Sling Media
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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.
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.
15-inch Sling Monitor 150 makes in-home placeshifting look good
Sling Media has brought back the Sling Monitor it first revealed during last year's CES press conference, now dubbed the Sling Monitor 150 and aimed at attracting television service providers to offer the company's suite of hardware. We can think of a few places to fit his 15.6-inch 720p display that picks up HD broadcasts over its WiFi antenna for that in-home placeshifting love. The only difficulty? Getting cable, telco or satellite operators that have so far failed to bring SlingLoaded hardware to market since the original announcement to actually sell us one. Good luck with that.
Trade show shocker: Sling to out some new gear at CES
Okay, you're not surprised that some companies are going to have new gear at CES, are you? Well, we''re hearing that Sling -- a company that's not had much news this year beyond the release of its iPhone app -- will definitely unleash some new stuff in Las Vegas, including "WiFi television, ultra-slim Slingboxes, and a next-generation touch screen device." Now, we don't want to get everyone overly excited this early in the day, but those all definitely sound like upgrades to us. We really don't know if Sling will let slip any more specific info between now and CES, but as you know, we'll be In Vegas when it all goes down, so sit back and be patient. It won't be long, now.
SlingPlayer Mobile 1.1 for iPhone picks up App Store approval
That sweet little update to SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone that Sling submitted for Apple's perusal about a week and a half ago is now approved and available -- version 1.1, as it were -- bringing native DISH Network navigation, improved widescreen support, and improved response times throughout the app. Separately, Sling has updated us on the 3G-compatible flavor of the app that they've submitted for consideration outside of the US, but so far, no dice -- the company hasn't heard back from Apple, which means it's all WiFi-only for the moment. Wouldn't want to saturate those pricey little 3G cells, now, would we? [Thanks, James C.]
Echostar might SlingLoad other manufacturer's cable boxes
Even though some cable giants are already trying their hand at placeshifting with TV Anywhere, Echostar may be ready to leverage its technology by licensing the SlingLoaded feature to other set-top box manufacturers like Motorola, Cisco or Pace, according to Cable Digital News. With its tru2way cable box still notable lacking a distribution deal, this could be a way for Sling fans that don't want any additional hardware to get it in the home, but speaking of that T2200S (still not coming to retail channels according to Senior Product Manager P. Margit Tritt) the company's presence at The Independent Show also gave it an opportunity to feel out the needs of smaller cable operators. Either way, there's plenty of time before its planned Q4 2009 launch - go on, admit you're excited, we don't judge here.
SlingPlayer coming to Pre "at or near launch"?
webOS' web technology-based app architecture seems to become less and less of an issue by the day; most of our fears were allayed the moment we saw Classic break cover, and this is another strong sign that the Pre's going to be able to handle just about any multimedia-rich stuff we throw at it. A Sprint-sourced page out of a Pre slide deck entitled "The Pre Application Story" lists a series of "showcase apps" that the carrier thinks (or, at the very least, optimistically hopes) will be available around the time of the phone's launch, and the most interesting thing on here has to be a listing for Sling Media -- you know, those cats making Slingboxes and SlingPlayer builds. Beyond that, we don't have anything -- it could be 3G or WiFi-only (though the fact that this is on a Sprint slide gives us hope that they'll leave EV-DO enabled), it could launch next month or next year, and for all we know, it only works with boxes that aren't even out yet. It'll be kind of cool to see this app running as a card on the Pre's interface, won't it?[Thanks, sdafdsfasdf]
AT&T issues official statement on SlingPlayer's 3G blackout for iPhone
Sweating bullets over network saturation, are we? AT&T's obviously taking a good helping of heat today over Sling's rock-and-a-hard-place decision to remove 3G streaming capability from its SlingPlayer Mobile build for the iPhone -- a decision that gets at the very heart of several hot-button issues plaguing AT&T and Apple alike -- and the carrier understandably felt the need to release an official statement to address the situation. Unfortunately, it prompts as many questions as it offers answers. It starts off simply enough, stating that apps like SlingPlayer could create congestion on the network that denies services to others -- and while a truly trivial number of users own Slingboxes, we understand what they're getting at; no amount of tweaking or fudging of a modern HSPA network can withstand the traffic onslaught generated by wildly popular streaming video services.Here's where we start to lose our way, though. AT&T cites a portion of its wireless terms and conditions -- "Applications like this, which redirect a TV signal to a personal computer, are specifically prohibited under our terms of service" -- and says that it considers "smartphones like the iPhone to be personal computers in that they have the same hardware and software attributes as PCs." Sure, guys, but a RAZR shares 85 percent of its DNA with a PC and an iPhone shares 87 percent, so we're splitting hairs here -- never mind the fact that you've inexplicably labeled the S60-powered Nokia 6650 (which can run SlingPlayer, by the by) a dumbphone simply because it lacks a QWERTY keyboard. Furthermore, AT&T specifically points out that it doesn't restrict users from downloading streaming videos, which is the very problem SlingPlayer generates -- the upload from the user's TV on the far end is the ISP's concern, not AT&T's, and we figure that the network pressure generated by the download is roughly equivalent to watching a whole bunch of YouTube videos. It doesn't add up.Next, the carrier uses the opportunity to pimp its extensive WiFi network and says that you're welcome to use SlingPlayer there; that's all well and good, and yes, it's cool that AT&T gives iPhone users free access to the hotspots, but it's no substitute for the mobility of streaming Sling over the WWAN, which works really freaking well -- just ask countless BlackBerry, S60, WinMo, and Palm users who are using SlingPlayer as you read this. The only material difference is that they can't be touched -- not as easily, at least, as iPhone users who are bound to the whim of Apple's singular, all-powerful clearinghouse.Look, AT&T, just tell it like it is: you're saying your 3G network would fold like a cheap suit if these apps took off. Thing is, it already has in some places -- trust us, we've experienced it firsthand -- so let's make sure the blame gets distributed appropriately here.Follow the break for AT&T's full statement.
SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone coming shortly: $29.99, no 3G support
After what has become one of the longer (and certainly one of the highest-profile) App Store approval delays, SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone has finally gotten Apple's blessing -- with some serious changes under the hood. Most importantly, 3G access has been disabled, meaning you'll only be able to get your Sling on over WiFi -- a serious blow to the app and a huge change from the way SlingPlayer Mobile works on other platforms -- and likely a verification that either Apple or AT&T took serious issue with the bandwidth load imposed by this type of app on the HSPA network. Despite the restriction, Sling will be charging a whopping $29.99 for the download; in exchange for your troubles, though, they've decided to lift the ban on older Slingboxes, with the caveat that they won't be officially supported if you run into trouble. We've had a chance to play with the app, and it certainly gets the job done -- we just wish it worked a little better. Even on WiFi, control feels laggy, and there's no native guide (though there's an icon to quickly pull up your set-top box's guide). When you're in letterbox mode, you've got black bars around all four sides of the image, meaning that the app isn't taking full advantage of the phone's display; we're hopeful this'll be fixed in a future release, though. Happily, we think Sling really nailed the app's UI -- the on-screen translucent controls are pretty cool and generally work well without obscuring the view. Look to grab your own copy some time between 12:01AM and 6:01AM EDT tomorrow morning, and in the meantime, check out our gallery. Update: The app's now available, so get ready to part with $30 (and to not part with your 3G bandwidth -- you certainly won't need it here). Thanks, everyone!
Sling's $50 rebate on iPhone-compatible boxes rendered useless by stupid pricing
Think Sling Media is partially making up for its ridiculous arbitrary lockout of iPhones on older Slingboxes by offering a $50 credit toward the purchase of a new model? Think again: turns out that the credit is applied against prices in Sling's own online store, which are already jacked beyond reason. Actually, they aren't, they're just MSRP -- but let's be honest, no one pays MSRP for anything anymore, and you can actually get the PRO-HD for less from Amazon than from Sling's store after the frickin' credit (and the SOLO isn't faring much better after fast shipping, especially if you've got a Prime membership). It's a pretty backhanded way to say "thanks" to your early adopters -- and it's just a shame that the iPhone version of the SlingPlayer will likely be a strong enough draw to let the company get away with murder. Read - Slingbox SOLO on Amazon Read - Slingbox PRO-HD on Amazon
Echostar shows off its SlingLoaded T2200S HD DVR for cable
It didn't take long for Echostar to turn its ViP 922 SlingLoaded DVR for DISH into a tru2way powered HD DVR for cable viewers ready to placeshift live and prerecorded TV, and now we've got a glimpse of what it will look like. The specs show off a 1TB hard drive ripped from its still-yet-to-launch predecessor, but new for the T2200S is a backlit capacitive touch control mounted up front, while that no numbers required touch remote the 922 flashed at CES is so far missing from the mix. It'll be at least Q4 before these go into production, but you can believe Echostar is pitching them to all willing to listen at Cable Show '09 this week, while interested customers are being advised to contact their cable provider and let 'em know they want a piece.
