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App review: SlingPlayer Mobile for Windows Phone 7
For better or for worse, the latest SlingPlayer Mobile app is very much like its other flavors: same easy preparation, a familiar interface, and a similarly tear-inducing $30 price tag.
Exclusive: Verizon Slingbox in the wild
Well, lookie here: we just came across an extraordinarily trapezoidal device that we're told is the new Slingbox to be offered by Verizon on a monthly subscription basis to LTE customers. Not much to see, really, but they've definitely dialed down the industrial design here in favor of a tiny, matte black shell that's got some creative angling to it. It's standard definition only, as far as we can tell -- the only connections on back are for composite video. If you've already got something like a Solo or a Pro-HD, we're not sure there's any compelling reason at all to consider it -- but it might be a good way for Sling newbies to get into the game. Check out more shots below. %Gallery-113328%
Sling hooks up with Verizon to rent Slingboxes to LTE customers
Looks like Verizon is shopping for ways to get its brand spanking new 4G airwaves loaded, because Sling's just announced an unusual subscription-based deal with them that should kill the upfront cost normally associated with buying a Slingbox and a $30 SlingPlayer Mobile app. Monthly pricing hasn't yet been announced, but if you've got one of Verizon's new LTE phones, you'll have the option of getting some dollar figure tacked onto your monthly bill and a box will get shipped to your door on loan; cancel the subscription, and you'll presumably have to return it or pay a fee. It's an interesting shift in Sling's business model, but from Verizon's perspective, it's also got an air of anti-net neutrality to it -- especially if the $30 SlingPlayer option in the Market goes away. Here's hoping it doesn't! Follow the break for the full press release.
Slingplayer Mobile for iPhone updated to 2.0 with high quality video streaming and new guide
Say hello to the version 2.0 of SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone and iPod Touch devices, which improves over v1.2 and its 3G streaming by adding the high quality video and new program guide features seen in the iPad version. Fortunately, this time Sling hasn't made any of its older hardware obsolete, while taking advantage of the new HQ streams will require a SOLO or PRO-HD box (and minimum 800 kbps WiFi / 500 kbps 3G connection) older Slingboxes will still work, just with lower quality video. Check the screens for a peek at the new look or just head over to iTunes, grab the new version and let us know how it's working out. %Gallery-110516% [Thanks, David]
Dish Network launches Remote Access app, brings live TV and scheduling to iPad
See, that wasn't so bad, now was it? If you're befuddled, we're simply referring to the week that iPad owners have had to listen to their Android-lovin' brethren gloat about having Dish Network's Remote Access app. As of today, that same piece of software is available in the App Store, enabling iPad owners to watch live and recorded programs so long as they've a broadband-connected, Sling-enabled device like the Sling Adapter. It'll also allow iPad owners to browse and search up to nine days of programming, schedule DVR recordings, manage conflicts, delete shows on multiple receivers, and use their tablet as a fully functional remote, but much to our dismay, it doesn't have the power to make Heroes a show worth watching again.
SlingPlayer Mobile app hits the iPad (update: only works with SOLO and PRO-HD)
SlingPlayer Mobile for iPad was looking pretty slick when we saw a preview a couple weeks ago, and now, just like that, it's arrived at the App Store. Folks who already invested in the iPhone app might be a bit disappointed to find they need to fork out another $30 for the iPad version -- although they can keep using the iPhone app in "Compatibility Mode" if they'd like -- but Sling is touting new video quality levels for the iPad, that your iPhone can only dream of, to sweeten the deal. There's also a new program guide UI and other iPad-friendly tweaks. Check out that video preview after the break to learn more, or just hit up your local App Store and start downloading (it's rolling out in typical App Store fashion, which means it might take a few minutes to pop up in your particular iTunes). Update: We were having trouble getting our Slingbox PRO to work with the app, but it turns out that's on purpose: it doesn't work. That's right, Sling just pulled a Sling and has made obsolete another set of its own hardware. The only iPad compatible Slingboxes are the Slingbox SOLO and the PRO-HD, which is a bit confusing given that the iPhone app has a wider compatibility list. Sling says Apple wanted them to stick with a higher resolution than some of their older hardware could support, but it seems pretty lame that they can't just upsample the video as a fallback. There's a $50 voucher that will apparently be offered for Slingbox owners who want to upgrade, which will help them buy expensive hardware that will no doubt be obsolete by the time Sling decides to support a new piece of Apple hardware. Not that we're bitter or anything...
