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SlingPlayer for Mac 1.0 with Apple TV support
We've mentioned the SlingPlayer for Mac client several times since it was first publicly revealed back at Macworld and now Sling Media has officially released it after several months in beta. This version includes support for the Apple TV (as we mentioned before) and word on the web is that it is considerably more Mac-like than the early betas, supposedly sporting a revamped interface compliant with Apple's Human Interface Guidelines.So if you've been interested in a Slingbox for "placeshifting" video content across the internet, now might be a good time to pull the trigger. SlingPlayer for Mac is a free download from Sling Media.Thanks, Lee!
Sling Media wants to stream to iPhone
We mentioned a while back that Sling Media was working hard to add support for the Apple TV to their Sling Box placeshifting device. Now the company's CEO Blake Krikorian revealed at NAB that the company is courting Apple to allow Sling to offer their client software on the iPhone. This would effectively allow iPhone users access to their entire home media collection as connected to a Slingbox. Presumably, this would have to be over WiFi since the the iPhone's EDGE connection would be too slow for video. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Apple is not commenting on this. For my own part, I think this would be an absolutely killer feature for the iPhone, though I would not be surprised if Apple had in mind developing something in house rather than letting Sling offer their client (which already runs on Mac, PC, Windows Mobile, and Palm). [Via MacNN]
The 2006 Engadget Awards: Vote for Gadget of the Year
This is it, the moment you've been waiting for. After all these long months you can finally cast your ballot for the 2006 Gadget of the Year! Our Engadget Awards nominees are listed below, and you've got until 11.59PM EST on Wednesday, April 18th to file your vote. You can only vote once, so make it count, and may the best gadget in all of 2006 win! The nominees: Apple MacBook Pro, Dell 3007WFP-HC, HTC Hermes / 8525, Nintendo Wii, SanDisk Sansa E280R, Slingbox PRO, and Sony PlayStation 3. %Poll-368%
The 2006 Engadget Awards: Vote for Home Entertainment Device of the Year
Now's your chance to cast your ballot for the 2006 Home Entertainment Device of the Year! Our Engadget Awards nominees are listed below, and you've got until 11.59PM EST on Sunday, April 15th to file your vote. You can only vote once, so make it count, and may the best tech win! The nominees: DirecTV HR20, Slim Devices Transporter, Slingbox PRO, Sonos ZP80, Sony BDP-S1 Blu-ray player, TiVo Series3, and Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD player. %Poll-276%
Sling Media working on compatibility with Apple TV
Dave Zatz, an employee at Sling Media, is confirming reports that they're busily bringing compatibility with the Apple TV to their cool Slingbox placeshifting device. The Slingbox connects to your home AV sources (cablebox, Tivo, DVD player, etc.) and your router, and allows you (via the SlingPlayer client) to watch that video stream anywhere in the world over the internet. It even includes an IR blaster that lets you control your source as if you were in your living room with your standard remote (which appears on your screen, like the Apple Remote to the right). Now the Slingbox Pro will apparently connect to your Apple TV (via the component outputs) giving you access across the internets, not only to your video, but to your entire iTunes library (via audio only mode) on your Mac, PC, Palm or Windows Mobile device. Nifty![Via Engadget]
Sling Media working on Apple TV compatibility
So we just got it straight from the horse's mouth -- the horse in this case being Sling Media's and Zatz Not Funny's own Dave Zatz -- that the company is hard at work on adding Apple's Apple TV to the growing list of devices compatible with your SlingBox. As Dave points out, not only will Apple TV compatibility allow you to placeshift your video content, you'll also be able to stream your entire iTunes library thanks to the 'Box's audio-only mode; who needs an iPod when you can access all your music directly from your Windows Mobile, Palm, and possibly J2ME-equipped cellphone sometime in the future? As usual, we'll let you know when you can start slinging your Apple TV swag, and of course, if and when Team Sling does decide to build a Java client (hint hint, nudge nudge).
SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS Beta is live
Hey you, rabid Palm OS fan, 700p owner, and Sling advocate -- remember that SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS Beta you signed up for last month? Well, it's time to lose a little more sleep over it, but this time you'll be enjoying the niceties of streaming media on your handset instead of sweating the release date. According to SlingCommunity, the beta will be going live today, and will officially support the 3G-enabled Treo 700p, but "early reports" are suggesting that 680 owners may be able to enjoy limited success even without Sling's stamp of approval. Of course, the beta will remain free of charge until a public release is ready to rock, and then you'll have the option of cutting ties or ponying up the $29.99 purchase price to keep on slinging. Additionally, the kind folks over at UneasySilence have done the hard work for you already, so be sure to hit them up for a nicely appointed pictorial walkthrough while your waiting to get your own install on.[Via jkOnTheRun, thanks Tie Guy]Read - SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS Beta launchingRead - UneasySilence's Walkthrough
Sling lets its latest boxes loose in Canada
It took them a while, but Sling Media has finally seen fit to officially release its current batch of Slingboxen in Canada, carting its Slingbox Pro, Slingbox AV, and Slingbox Tuner across the border. Canadians hoping for a little something extra given the delay, however, will likely be a bit disappointed, with the only changes coming in the currency. In Canadian dollars, the Slingbox Tuner will set you back $180, while the Slingbox AV carries a slightly higher $200 price tag, and the Slingbox Pro tops things off at $300 -- the HD Connect cable and SlingLink Turbo 4-Port will also both be available in Canada, running $60 and $180, respectively. In addition to the hardware, Sling also took the opportunity for officially announce its SlingPlayer Mobile software for Windows Mobile and Palm OS devices in Canada, with the former version now available for $35 Canadian and the latter still open for beta testers.
SlingLink Turbo and friend get their glamor on
As if we needed any more verification of the existence of such a device, Sling's SlingLink Turbo just go peeped from all sorts of angles for some fancy press shots, and seems to be accompanied by another new SlingLink model that keeps the sexy design but loses the Ethernet hub. What a charming couple.%Gallery-1702%
Sling's upcoming SlingLink Turbo leaked?
When you're slinging media across the home, there's no such thing as "too much bandwidth," and it looks like Sling Media is beefing up its SlingLink line of home wiring network products with the SlingLink Turbo. The new device ups the bandwidth from 14Mbps to 85Mbps, and while the original SlingLinks were primarily designed for a single Slingbox connection, the Turbo vision should be able to handle more general purpose home media networking tasks. The SlingLink Turbo was spotted by a SlingCommunity member on Amazon.com, with an expected ship date of February 27th 2007 for $149. The device is interoperable with existing PowerLine adapters, and has four Ethernet ports beyond the PowerLine link. As far as rumors go, this one looks pretty legit, but with a February 27th date on the books, we should know exactly how legit before too terribly long.[Thanks TieGuy]
Sling under legal fire for patent infringement
A chap that goes by the name of Stuart Mershon is the latest in a line that stretches to the horizon of those bent on putting the legal spurs to our nation's antiquated patent (and legal) system, specifically over Sling Media's line of category-defining Slingbox placeshifters. We're by no means patent lawyers, so we typically try not to side (too heavily) when these kinds of suits rear their ugly heads, but seriously, you've got to check out Mershon's patent in question: the dude was issued a patent for in-home short range wireless headphones to connect to one's home speaker system. Perhaps we're missing out on some of the subtleties of his technology that overlap with the very wired (read: not at all wireless) personal television internet broadcasters that are Slingboxen, but it's in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas's surely capable hands for now.Read - News.com's writeupRead - Stuar Mershon's patent
SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS Beta signups are live
By now, you're fully aware just how deceased Palm OS is, but Sling Media is still lookin' out for those loyal Treo owners out there looking to get their mobile TV viewing on. It wasn't too awfully long ago that we found that the SlingPlayer Mobile application would indeed be making a showing on Palm's handsets, and early last month we got a sneak peek that only made the anticipation that much more intense, but now we can all rest easy, sign up for the Palm OS Beta Program, and hope to get our go. So if you've made it this far without dashing to sign your own self up, well, we'll forgive you, but do your duty and hit the read link on the double if you want to secure your slot.[Via jkOnTheRun]
Sling Media's Clip+Sling: sling video clips to anyone
Sling Media's already announced the Palm OS client and new Sling Catcher media streamer at this year's CES. Now they've dropped word of an inked deal with CBS that allows Slingbox customers to share short video clips with other Slingboxers as well as the public at-large. Using Clip+Sling, as the new technology is called, SlingBox owners can copy clips from their favorite CBS show or sporting event and post their "SlingClips" to an "interactive portal" which can be accessed by anyone. Interested? Then go ahead and apply for the public beta. Sorry, US only for now. Expect to see the software fully integrated into the desktop and mobile versions of the software by Q2.