Cable customers can get SlingLoaded too with the T2200S tru2way DVR
Want a taste of the SlingLoaded DISH Network 922 DVR (pictured), without switching to satellite? Echostar, as expected, is ready to show off a tru2way compatible version of its latest box, the T2200S, this week at the Cable Show '09. The T2200S contains the 1TB hard drive, expandable storage and of course, Sling Media's placeshifting technology ready to send live or recorded TV to your Internet connected device of choice. Since it's tru2way, it's also capable of running either the SlingGuide software, or whatever middleware is chosen by the provider, and enabling remote video diagnostics, hopefully making many truck rolls unnecessary. Like the 922, we've no price or release date yet but hopefully all that work on tru2way and M-CARD means whether or not our cable company signs up, we'll still have the choice of purchasing one at retail.Update: Looks like the box is planned to start testing June, and go into production in Q4 of 2009, the specs from the PR are after the break. [Thanks, Justin]
SlingPlayer Mobile for BlackBerry exits beta, iPhone version submitted to App Store
Get ready, BlackBerry users, because your days are officially about to become less productive (or, at the very least, your mass transit commutes). You too, iPhone types -- not to say you didn't already have enough time-wasting apps cluttering that 8 to 16GB wasteland you call "storage" in your pocket -- because SlingPlayer Mobile is destined for both of these platforms. BlackBerry's already had it since December in beta form, but they're now at a stable 1.0 release; and speaking of 1.0 releases, that iPhone version Sling's been talking up for a while now has now been submitted to Apple's App Store for approval, so we hope we'll be seeing that on the open market shortly. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have some Dora to watch on the Bold.[Via TUAW, thanks Digitac]Read - BlackBerryRead - iPhone
DISH's SlingLoaded ViP 922 / 822 DVR hits the FCC
Up for an investigation? We've got a curious case going on with a recent FCC filing, which sees the user manual of the recently unveiled DuoDVR ViP 922 (yeah, the SlingLoaded one) alongside images of a heretofore unseen ViP 822 DVR. Curiously, the actual FCC label corresponds with the "922," through the logo on the pictured Sling DVR definitely shows "822." So, is this just the typical step a device takes before it hits shelves in America, or is this a DVR we've never seen before? Something tells us it's far less exciting than our imaginations are leading us to believe.
Man charged $28,000 for using data card, Slingbox to watch football game
While waiting for a Caribbean cruise liner to set sail from the Port of Miami last November, a Chicago native with an AT&T wireless card and Slingbox decided to catch the Bears vs. Lions football game on his laptop. The end result? A $28,067.31 bill from for international data charges, despite the ship never leaving the harbor. Apparently the card was picking up a signal it shouldn't have, and while the bill was eventually dropped to $290.65 after a considerable number of calls to customer service, let that be a warning to mobile users traveling on the fringe of international roaming areas -- and in case you were wondering, the Bears ended up winning 27 to 23.[Via The Register]
Sling Media loses most of its top brass
Sling Media announced today that they've lost their top executives, including co-founders (and brothers) Blake and Jason Krikorian, CEO and SVP of business development respectively. Also on the way out is Jason Hirschhorn and Ben White, President and Chief Creative Officer of Sling Media Entertainment Group, and Greg Wilkes the VP of sales. paidContent spoke with the effervescent Blake Krikorian, who said, "I'm out of there now. I want to just cut it ... it's best just to get it done because it's not easy." So much for being stoked about that EchoStar acquisition, huh?
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.
DISH Network's ViP 922 and SlingGuide unveiled: first "SlingLoaded" HD DVR
We heard way back in May of last year that DISH Network's next major wave of DVRs would have hints of Sling all over. Guess that played out alright, huh? The company has just announced its first SlingLoaded DVR, the ViP 922 HD DuoDVR. For those still scratching their heads, here's the skinny: this is the industry's first high-definition digital video recorder that incorporates placeshifting technology. The device packs five video sources including satellite, broadband and optional OTA tuners, and the 1TB HDD can hold up to 1,000 hours of content before tapping into external drive space. The box comes bundled with an innovative touchpad remote, and it can be controlled using the all new SlingGuide, which enables users to control their TV viewing experience over the web. No word on a price or release date, but boy, it'll be hard to resist regardless. The full release for both the DVR and the SlingGuide are just after the break.%Gallery-40979%
SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone, SlingPlayer for Mac HD make debuts
Remember that proof-of-concept you saw way back in June of last year? You know, that one involving SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone? Here at Macworld, Sling Media is doing its darnedest to take the spotlight away from the looming Apple keynote by announcing that said app is almost ready for consumption. It'll be demonstrating a functional version in San Francisco, and it's planning to submit the software to Apple for certification sometime this quarter. In case you couldn't care less, it'll also unveil a prototype SlingPlayer for Mac HD, which will enable Mac-using Slingbox PRO-HD owners to stream high-def material to their Mac. As for the good stuff, pricing has yet to be determined for the SlingPlayer iPhone app, but the SlingPlayer for Mac HD will be made available gratis. Full release is after the break.
Reminder: Sling Media's Slingbox PRO-HD giveaway ends tomorrow!
Nope, the holiday season ain't over yet (at least in our minds), so we're giving you one final shot to enter your name in the hat for a Slingbox PRO-HD. The contest ends tomorrow night (January 2nd) at 11:59PM ET, so head on over and drop a comment in order to consider yourself registered.
