While Sling plans to develop and distribute the software through the iTunes App Store, the demo build we were shown runs on a jailbroken iPhone because of current testing limitations with the iPhone SDK. And since this is in the early stages of development, the demo was limited in function, but from what I saw, it looks like a totally awesome alternative to mobile TV.

Once you connect to your Slingbox, you control channels with an on-screen remote whose buttons scroll horizontally at the bottom of the screen. There's also a scrollbar full of channel icons that provide shortcuts to specific stations. Video ran pretty smooth and looked good over a wi-fi connection. And it goes without saying, but Sling also has their fingers crossed for a 3G iPhone.

While the current proof-of-concept software is using a WMV codec to stream video, Sling is hoping Apple will make its video decoding assets available on the iPhone so they can use that instead. There's no word on an official release date for the application, but for those iPhone owners with Slingboxes, dreams of mobile TV just became an afterthought. [Sling on Giz]

Free firmware upgrade later this month if you register your TV+ (or $50 if ya don't), it'll deliver QVGA video from your TV to PCs, WinMo phones, 605/705, and then Symbian soon. Not bad if you're already in the Archos ecosystem, but the res is sorta shitty. [Archos, Archosfans]

We got a hands-on with it earlier in the week and were pretty impressed. Some scenarios that we can think of are:

• Streaming HD from your DVR in your living room to your Slingcatcher in your bedroom.
• Dumping a bunch of BitTorrented DivX/XviD files onto a USB drive, taking it to the Slingcatcher, plugging it in and watching.
• Opening up ABC HD, turning on last night's Lost, and watching it on the TV instead of the computer.

Convenient! [Slingbox]

It supports 16:9 widescreen video, as well as four input-output sets (ATSC, S-video, composite video and component video, along with analog or digital audio out). If you've got a fast enough Ethernet network (most should be unless you're throwing files around concurrently) or a fast enough Wi-Fi network, you can view the full 1080i video on your laptop or a spare TV.

We got to put our hands on it earlier in the week, and the unit itself looked and felt nice (the black looks a bit nicer than the earlier units' designs). We didn't get to see it in motion just yet, but we'll give it a whiz at CES. This'll be available in August '08 at $399.

The company believes that it will free up the Slingbox hardware to a broader range of customers—maybe even through cable companies and other DBS providers. For the record, Sling Media has always maintained that they would not manufacture products for use by a single company—a promise that was illustrated earlier this year with a device that appears to incorporate a built-in cable modem. [SEC via GIgaOM via Electronista]

The patent goes into quite a bit of detail on the subject, but it is important to note that as far as anyone knows, Sling Media has not made any plans to use this technology. The patent simply illustrates that they could if they chose to do so —although it would probably be akin to suicide. [Patent Application via Sling Community]

The upgrade, due in a month, will also have the clip and post functionality that lets you share clips with friends online, which we heard about at CES. And Pogue's post confirms an iPhone client is coming, which we first heard about in an off hand remark by Om interview with CEO Blake Krikorian before an SDK was ever acknowledged by The steve. Sling rep and TiVo blogger Dave Zatz offered up these words when we sought confirmation: "We're actively researching the iphone platform, and are eagerly awaiting the SDK."

What I wonder is if Sling is WMV-based, and the iPhone streams H.264 natively, does this mean Sling'll start broadcasting in H.264? Or is Sling going to make a WM client for the iPhone? Either way, it's going to be a long stream home on that EDGE connection.

The idea of a cheaper, single-source HD-compatible Slingbox is a great one. Before we got this Slingbox Solo, we'd been using a Slingbox Pro for a year, and its variety of inputs has proven to be way more than we've ever needed. (Really, why would we want to watch a DVD via the Slingbox? TiVo is all we want to watch remotely.) But this Slingbox Solo ($179.99), positioned in the Sling product line between the Slingbox Pro ($229.99) and the Slingbox AV ($129.99), hit that Goldilocks sweet spot: It's just right.

The Slingbox Solo carries on that Aztec temple-like design of the Pro, but it's about two thirds the width. If you care about such things, its shiny piano-black surface is definitely a fingerprint magnet, but after wiping it off with a microfiber cloth, it still looks sparkly, low-slung and sophisticated as it takes its place on our component rack.

Looking out back at the business end of the Solo, you'll see that even though it only handles one input at a time, there's no shortage of places to plug in. Whether you choose component, composite or SVideo, any source can be passed through so you can also plug it into your TV after that Sling magic has been performed on your video.