Dish Network remote access app comes to Android, your Harmony groans
Dish Network took another step towards its ambitious TV Everywhere plans -- not to be confused with Comcast's and Time Warner's TV Everywhere partnership -- by releasing the Android version of its Dish remote access app late last week. This nicely completes the provider's suite of mobile offerings, which have already been available on the iPhone, iPad and certain BlackBerry phones. The catch is that to take advantage of the app, Android users must own a Sling-enabled Dish device like the ViP 722 / 722k HD DVRs or the recently released Sling adapter. With the necessary hardware though, the app turns smartphones into a control freak's best friend, working as a remote control, a DVR manager, and a Sling-powered media streamer to view recorded or live programming over Wi-Fi or 3G. That's a pretty nifty feature set considering it costs a lovely low price of free, and it's certainly more robust than mobile offerings from Comcast, Time Warner, or DirecTV. In other words, when it comes to getting the most from your paid TV service while on the go, it appears the underdog satellite company can certainly dish it out.
Dish Network Sling Adapter review
It's been a long time coming since Sling announced the super slim Sling Adapter at CES, and surprise, surprise, the first cable or satellite provider to make it available to its customers is Sling's sister company Dish Network. The Sling Adapter should be available for order at $99 by the time you read this, and with a single USB plug it will add Slingbox capabilities to your Dish Network 722 DVR. Dish was nice enough to send us one a tad early, which means you should click on through to learn all the wonders and sorrows of the device. %Gallery-107688%
SlingPlayer for iPad delivers all kinds of television to Apple's tablet
Sling Media has posted a preview video of their upcoming iPad app, and you can watch it in action right after the break below. It looks pretty darn good -- the app of course allows you to stream everything that comes from your Slingbox DVR device, including live TV, DVR'd content, or any on-demand offerings you might happen to have. The iPad app uses Apple's own H.264 codec, so while this is just a video demonstration, presumably the real thing will look just as good. Unfortunately, this won't be the cheapest option -- the app isn't universal at all, so you'll have to pay another $30 on top of the $30 you may have already paid for the iPhone version. And that's after you buy and install a Slingbox in the first place, which itself requires yet another television subscription to actually deliver the content. Compared to a more subscription-based service like Netflix or Hulu, that's pretty pricey, though of course this setup can do things those can't. At any rate, if you're already hooked up to a Slingbox somewhere, $30 is cheap to get that content anywhere on the iPad. The app should be out soon. [via Engadget]
SlingPlayer arrives in Windows Phone 7 Marketplace, headed to iPad next (updated)
Got yourself a big new Windows Phone 7 device and need something to fill its screen with? Sling Media has your back with its SlingPlayer Mobile app, which has hit the Marketplace just in time to earn its Launch App Partner achievement. Pricing for the software is set at $30 in the US, C$32 in Canada, £23 in the UK, and €21.10 in Europe plus local tax, though you'll obviously need to have a Slingbox to communicate with as well. It ain't cheap, but good things rarely are. Update: We've also just come across a signup page for news updates on an iPad version of SlingPlayer Mobile. It'll be priced identically to the company's smartphone offerings, at $30, and looks to be coming soon. Thanks, Blake!
SlingPlayer for Windows Phone 7 demoed, coming soon (video)
That WP7 third party apposphere just got a nice boost from SlingPlayer, which has announced its intention to soon be present and accounted for on Microsoft's new platform. What we've got today is a quick teaser video showing off the live TV streaming capabilities under Windows Phone 7, along with the remote set-top box controls and a switch for turning the stream's quality up. Sling Media promises up to four times the resolution available on previous Windows Mobile versions and draws a launch window around the woolly concept of "soon." See the moving pictures after the break.
Sling founder concocts Crestron home automation app for Android, demos it on Galaxy Tab
Two years ago in Denver, we watched as a Crestron iPhone app wowed crowds at CEDIA. At this year's show in Atlanta, a similar app has been unveiled for a rival platform: Android. Blake Krikorian, better known as the founder of Sling Media, was recently able to demonstrate a new Crestron home automation app for Android, and he did it on Samsung's much-hyped Galaxy Tab. The program (codenamed 'R2') is the result of 1.5 years of work, and in large part, it was built to overcome the many limitations of iOS. Specifically, he wanted to bypass iOS' Slide to Unlock screen, and he greatly preferred Android's multitasking implementation and background notification system. Eventually, we're expecting the app to sell for around $99, but plans beyond that have yet to be made. Hop on past the break for a video demonstration, and stay tuned for any information we dig up regarding a solid release date.
Sling says it's fixed 'many' of the problems affecting users, still has more work to do
Sling said on Friday that it was working on fixing the array of issues plaguing its streaming service, and it now says that it's made some changes that "seem to have addressed many of the problems." Speaking with Crave, a Sling spokesperson further added that the issues "were the result of a data migration process that, while carefully planned for a long time, still had a number of unexpected problems." The spokesperson went on to note that while things have gotten better over the last 24 hours, "they aren't nearly good enough for everyone yet" -- something confirmed by a number of Sling users who are continuing to report problems on the official support forums today. So hang in there -- things are getting better, slowly.
