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Buying a Slingbox finally gets you free TV streaming apps
As handy as a Slingbox can be for watching TV away from home, it's not as good a deal as it sounds. You usually have to shell out another $15 or more just to get the Slingplayer streaming app for your phone or tablet. Sling is starting to see the light, however. It's shipping a $200 Slingbox M2 bundle that lets you download the Slingplayer Android and iOS apps for free, not just the desktop versions. While this kit costs $50 more than what you'd pay for the M1, it's potentially less expensive if you want apps for multiple mobile devices -- especially if you're not the only one that wants to watch. You'll have to endure "seamlessly integrated" ads for the privilege, but that could be a small price to pay for viewing your favorite shows on every possible screen.
Don't wait for SportsCenter, SlingPlayer update brings the highlights in real-time
Slingbox has pushed out a handful of updates for SlingPlayer on iOS and Android, adding new features on both platforms. On the Android side, Slingbox joined forces with sporting-app Thuuz. Now if you have to skip watching the Giants game for work, SlingPlayer will let you know Tim Lincecum is using his secret mustache powers to pitch a no-hitter. If you can sneak away from your meeting for a "bathroom break," a link within the app will instantly tune you into the hair-raising action. The sports app won't be integrated into the iPhone version of SlingPlayer until this summer, but iOS users can still download it on its own to try out now.
SlingPlayer app arrives for Windows 8, costs $15 after free trial runs out
If you happen to own a Slingbox media streamer and a Windows 8.1/RT device, it's your lucky day. After announcing last month that a SlingPlayer app for Windows was on the way, it's now in the Windows Store, ready for download. Like the iOS and Android versions, which have been out for quite some time, users can take advantage of mobile DVR control and watch either live or recorded TV on their device. Slingbox owners will receive a free, 24-hour trial, but will need to cough up $15 to continue using it.
SlingPlayer gets AirPlay support, Blockbuster arrives on SlingBox 500 in new update
Sling Media has just rolled out an update that brings a number of improvements to the Slingbox 500 and to the SlingPlayer app. For the Slingbox 500, Blockbuster On Demand is now available as a premium video service along with a new My Media feature that lets users access media via a USB drive. Only PC/Mac SlingPlayer clients can view the USB-stored media for now, though Android and iOS support are coming soon. Speaking of which, AirPlay is now finally supported on the iOS SlingPlayer Mobile apps, and should be compatible with streams from the 500, 350, Pro-HD and SOLO boxes. Last, but not least, the web client of SlingPlayer has also been updated to support Windows 8.1, IE 11, OS X Mavericks and Safari 7. That's a lot to take in, but thankfully the update should've arrived automatically to affected Slingbox users. If that hasn't happened for you, go ahead to the link below for manual upgrade instructions.
Slingboxes get My Media syncing to USB, Companion iPad app for at-home viewing
The Slingbox news hasn't stopped just because Dish made its big splash. An update to the Slingbox 500 at first, and the 350 later this year, adds a local My Media sync component that lets Android or iOS users offload photos or videos to a USB drive attached to the Slingbox -- they just have to stream their content instead of chewing up their mobile device storage. Both Slingbox 350 and 500 owners are also promised the new Slingbox Companion app you see above. As long as they're toting at least an iPad 2, they can find shows, share their tastes through social networks and use their tablet as a remote without the usual live video of the SlingPlayer app. My Media is arriving first, both as a firmware update and a new SlingPlayer release, in the weeks ahead. Would-be Companion users will need to wait until the app hits iPads in the spring.
SlingPlayer, TuneIn and other channels added to Netgear's NeoTV lineup
If the release of Netgear's new NeoTV PRIME has left you feeling like your earlier model is a bit dated, then maybe some fresh software for that streaming box will ease those woes. Announced today at CES, several new channels are now available on the NeoTV range, with the biggest names being TuneIn Radio -- if you want to rest those eyes for a while -- and SlingPlayer. You'll need a Slingbox at home to take advantage of SlingPlayer, of course, but it means you can pipe live TV to another room in your house or, if you're in the habit of carting your NeoTV box around, wherever else you take it. WKNTV has also been added, giving you access to live and on-demand content from Korea, and ShopNBC for live feeds of a bunch of hypnotic shopping channels -- you know, for when you wanna watch overly charismatic presenters earn their keep. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
JVC intros 55-inch BlackSapphire LCD TV with 45W virtual surround sound, SlingPlayer
Every TV maker trying to avoid total commoditization has a special trick to keep its designs unique and worth a higher price. For JVC, that trick is sound. It's launching the BlackSapphire line of LCD-based 3D TVs with the 55-inch, edge LED-lit JLE55SP4400, whose signature is an unusually powerful built-in audio system: the 45W system and 3D processing supposedly produces surround sound without having to line the living room with extra speakers. Odds are that the set won't provide much competition for dedicated speakers, although JVC is promising more integration beyond this with rare built-in SlingPlayer TV streaming, just in case there's a Slingbox in another part of the home. The all-in strategy could make the inaugural BlackSapphire more of a bargain than it looks: that $1,300 you'll pay when the screen ships this month might be all you need to start watching.