We plugged in our TiVo Series3 HD PVR, and the Sling Solo's setup, functions and quality appeared to be identical to the Slingbox Pro. Just like the Slingbox Pro, even though HD sources go into the Solo at 720p, as long as you're watching the signal over a high-speed home network they come out at 640x480 and then are stretched out to 16:9. That's definitely better than standard definition but certainly not HD.

Using the system over the internet, its quality ratchets down to 320x240 but is stretched out to widescreen. Away from the home network, its video looks a bit blocky and suffers dropouts here and there, but picture quality is mostly dependent on the speed of the internet connection. In both instances, the Solo's video looks just the same to us as the Pro model.

Solo is a worthy addition to the Slingbox line, and unlike the Slingbox Pro, requires no optional adapter to get it working with HD sources. Sure, we would've liked an HDMI port on the back of this baby (also lacking on the Pro), but component video will just have to do. And forget sending HDTV all over the world with the Slingbox—until bandwidth in the United States reaches that of Japan or Scandinavia, the Solo's kind of sub-HD resolution for watching TV all over your house or on the road will be just good enough for now.

Incidentally, Sling is also announcing that Solo also works in Canada ($199.99 looneys), and the UK (£129.99), calling it the company's "first worldwide model." The company's also launching the Slingbox Pro in the UK for £199.99, and that's packing a DVB-T tuner and includes an HD connect cable.

EchoStar Announces Agreement to Acquire Sling Media, Inc.

Combination Will Create Industry-Leading Digital Media Solutions Provider

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. and FOSTER CITY, Calif., September 24, 2007 -
EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) announced today
that it has agreed to acquire Sling Media, Inc., a privately-held
digital lifestyle products company. EchoStar, through its DISH
Network(r), is the third largest pay-TV provider in the United States.
The transaction values Sling Media at approximately $380 million and
is payable in cash and EchoStar options. The transaction is subject to
customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the fourth
quarter of 2007.

Established in 2004, Sling Media has been a leading innovator in the
digital lifestyle space through the introduction of the
internationally-acclaimed, Emmy award-winning Slingbox and
SlingPlayer software. Sling Media's product line is distributed in
over 5,000 retail stores in 11 countries.

In 2006, Sling Media created the Sling Entertainment Group with the
mission of developing entertainment experiences and business models
that reach beyond the Slingbox. The group also fosters and manages
relationships with content creators and owners. Its first initiative,
Clip+Sling , dramatically changes the way consumers socialize around
TV by enabling users to clip and share limited segments of their
favorite television programming.

"As an early investor in Sling Media, EchoStar has been pleased with
the progress and commitment the company has made establishing Sling
Media and the Slingbox as powerful and beloved digital media brands,"
said Charlie Ergen, CEO and co-founder of EchoStar. "With today's
increasingly mobile lifestyle, EchoStar's acquisition of Sling Media
will allow us to offer innovative and convenient ways for our
customers to enjoy their programming on more displays and locations,
including TVs, computers and mobile phones, both inside and outside of
the home. This combination paves the way for the development of a host
of new innovative products and services for our subscribers, new
digital media consumers and strategic partners."

"We are psyched to make this announcement. We have worked closely with
EchoStar for more than two years, and have come to realize that both
companies have similar entrepreneurial cultures and mutual dedication
and passion for creating empowering experiences that benefit the
consumer and the media industry," said Blake Krikorian, co-founder,
chairman and CEO of Sling Media. "By combining strategies, resources
and technologies with EchoStar, Sling Media will be able to rapidly
expand our open multi-platform product offerings, not only for DISH
Network subscribers, but for digital media enthusiasts around the
globe."

It's free if you've already purchased a copy before, but it'll cost you $29 otherwise. – Jason Chen

Download Page [Sling]

HD connect, on the other hand, lets you connect your HDTV source to Slingbox PRO and supports up to 1080i. That means even though you're away from home, you can get HD cable (provided you have enough bandwidth) for just $179. – Jason Chen

Deal Page [Sling]

We last saw the TURBO series in a Dealzmodo, but if you didn't manage to pick one up then, here's two more options for you now. It's a pretty good last-shot method to get your stuff wired up if you really hate wiring Ethernet through your house and your home's construction makes wireless networking impossible. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Slingmedia via Crunchgear]

Better yet, NHL clips will be categorized and sorted by teams so you (or anyone) can find clips of your favorite team stomping ass (or getting stomped) with little effort on Sling's upcoming video site.