Slingbox account server problems cutting off web players, apps
If you're trying to watch some TV via Slingbox right now and can't, don't worry, you're not alone. A support thread on Slingbox.com lays out the problems: Trying to access watch.slingbox.com directly, logging in to the Sling site, or trying SlingPlayer via computer or a mobile device results in a page that doesn't load. Luckily, there are a few workarounds available like switching networks (some have said going from WiFi to 3G on their mobiles works) or using an older version of SlingPlayer that connects directly to your box and bypasses Sling servers. Obviously Sling technicians are working on the issue, but without any ETA on a fix, it's probably a good idea to check the thread and make sure your setup is foolproof before taking off for the weekend. [Thanks, James & Dave Zatz]
Slingbox Solo devices no longer streaming for some users?
According to Slingbox's message boards, some Slingbox SOLO owners are experiencing a slew of issues with their devices, the most concerning of which is the failure to stream content after a brief period of use. Understandably, that's more than a bit frustrating for users who purchased the set top box exactly so they could stream TV content remotely. The particular thread in question was started back in May, and as of now has not been universally resolved by Slingbox's engineering team, who claim the problems have yet to be nailed down to a single issue -- despite many owners discovering their issues are related to bloated capacitors. Unfortunately for users, that means Slingbox hasn't announced a blanket replacement program. Instead, Slingbox is asking those affected by the problem to contact their support team: if your device happened to fail within 90 of purchase or you purchased an extended warranty, they'll handle for free. Otherwise, those still within the device's hardware warranty can pay a small fee for service which will be refunded only in the event the problem is found to be hardware related. From a consumer standpoint, this definitely sounds like a raw deal, but we'll avoid taking sides until more details surface... or a last minute press conference is called to claim it's a problem with all streaming boxes.
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.
SlingPlayer Mobile for Android beta preview
We can practically hear the collective sigh of relief among Slingbox owners now that Sling's finally just about ready to push out a version of SlingPlayer Mobile for Android -- by far the biggest hole in the company's lineup of mobile players ever since the iPhone version went live. This is no mere port, though; the company is boasting that it worked hard here to reduce load times, meaning the total wait you've got from app load to the time you're actually seeing General Hospital should be less than you're accustomed to, and that's a big win in our book. Check out our quick impressions (and video) after the break!
SlingPlayer Mobile for Android teased on an EVO 4G
It looks like those private beta rumors earlier this month were legit, seeing how Sling Media is now officially showing off its latest SlingPlayer Mobile incarnation on HTC's lovely EVO 4G for Sprint. The company is boasting that the app has the fastest load time of any version of SlingPlayer Mobile to date -- and we can't imagine that WiMAX hurts, either -- so this should be the perfect accessory to your EVO 4G purchase when the phone launches early next month. It's not clear yet what other Android devices will be compatible with the software, but we imagine Sling will be saying more soon, so stay tuned.
SlingPlayer Mobile for Android goes to private beta?
Android's quickly becoming the elephant in the room for Sling Media, so we're delighted to hear today that the promised Android client of SlingPlayer Mobile is apparently entering a private beta period as we speak -- according to a tipster over at Phandroid, anyhow. It seems that some members that signed up to Sling's beta program have been contacted recently with a link to the download and a request that they not discuss the app or the beta program (so much for that), so if everything goes really, really well, we might see a release before too long. The thought of this thing running on the EVO 4G just blows minds, doesn't it?
Niveus shows how it can help cable and satellite providers get HD on your PC
It's just a tech preview, but our favorite high end Media Center maker, Niveus, is showing off Project Snowbird at NAB this week. Niveus hopes its PC client will help cable and satellite providers bring more premium HD content to the PC. This version was copying and streaming content from a Dish Network DVR and works with Sling's protocol, DLNA and DTCP-IP -- you remember it right, the CableLabs certified DRM for IP transport? Also baked in is Microsoft's PlayReady so envisioning playing the content on a Zune HD or in Media Center aren't too unfounded either. Dish Network was involved to show its commitment to working towards this type of solution in the home, but Niveus hopes to get all the providers on board and is anxious to fill in the PC client no matter what protocol the provider wants to use. We're told that these goals are inline with those of the IP Gateway we've been talking about, so it'll be interesting to see how this all shakes out. But at this point there aren't any product announcements and so this might just be yet another tech preview that never makes it to our homes. More shots of what it might look like after the break.
