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Sling Media posts

Echostar might SlingLoad other manufacturer's cable boxes

by Richard Lawler posted Aug 3rd 2009 at 11:31PM


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 Mobile for iPhone coming shortly: $29.99, no 3G support

by Chris Ziegler posted May 12th 2009 at 12:36PM


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.

Gallery: SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone hands-on

Echostar shows off its SlingLoaded T2200S HD DVR for cable

by Richard Lawler posted Mar 30th 2009 at 6:32PM


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

by Richard Lawler posted Mar 30th 2009 at 3:06PM


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]

Continue reading Cable customers can get SlingLoaded too with the T2200S tru2way DVR

DISH's SlingLoaded ViP 922 / 822 DVR hits the FCC

by Darren Murph posted Mar 13th 2009 at 8:23PM


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

by Ross Miller posted Feb 24th 2009 at 7:31AM


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

by Laura June posted Jan 13th 2009 at 4:07AM

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

by Darren Murph posted Jan 8th 2009 at 4:31PM


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

by Darren Murph posted Jan 8th 2009 at 12:00AM


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: DISH Network's ViP 922 and SlingGuide unveiled: first "SlingLoaded" HD DVR

Continue reading DISH Network's ViP 922 and SlingGuide unveiled: first "SlingLoaded" HD DVR

SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone, SlingPlayer for Mac HD make debuts

by Darren Murph posted Jan 6th 2009 at 12:00AM


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.

Continue reading SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone, SlingPlayer for Mac HD make debuts

Reminder: Sling Media's Slingbox PRO-HD giveaway ends tomorrow!

by Darren Murph posted Jan 1st 2009 at 10:00AM


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.

SlingPlayer Mobile for BlackBerry loosed in public beta form

by Darren Murph posted Dec 30th 2008 at 11:08AM


Now this is what what we like to see, a company keeping promises. Sling Media promised that we'd see a public beta release of its SlingPlayer Mobile for BlackBerry on December 30th, and sure enough, we're seeing a public beta release of its SlingPlayer Mobile for BlackBerry on December 30th. As of now, select BB owners -- Pearl 8120, Pearl Flip 8220, Curve 8320, 8820, Curve 8900 and Bold 9000, officially -- can point their browsers here in order to get the OTA install going. At least for now, this is the only method of procuring the software (should cut down on support issues, we hear), but it's not like you can't handle that. Give it a go and report back, won't you? Full note is after the break.

Continue reading SlingPlayer Mobile for BlackBerry loosed in public beta form

Engadget HD Holiday Giveaway (part I): Sling Media's Slingbox PRO-HD

by Darren Murph posted Dec 25th 2008 at 12:00PM Featured Story


Why so down? Old Man Winter putting a freeze on your heart? Fret not, downtrodden ones -- Engadget HD is here with a fistful of holiday cheer. Just in case you didn't get that placeshifting box you'd been asking for under the tree this morning, we coaxed St. Nick into coughing up a Slingbox PRO-HD from Sling Media to give to one lucky reader. You know the deal with this one: HD streaming, a wide array of inputs, integrated digital tuner and a sexy chassis that you won't mind showing off. So, what's it going to take to get this in your stocking after all? Merely a glee-filled comment below. Oh, and you might want to stick around -- we've got one more unclaimed gift to give away later today!

Gallery: Sling Media's Slingbox PRO-HD



The rules:
  • Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, though we'd prefer one on the strangest, most remote locale you plan on placeshifting the HD Yule Log to.
  • You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
  • If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
  • Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
  • Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) Sling Media Slingbox PRO-HD unit. Approximate value is $299.99.
  • Entries can be submitted until Friday, January 2nd, 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
  • Full rules can be found here.

SlingPlayer Mobile for WinMo adds new resolutions, devices

by Chris Ziegler posted Dec 23rd 2008 at 9:00PM


While the BlackBerry camp sits and waits patiently for its public beta to begin in a few days, Sling has been hard at working bringing its SlingPlayer Mobile for Windows Mobile up to snuff for the latest round of devices finding their way into pockets as of late. Notably, the app supports several new resolutions -- 800x480, 640x480, 400x240, and 320x320 -- and a whole host of new phones, including the AT&T Fuze, Sprint / Verizon Touch Pro, and the Samsung Epix, among eleven others. The update is available immediately; should be interesting to see how this looks on an X1 clipping along at WVGA, eh?

SlingPlayer Mobile for BlackBerry goes beta at long last on December 30

by Chris Ziegler posted Dec 18th 2008 at 12:57AM Breaking News


Great googly moogly, we wrote about this very application like fifty weeks ago. Fifty, people! Of course, with the drawn-out SlingCatcher drama, lengthy Sling product cycles aren't a terribly big surprise, so we should just all thank our lucky stars we're going to be getting our hands on SlingPlayer Mobile for BlackBerry before the year's out. The app officially enters its public beta cycle come December 30 for the Bold, the Curve 8320 / 8900, the Pearl 8120 / 8220, and the venerable 8820, piping your home teevee right to your handset and usurping any semblance of productivity your BlackBerry otherwise stands for. A 3G or WiFi connection is "strongly recommended" -- which we take to mean "go ahead, give EDGE a whirl" -- but BlackBerry OS 4.5 is a hard and fast requirement, so make sure you come equipped with the goods if you want to waste some quality time in front of the small screen when this goes live.




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