Ad: Check out the Canon EOS 5D Mark III
  • CNET
  • All slingbox posts

slingbox

First Look: SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone

After some hiccups in the development process, Sling has finally released SlingPlayer Mobile for the iPhone. The software works with your Slingbox at home, and lets you control and watch your satellite or cable box and DVR from your iPhone or iPod Touch.

All of the functionality found in previous SlingPlayer Mobile platforms is still intact. You'll have access to a menu bar that'll let you use a remote-like interface on-screen to control your box as well as switch sling devices and manage your favorite channels. What's new are a few gestures that'll allow you to scroll through your favorite channels as well as let you scroll up and down through channels.

SlingPlayer Mobile will work with new Slingbox and legacy devices, but Sling officially won't support the Sling Classic, AV, and Tuner models--that means that if you've got a problem with one of those devices, Sling won't be able to help you troubleshoot your issue.

Now here's the real bad news: SlingPlayer Mobile for the iPhone only works with a Wi-Fi connection, meaning you cannot use the 3G network to stream video. Also, we should note that SlingPlayer Mobile will probably perform better on your home network rather than a public Wi-Fi spot.

Performance wise, the software worked well.… Read more

AT&T reintroduces anti-video-streaming terms

Earlier this month, AT&T modified its wireless terms of service (TOS) to ban Slingbox activities on mobile devices attached to its network. Less than a week later, the company retracted these changes due to public outcry over the matter and explained that the changes were made "in error."

Unexpectedly, the AT&T TOS has changed again within the past 24 hours. The new TOS language targets and prohibits the place-shifting activities from Slingbox or similar devices to "Personal Computers" using AT&T's wireless network. The changes are:

While most common uses … Read more

AT&T backtracks on video ban--or does it?

Earlier Friday, we brought you news that AT&T had made some fairly narrowing changes to its terms-of-use policies for wireless data. One such change would prohibit users from watching non-AT&T video services, such as Hulu, on their AT&T devices. Users around the Internet, of course, didn't much care for the change.

Since the story broke, though, AT&T has sent out a message to blogs and news outlets saying that the video-streaming portion was an error that has been deleted. Great for you, AT&T. But a quick check shows that … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 945: Born to be WILB

Turns out surfing Facebook at work has a name and it's good for your productivity. A study shows that 20 percent of your time spent Workplace Internet Leisure Browsing (WILB) will improve your output. Texas also says hasta la vista to Vista, and AT&T tries to block movies on its wireless network.

Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 945

Google reported sniffing at Twitter, but to what end? http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/04/google-reported.html http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/02/sources-google-in-late-stage-talks-to-buy-twitter/ http://www.appscout.com/2009/04/google_incorporating_twitter_f.php http://kara.allthingsd.com/20090403/sorry-to-get-you-all-a-twitter-but-google-is-not-in-late-stage-talks-to-acquire-the-hot-microblogging-service/… Read more

Older Slingboxes incompatible with Sling iPhone app

Sling Media has announced that the first few models of the Slingbox won't work with new Sling software, including the much-anticipated SlingPlayer for iPhone.

The company, which is now owned by EchoStar, informed Slingbox owners on the Sling Media Web site Wednesday, saying that owners of the original Slingbox, Slingbox AV, and Slingbox Tuner were encouraged to upgrade to either a Slingbox Pro, Slingbox Pro-HD, or Slingbox Solo and that the company would offer those owning discontinued boxes a $50 discount to upgrade. (The Solo is the entry-level product and costs $180).

The reason? Because "software like SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone … Read more

EchoStar unveils Tru2way cable version of its SlingLoaded DVR

EchoStar has officially announced a cable-ready version of its SlingLoaded DVR. Except for the fact that it's designed to work on any Tru2way-compatible cable system, the EchoStar T2200S will not be that different from the Dish Network ViP922, which snagged the Best of CES Home Video award at January's 2009 Consumer Electronics Show.

Like the ViP922, the EchoStar T2200S offers a laundry list of features we'd expect from a high-def DVR, including a 1TB hard drive and dual-tuner support. But EchoStar is also boasting of a built-in DOCSIS cable modem, MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) compatibility, and … Read more

The $27,000 AT&T bill for watching the Chicago Bears

Last November, Wayne Burdick was on a cruise ship docked in Miami when he suddenly said to himself: "I wonder how my beloved, infuriating, ugly-quarterbacked Chicago Bears are doing?"

So he got out his wireless card, opened his laptop, unleashed his Slingbox and began to pray. Surprisingly, the Bears beat the Detroit Lions 27-23.

As his ship sailed to the Caribbean, Wayne Burdick's heart was lighter than Joaquin Phoenix's sense of humor. On his return, his pockets were lighter too.

Because AT&T sent him a bill for $27,788.93. You know why it … Read more

EchoStar SlingLoaded HD DVR 922 combines Slingbox and DVR into one super set-top box

We're huge fans of the Slingbox, which lets you access your home TV from any broadband-connected PC and many models of 3G smartphones. But the boxes have always had a fundamental problem of monopolizing the host video source (cable/satellite box or DVR); if you access your Slingbox remotely and somebody happens to be watching the home TV, both of you are forced to watch the same program.

That's just one problem that the new EchoStar SlingLoaded HD DVR 922 fixes. The "SlingLoaded" moniker basically means that it's got a Slingbox built-in. That, along with … Read more

SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone announced

Updated at 10:00 AM Pacific.

Six months after announcing its intention to bring SlingPlayer to the iPhone 3G, Sling Media has another announcement to make--just not the one you're wishing for.

SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone isn't ready yet, Sling said on Tuesday, but it is on its way.

Like SlingPlayer Mobile for Windows Mobile, Palm, Symbian, UIQ, and BlackBerry (beta) platforms, this iPhone version will let you access one or more Slingboxes from your mobile device, and watch your TV stations on-the-go. It will also be compatible with the iPod Touch.

You'll also be able to … Read more