I hope the PBA gets on board with this, as I'd like to be able to check out sweet Parker Bohn III action whenever I feel like it. Kidding. Kind of. – Matt Buchanan

Image via Flickr

The version 1.0 update includes support for TiVo Series 3, AT&T Uverse &HomeZone, Some Motorola Cox set top boxes, various UK remote and even AppleTV/FrontRow/iPod. Nice! Grab it now if you've got Windows and a Sling. – Jason Chen

Download Page [Sling]

Yeah, that's right. When you're on the road and just want to catch your home team's game via Sling, in the MLB's eyes you (and Sling Media) are acting illegally because of broadcast contracts written around geographical boundaries.

Since Sling refused to pay extortion licensing fees to the MLB, the league's currently contemplating that favorite of legal actions: a lawsuit. If Sling's still around, anyway, since according to the MLB Advanced Media's general counsel, "there's no guarantee that Slingbox will be around next year. It's a startup." Them's fightin' words. Which is surprising, coming from a pack of whining, weeping, crying crybabies. – Matt Buchanan

Sports Leagues' Slingbox Opposition Highlights New Game of Content Control [via Crave]
Image via Flickr

You can't find much wrong with SlingMedia's products that are both revolutionary and affordable—especially considering they were smart enough not to try charging some subscription fee. Wow, I've got nothing snarky to say here at all...heart warming...filling with love...must...stop...writing...– Mark Wilson

Mac Client v1.0 [Sling]

On Windows Mobile 5 on a Verizon Q, the Apple TV's screen fonts become hard to see unless you're full screen. The simple remote does really well when controlled via menus, however. For more screens of both the Windows Mobile and Mac controlling an Apple TV over the wire, check the gallery.

And jump for the vid.

I don't ever leave my house, and when I do, it's with my Macbook already loaded with all my Apple TV's content. But I suppose the Mac client's Apple TV functionality is great for those who want iTunes content access while they're off the home network, on a separate machine. Complicated? Yes. Welcome to the mind-fark that is meta streaming.

The client also gives the Slingbox Frontrow support, and a nifty photorealistic TiVo Series 3 remote. – Brian Lam

Jott: Setup a free account, dial a number, leave yourself a voice message, and you get a transcribed note in your inbox for later reference. Easiest way to leave notes if you have an aversion to pencil and paper like I do.

ShoZu:Shozu plugs into media sites like Flickr and Youtube, so you can upload your stuff with a click or two. Works on plenty of phones, and plenty of media sites. I'd like more blogware interfaces, to be honest, but you can't complain about free ware.

and...

Callwave: Callwave is that visual voicemail system Chen wrote about awhile back. Free, except your new voicemail system basically will spam your callers with a message. Worth it, though. I have my caller list and vmails in both my Dashboard widget and inbox. Soon, they'll have a text version that'll SMS your phone with an electronic transcription of your voicemail.

Slingbox: I've been playing with Slingbox's Windows Mobile client, too. Good stuff. But you all know that already.

When you look at all these great apps available on Java, Symbian and even (barf) Windows Mobile, its sad to think that certain glossy phones coming out in June won't have an open OS. What other apps have you been using on your phone? – Brian Lam

Incidentally, I used a Slingbox to keep up with all the TV shows while I was away on vacation. The crappy Comcast DVR recorded the shows and I could watch them whenever there was any downtime. Really neat. – Jason Chen

Deal Page [Sling]

Whoa!

Actually, No Whoa.

What they're talking about is using the excellent, yet non-specific ability of a Slingbox to stream iTunes to an Apple TV, and then using a HD equipped Slingbox Pro to stream Apple TV to your Sling Client-equipped Palm, or Windows Mobile phone. The article speaks of future support, but isn't this possible with the mere addition of a few IR codes?

Ironically, when it comes out, the iPhone's EDGE connection doesn't have legs to support the richest of all Sling video, but audio should be fine. Wait, what am I talking about?! There will be no OS X Sling client unless Steve J. says so.–Brian Lam

[CNet News]

Product Page [Amazon]

It's nice, like all Sling gear. But it ain't revolutionary.

The device is simply a Powerline networking device, like the old Slinglink. The one new has four 100BASE-T ports, instead of one. And the original pushed 14mbps, while the newer one does 84mbps, using HomePlug 1.0 Turbo standards. There is a one port device in the kit that receives the powerline signal and uploads it to the home network. To my knowledge, powerline equipment from Linksys will do the same thing, albeit, not in the same pretty shell. As a Sling fanboy, that does score it brownie points, but the fact is, this is a piece of networking gear. –Brian Lam

[Sling Community]

Then again, this seems to be mainly a client for your Slingboxes, meant for use on other TVs. So it's really not a new product as much as it as a Slingbox accessory. Wait...what's that, Dave? You'll be able to download video content using a PC client to the Slingcatcher's optional HDD? That could be really cool, depending on who provides the content. We'll have to wait and see.