Sling Media officially unveils the Slingbox 350 and 500
The company that takes almost full credit for inventing place-shifting is back in retail action with new models and new software features too. The Slingbox 350 takes the place of the older Solo at $179 and adds an integrated IR blaster and the new ability to stream 1080p HD. The $299 Slingbox 500 also does 1080p, but adds WiFi -- which really should be in both -- and an HDMI input and output. The HDMI output does more than just pass-through too, in conjunction with the new SlingProjector feature it can render your pictures and videos (soon) on the big screen. Both can take advantage of the new SlingPlayer apps with optimizations like reminders as well as a revamp Slingbox.com web interface that makes it easier than ever to share your place-shifting joy with friends and family. These boxes go on sale in the States on October 14th with our friends to the north getting them in November. What might be interesting to all Slingbox owners is that the SlingPlayer client for various platforms is now half the price at $15. Thirsting for more info? Check out the press release after the break, or our review of both right here.
SlingPlayer for Android gets a long-awaited update, adds reminders and better Android 4 video quality
Fans of both Android and Slingbox streaming have had a long wait for a significant update to the SlingPlayer app, to put it mildly -- the last major upgrade was to introduce Kindle Fire support at the start of the year. Imagine our delight when Sling Media posts a pair of low-key but significant updates for Android phone and tablet users alike. Smartphone owners get the most out of the upgrade with a new electronic program guide, a fresher overall look and better high-quality video for any phone using Android 4.0 and beyond. Tablet users do get a more optimized interface for the Nexus 7, however, and both form factors will let avid placeshifters remind themselves when a much-anticipated show goes live in the future. Neither of the updates is a complete revolution, but we would say they're coming just in time.
SlingPlayer survey hints at possible expansion to game consoles
We haven't exactly been lacking in SlingPlayer-supporting devices as of late, but it looks like the placeshifting service could possibly be set to expand to an entirely new area: game consoles. That word comes from a new Sling survey obtained by Zatz Not Funny, which attempts to gauge customers' interest in a SlingPlayer app for game consoles (it specifically asks if they own an Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or Wii). As you might expect, however, details are light beyond that, with the survey only mentioning that such an app would let you watch video from your SlingBox in full HD, and that you'd naturally be able to control it with your console's controller. Of course, while it does come directly from Sling itself, it is also still just a survey, so we wouldn't recommend getting your hopes up too much for the time being.
WD TV adds streaming options, tunes televisions near and far to your Slingbox
A raft of goodies has been tacked on to Western Digital's TV Live and TV Live Hub media players including new streams and Vudu movie downloading, but the addition of SlingPlayer might be the most intriguing. Depending on your region, you'll see new channels on the WD set-tops, including The AOL On Network, Red Bull TV, ABC iview (Australia), Acetrax Movies, Maxdome and BILD TV-App. Walmart's Vudu service will also be added, letting domestic and some foreign users buy or rent from a library of 70,000 downloadable films and TV shows. Finally, if you're a frequent traveler, you can pack your WD box and fire up the new SlingPlayer on your hotel TV to watch hometown broadcasts wherever you may be. Provided you've got a Slingbox back home, of course. To find out more and see what's available in your country, check the source or PR below. Show full PR text New International and Domestic Entertainment Options Complement WD TV® Live™ and WD TV® Live Hub™'s 'Play Anything' Popularity IRVINE, Calif., June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Digital® (NASDAQ: WDC), the world's leader in external storage solutions and maker of the popular WD TV® media player family, today introduced a variety of new entertainment options for the WD TV Live™ and WD TV Live Hub™ media players. Current and new users can now enjoy Red Bull TV™, ABC iview (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), Acetrax™, Maxdome, the BILD TV-App, and the AOL On Network. They can also watch live and recorded TV with the new SlingPlayer® app and save their premium HD movies to the WD TV Live Hub's internal storage with VUDU. WD's new entertainment choices add to the WD TV media player family's prodigious ability to play personal content such as videos, photos and music by supporting a wide range of media formats. Users can watch content located on any networked PC or Mac® computer in the home, from a network drive such as WD's My Book® Live™ personal cloud storage, and from any directly connected digital camcorder, camera, or USB drive. WD TV Live Hub owners can also save and share pictures and videos from outside the home, using the WD Photos™ app for iPhone®, iPad® and Android™ mobile devices. "WD continuously listens to its customers, and adds the content options they want," said Scott Vouri, vice president and general manager, WD connected