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.
Sling demos Palm OS SlingPlayer client
We've been tracking the releases of different variants of the SlingPlayer software for quite a while now, so to see that Sling Media has finally shown off a working version of their SlingPlayer client for Palm OS doesn't quite have the wow factor it might have done a few months back. Still, it's nice to know that Palm users are finally assured the ability to view their media wherever they bring their Palm. According to Zatz, Sling is aiming to launch the final version of the software in Q1 2007, with a public beta coming sometime in the next 30 days -- you better watch out there Sling, we'll hold you to that! Meanwhile, Blackberry owners everywhere continue to collectively tap their fingers on the table.
Sling announces Symbian SlingPlayer, partnership with 3
Believe it or not, in some countries personal broadcasting to mobile video is actually encouraged, and Sling's about to capitalize on that more democratic "wireless dialtone" trend. (Verizon, Cingy, we're looking at you.) Paired up with 3, they've announced their SlingPlayer Symbian client for UIQ and S60 alike. At least the N73 and W950 have officially now been shown running the new client it as a part of 3's X-Series initiative, aimed at making mobile internet, well, useful to customers without fear of reprisal for data usage. (Verizon, Cingy, we're still looking at you.) UK residents will be able to get their hands on X-series gear come December 1st, but the rest of us may have to wait some undetermined amount of time before the Symbian client is released for mass consumption.
Sling Media to partner with major carrier soon?
Not a lot of info on this one just yet, but apparently Sling Media's reveling CEO made a potent announcement at the recent Web 2.0 conference in San Francisco. While Sling has made accessing your time-shifted material easier than ever -- even on a myriad of mobile devices -- Blake Krikorian has reportedly claimed that a deal is in the works to partner with "a major mobile carrier" here in the States. He also made note of a few European deals that were also going down, but giving MobiTV such much-needed competition here in the US of A is certainly what's piquing our interest. mocoNews seems to feel that T-Mobile or Cingular (or Amp'd?) could be the lucky provider to get Sling's blessing, but as of know, we're admittedly being left in the dark about exactly who's in line to seal the deal.
SlingPlayer for Mac OS X finally released (in public beta)
It's been almost a solid ten months since we first heard about the SlingPlayer Mac client, but those who've long waited to get their place-shifted Slingbox content on their Apple portable need wait no longer. It's now officially really actually available for public beta download and use, so knock yourself out with version 1.0.1.104 (fret not if that doesn't look right, it's listed on their site as 1.0.0.104). We gave it a go and it works pretty well, no complaints here, but you be sure to let us (and Sling Media) know if it's harshing your Mac's mellow. Click on for a couple more caps.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Mac SlingPlayer Public Beta to be released on Halloween!
Well folks, we've finally got a date for the Mac SlingPlayer client: October 31 (well, for the public beta at least). So Mac users, while you're waiting for trick-or-treaters at your front door, kick back at your desk and take the new SlingPlayer for a spin. Sharon Rylander, Sling's beta program manager writes that if some act of God prevents this release from happening: "I will setup a mini-private beta on the 31st for anyone who has posted on Sling Community and is willing to abide by our beta rules. In other words, for all of you who have been hanging out here at Sling Community, waiting all these months, I'm guaranteeing you a download on the 31st." So there you go.[Thanks, TieGuy]
SlingPlayer for Mac OS X (beta) lands 10/31
We've seen screenshots, and we've even seen it in action, but now Sharon R., in her first corporate blog post for Sling Media, has laid down the law by announcing a Tuesday, October 31st release date (yea, All Hallows' Eve) of their much-anticipated SlingPlayer for Mac OS X public beta. She even went so far as to 'guarantee' it, so that's gotta be worth something. We'll see whether they get hung up by a little too much partying over the weekend soon enough. Stay tuned (hah!).Thanks Mr. Zatz
