands on one.[Thanks, Christopher]
Sling Media's Slingbox PRO-HD / SlingCatcher up for pre-order
Check it, placeshifters -- two new must-have boxes have just popped up for pre-order on Sling's website and Amazon's online marketplace. Sling Media's awfully exciting SlingCatcher and the sleek Slingbox PRO-HD are now ready to be loved for $299.99 apiece, though neither site gives any indication of ship dates. Still, with the holiday season just around the bend, we'd expect to see 'em both out before too long.[Via ZatzNotFunny]Read - SlingCatcher pre-orderRead - Slingbox PRO-HD
DISH Network's forthcoming DVRs get detailed: hints of Sling all over
Although DISH Network's previous quarter wasn't anything to write home about, it sounds like the satcaster (EchoStar, technically) isn't going to allow its set-top line to grow stale in the process. During the recent Team Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, DISH's CEO Charlie Ergen reiterated that it would be beaming out "more than 100 national HD channels" by the end of 2008, and he also made mention that the EchoStar 11 satellite would lift off in July. Most interesting, however, was all the talk about the new STBs. The forthcoming ViP 722 will be the first HD DVR from the outfit with loads of Sling technology built in -- not too shocking considering the recent acquisition. Additionally, the box is said to feature an all new interface and the ability to browse to (select) websites, double as a SlingCatcher and even handle Clip & Sling duties. There's plenty more where this came from, so be sure and hit the read link when you've got some spare time for reading.[Via GizmoLovers]
SlingCatcher delayed again, this time until "sometime in 2008"
We've been waiting to get our hands on the SlingCatcher ever since it was announced at CES in 2007 (and re-announced at this past CES) but it looks like we'll have to wait a little longer -- Gregg Wilkes, Sling's VP of sales, has said the product won't be released this quarter as scheduled, but rather sometime later this year. Sling hasn't made this announcement publicly, though: Gregg simply emailed a would-be customer his apologies, saying Sling was committed to providing a "compelling and enjoyable user experience and value proposition," and that the SlingCatcher is still being refined. He also mentioned that Sling's recent acquisition by EchoStar has gummed up the works a bit, but that "all indications point" to a SlingCatcher release in 2008. So reassuring considering the product is already a year late. We talked to our friends at Sling and while they wouldn't comment directly on the contents of the email, they did say the SlingCatcher will only be released when the company "is confident it's designed to our high standards." Yep, that's a delay. Full email exchange after the break.[Thanks, Christopher]
SlingCatcher and SlingModem hands-on
So we got a chance to check out Sling's new SlingCatcher and SlingModem, and while weren't actually able to flip the switch on the modem and have a pro cable installer got at it, the SlingCatcher was definitely running. Unfortunately for us, the unit was extremely pre-release, meaning the menus felt sluggish, the device crashed a couple of times, and it generally felt like there was a lack of polish. But the folks at Sling aren't really ones to disappoint with what they put out there, and since the Catcher isn't out until Q2 we're going to give it a pass for now.%Gallery-12833%%Gallery-12832%
Sling announces SlingCatcher (again), SlingPlayer 2.0 with Clip+Sling, and Sling Cable modem
Remember the SlingCatcher from last year? Through with the delays, it's finally back! But while we've been eagerly awaiting for its launch, Sling Media's obviously been hard at work on all kinds of crazy new products. Ready? Here we go.So the SlingCatcher. First up, we've finally got a price and date: $250, Q2. And yes, as we've long expected, it'll play just about every possible video format they can feasibly support out of box, including XviD, DivX, WMA, H.264, avi, mov, vob, etc. Also, unlike last year's launch, there won't be any external drive attachment -- users are expected to bring their own. Also launched with the Catcher: the SlingLink 802.11b/g adapter for $50, which is great and all, but the Catcher can't stream video files over your network (you're expected to manage your media with new SlingSync software or stream using the Projector software or another Slingbox), so it's not as practical or useful as it could be.Next up, Sling's new software suite: SlingPlayer 2.0 with Clip+Sling and Projector. The new player software has a few new noteworthy bits like an EPG, but the good stuff happens with the other bits: Clip+Sling adds a 60 minute timeshifting buffer รก la a DVR recording a live stream, so what you're watching can be paused, rewound / fast-forwarded, and most importantly, grabbed and exported to Sling's to-be-released TV clip sharing service (hence the name Clip+Sling). Users can grab up to five minutes of video, which Sling hosts on co-branded pages that network owners can sell their own ads and merch on -- has TV clip sharing online finally found a way? Another hot new software feature is Projector, which acts like a software-emulated Slingbox, sending the contents of a box, window, or your entire screen to a Slingbox, SlingCatcher and TV, or another SlingPlayer.And, finally, Sling is announcing our old pal the SlingModem, originally outed in the FCC. While there aren't any cable providers yet announced, the SlingModem experience would completely simplify the process of adding a Slingbox to your life by putting it just outside your LAN.%Gallery-12825%
Video: Slingcatcher in action at CES 2008
Thank goodness you're here -- you're just in time to witness the Slingcatcher doing it's thing in glorious, low-res video. We promise you this: when all the slinging and catching is over, you won't know what hit you.
SlingCatcher box reveals codec support: why hello, XviD
We honestly can't wait for Sling's SlingCatcher media streamer to be released, so we'll take any little scrap of info we can -- and these shots of the box are pretty tasty scraps indeed, because it looks like Sling's latest will have some sweet codec support: WMV, MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264 and XviD in a variety of file formats, including .VOB. Sadly, it looks like output maxes out at 1080i, but that's a small tradeoff for what looks to be one of the most flexible streamers on the market. Hit the read link for two more shots, including the codec list.
Sling's SlingCatcher pushed back to fall
If you're anything like us, you're probably wondering where the hell Sling's SlingCatcher home media streamer is. Well, we put it out there and heard back from Sling: apparently that summer launch was a little "aggressive", and the release has been silently moved back to fall. Bummer, because we were really stoked to fool around with this sucker. Ah well, as long as Sling isn't too worried about the Apple TV eating the SlingCatcher's lunch, we'll sit quietly like well behaved gadget nerds.[Thanks, Cole]
Hands-on with the SlingCatcher
We managed to get some photos of Sling's hard drive-toting, PC video streaming SlingCatcher today. Seeing as our photos are just external hardware shots, this is technically more of a "SlingCatcher on-our-hands" rather than a "hands-on," but hopefully they'll give you a better idea of the scale of the device. In case you didn't catch our earlier post, the SlingCatcher will probably be released sometime around mid-2007, and is expected to include WiFi and a hard drive (making this the first Sling device with integrated hard drive based storage.) Check out a couple of other angles of the SlingCatcher after the break.
SlingCatcher to tread on iTV vapor trail?
In the first of what will probably be several moments of Macworld/CES friction, there are reports from Engadget, among other sources, of the latest Sling Media product: the SlingCatcher, a remote receiver for Slingbox streams that will work as a set top box for TVs. With wireless networking and an internal hard drive for storing hypothetical purchased content, this begins to sound very much like a preannounced product we've heard about.It was too much to wish that everyone else would stay out of Apple's way while the iTV finished baking; perhaps the shadow of SlingCatcher and similar devices on the horizon caused the atypical WWDC "It's Showtime" preview of unreleased hardware. If you knew that the simplicity of the iPod/iTunes combo was on the way for your video streaming, would it be worth waiting for? Or would you go Sling instead?