–Brian Lam

Slingcatcher [Zatz not Funny]

In addition, the Hava wasn't nearly as customizable as the Slingbox. It has no real favorites, you can't tweak its settings, there's not enough IR codes for your current boxes, and a few other shortcomings that resulted because it's a first generation release. Perhaps after an iteration or two, Hava can pose more of a threat to Sling's location-shifting dominance. – Jason Chen

Hands on with HAVA [Zatz not Funny]

Considering that we saw alphas of the Mac SlingPlayer nearly a year ago, we're just wondering if this development could go any slower. Hopefully we'll be seeing the shipping version of Mac SlingPlayer before humanity begins its diaspora to the fully-terraformed Mars.

On a positive note, the SlingPlayer Mobile software now works on even more smartphones. – Charlie White

Mac SlingPlayer Beta Updated [Zatz Not Funny!]

HD Connect down-converts your 720p or 1080i signal into a 640x480 video stream, where the horizontal part is anamorphically compressed for transport, and then is stretched back out to that typical widescreen 16x9 format on your laptop in the field. How does it look, and is it worth $50?

Its video output looks significantly better than the stock Slingbox Pro's standard definition video, but there is a catch. You're only going to get near-HD-quality when you stream the Slingbox Pro's video within your own network. That makes it ideal for, say, watching some HD porn in your bedroom when your Slingbox is located elsewhere in the house on your wired or wireless G network. But its resolution is limited to 320x240 when you access your Slingbox from outside your own network via the InterWebs.

Here's a press photo of HD Connect, and next to it is the actual unit, not nearly as pretty as its PR propaganda:

A handy feature of the Slingbox Pro is its ability to connect and control four devices, and HD Connect now lets you do that with a component signal while also letting you pass that component video through to whatever viewing device you wish to use in your home theater as well.

HD Connect plugs into a port on the back right, which looks exactly like a HDMI port, but isn't:

The Slingbox Pro with HD Connect's improved quality was also noticeable using the SlingPlayer Mobile for Windows software on my Motorola Q Smartphone. Don't try watching an entire football game or a movie on the Motorola Q, though, because its lame-ass battery will give up the ghost after about an hour using the SlingPlayer Mobile software.

Overall, I give the Slingbox Pro HD Connect dongle a big thumbs-up, while at the same time wishing that it would've been included in the package with the Slingbox Pro. For more details, check out my full review at Consumer Electronics Net. – Charlie White

Slingbox Pro HD Connect [Consumer Electronics Net]

Weren't people complaining when the iPod with video debuted, "who wants to watch video on such a small screen?" Well, now you can watch the small screen on an even smaller screen. Here, it looks like we're watching Liverpool actually win a game, so lord knows when this screenshot was taken. – Nicholas Deleon

Press Release [Sling Media]

This media streamer isn't HD, like the Slingbox Pro. It is wireless, and sends MPEG-2 over the home network, and MPEG-4 over the internet. For now, it seems as if it only works with PCs, while the Slingbox works with Macs, Windows Mobile devices like the Moto Q, and soon, Nokia devices running Symbian.

Let's see: Pinnacle has tons of experience in processing video, but very little in the networking game. Both are important when it comes to building a solid placeshifting gadget. But given the sometimes shoddy consumer equipment that I've seen out of Pinnacle, I doubt this will be a worry free setup.

So, the odds are in Sling's favor, but we shall see when the reviews roll through. Jump for another picture.

–Brian Lam

Pinnacle PCTV To Go [Pinnacle]

The SlingPlayer software appears to be a Universal Binary, meaning that it'll run natively on both the new Intel-based Macs and the older PowerPC-based systems. You'll need to be running Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) or later to get in the hot public beta action and you'll need the appropriate home network setup in order to fully enjoy the benefits of Slingbox.

Good, now Mac users can get in on that hot "place shifting" action. It's about damn time. – Nicholas Deleon

Download Link [Sling Media]

But it's not for travelers who leave other people at home, unless both parties want to watch the same thing at the same time.

Slingbox Pro review [PC Mag]

Is it back to start feeling sorry for Sony? – Travis Hudson

Sony Delays Sale of LocationFree TV Box [Via Zatz]