home solutions. "With today's addition of hot international and domestic channels, live TV through SlingPlayer, and HD movie rentals, purchases and downloads through VUDU, the WD TV media players truly provide the most entertainment." The WD TV Live Hub is the only media player to offer direct HD movie download service for today's hottest new movie releases purchased from VUDU's large library of movies and TV shows. VUDU is a subscription-free, HD video streaming service, which offers more than 70,000 blockbuster titles including new releases, Hollywood classics, independent films, and TV shows. Because it has an integrated 1TB hard drive, the WD TV Live Hub can save and play back purchased digital content from VUDU, including the high-quality HDX™ video format that features 1080p Full HD and rich Dolby Digital Plus™ 7.1 audio. "By centralizing their entertainment on the WD TV Live Hub, our customers get high-performance full-HD movie playback without overloading their home network or cluttering up the hard drives of other PCs in the house," added Vouri. From "Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol" to "The Muppets" WD brings today's top movies to the WD TV Live Hub for a cinema-like experience at home through the available VUDU service. New Services[1] Now Available: SlingPlayer (worldwide) – With a Slingbox® connected in your home, the SlingPlayer app brings your living room TV experience to your connected device in any room – around the home or around the world. The AOL On Network (US) – The AOL HD app, part of The AOL On Network, features high-definition technology, lifestyle, celebrity and entertainment content updated daily from The AOL On Network, which features video from brands like Engadget, TechCrunch, The Huffington Post and Moviefone. Red Bull TV (worldwide) – A unique online portal offering exclusive high quality programs from the World of Red Bull in HD. Available to nearly all devices – Red Bull TV offers worldwide live webcasts and a thematic catalogue of VODs complementing exclusive shows of the multimedia content of redbull.com. ABC iview (Australia) – ABC iview is Australia's most popular catch-up TV service and is run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). It features 14-day catch-up from channels ABC1, ABC2, ABC3, ABC4Kids and ABC News 24. Acetrax movies (UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy and Austria) – Available on the WD TV Live only, this service offers blockbuster new release and library movies from the major Hollywood studios. maxdome (Germany) – Available on the WD TV Live only, the most popular German video-on-demand service maxdome delivers over 45,000 major film and TV titles. BILD TV-App (Germany) – With the BILD TV-App users navigate easily and comfortably with the remote control through Germany's largest news and entertainment portal. The application offers the latest news and videos from politics, lifestyle, entertainment and sports, as well as the pictures of the day. Availability The WD TV Live and WD TV Live Hub can be purchased at select retailers and online at wdstore.com. About WD WD, a storage industry pioneer and long-time leader, provides products and services for people and organizations that collect, manage and use digital information. The company designs and produces reliable, high-performance hard drives and solid state drives that keep users' data accessible and secure from loss. Its storage technologies serve a wide range of host applications including client and enterprise computing, embedded systems and consumer electronics, as well as its own storage systems. Its home entertainment products enable rich engagement with stored digital content. WD was founded in 1970. The company's products are marketed to leading OEMs, systems manufacturers, selected resellers and retailers under the Western Digital®, WD® and HGST™ brand names. Visit the Investor section of the company's website (www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information. Western Digital, WD, the WD logo, WD TV, and My Book are registered trademarks in the U.S. and other countries; WD TV Live and My Book Live are trademarks of Western Digital Technologies, Inc. Other marks may be mentioned herein that belong to other companies. Pictures shown may vary from actual products. Not all products may be available in all regions of the world. All product and packaging specifications subject to change without notice. As used for storage capacity, one terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment. Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1dpR0)
SlingPlayer for Kindle Fire available tomorrow for $30 in the Amazon Appstore
Though Sling Media has long been offering apps for Android phones and tablets, Kindle Fire owners have until now been left out in the cold (you know, the whole lack-of-Android-Market-access thing). Tomorrow, though, Fire owners can get their fill of live and recorded TV when the SlingPlayer app goes on sale in the Amazon Appstore. With a price of $29.99, you'll pay the same as you would for any of Sling's other mobile apps, and as far as we could tell when we first got hands-on at CES, the interface is about the same as what you'd get on an Android handset. In case you need a refresher, we've got a gallery of images below, and we've posted that source link early, though you'll have to twiddle your thumbs until tomorrow when you can officially get your download on.
SlingPlayer for Kindle Fire headed your way (hands-on)
The SlingPlayer for Kindle Fire was hiding amongst its siblings on the CES floor so of course we had to stop by and check it out. It fits right in the family of products, but the first version due to hit the AmazonAppstore this month for $29 will not include the guide or onscreen remote. You will of course be able to view the source's native guide and navigate via onscreen buttons, but the buttons just won't look like your source's remote. SlingMedia also confirmed for us that an additional subscription is not in the future (in case you were worried) and that an embeddable Flash player will be available soon so you can place shift your TV using any webpage you like.
SlingPlayer for Connected Devices is here, arrives first on Boxee Box (video)
Sling first expanded its SlingPlayer app to Facebook and Chrome a few days ago, and now the company is extending those streams to the TV (without a dedicated SlingCatcher or mobile device TV-out) with apps for connected devices. Today the company announced the Boxee Box app would be first out of the gate, arriving ahead of the promised Google TV version we're also expecting. Interestingly, there does not appear to be a charge for the app (which runs $30 on mobiles and tablets), so if you have a Slingbox Solo or Pro-HD and one of the green and black media streamers all you have to do is download and press play. We'll give it a shot and let you know how it works, until then just press play on the demo video embedded above for a quick look.
SlingPlayer for Facebook is okay, Chrome(book) compatibility is better
Ready to let the world know all about your most intimate TV-viewing habits? Good, because the SlingPlayer Facebook app is now available, and prepared to do just that. Once installed, the app allows Slingbox Solo or Pro-HD owners to manage their DVRs and watch their favorite live or recorded shows, all from the comfort of their own social network. The share button doesn't automatically tie in with any kind of guide data, so friends don't need to know you're watching the Teen Mom reunion finale at the office -- unless you want them to. The other big news from Sling is that its plugin finally supports Google's Chrome browser (Mac version of FF8 is still a no-go, while Chromebooks can at least access a Flash stream now, but only via Facebook), so if you've been waiting for a way to ditch IE and FireFox then congratulations, your sometime is now. [Thanks, @wyldtek]
SlingPlayer app now available for Honeycomb tablets, priced at $30
It was teased back in September and now, it's finally arrived -- the SlingPlayer Android app optimized specifically for Honeycomb tablets. Available today on the Android Market, Sling Media's latest app allows Slingbox owners to stream TV directly to their slates, and features a new program guide, designed to help users browse content and change channels with greater ease. The SlingPlayer app for Android handsets, meanwhile, will continue to function on tablets in "compatibility mode," without exacting extra charges, though it won't offer the same resolution quality you'll find on a Honeycomb-laced device. Interested parties can grab the app for the familiar price of $30, at the source link below. Otherwise, click past the break for more details in Sling's refreshingly brief press release.
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 sends some users offline with PRO-HD update, issues fix
"Having difficulty with your PRO-HD this week?" That announcement headlining the Slingbox Answers Forum sums it up: a software update pushed last week "caused some Slingbox PRO-HD models to appear unavailable for TV streaming" -- a fairly significant issue, considering TV streaming is what these things do. Sling Media has since released a fix, but your device will need to connect to the internet to receive it. A spokesperson said that a "very small percentage" of users were affected, and that power cycling the device and waiting 10 minutes should solve the problem, as each box is programmed to connect and check for updates during the boot sequence. One Pro-HD owner wrote in claiming that the new software "bricked" his unit, meaning it's unable to power-up to receive the new update. If you're experiencing a similar issue, Sling suggests calling customer service at (877) 467-5464 -- mentioning the failed firmware update should help you avoid that nasty $30 service call charge. [Thanks, Tom]
SlingPlayer Mobile updated with video out
Dig out your TV component cables if you have the SlingPlayer Mobile app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod -- the latest version of the software now supports high quality mode video out to your television. Version 2.1 of the popular TV-streaming app also includes a few unspecified bug fixes. You'll need at least 800 Kbps of bandwidth over Wi-Fi or 500 Kbps over 3G for it to work on your iPhone 4, or 1200 and 800 respectively on your iPad. There goes the weekend... [via Engadget]
SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone & iPad updated with video out support
If you have an iPod, iPhone or iPad with the SlingPlayer Mobile app, you now have a Slingbox to go since the app was just updated with support for video out over component cables in high quality mode. Version 2.1 also includes a few unspecified bugfixes, but we're figuring the opportunity to watch TV, on a TV in high bitrate streams is more than enough to get users mashing that update button and digging out their unused connectors. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]