Sling Media - Slingbox

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.livedigitally.com/?p=288' target='_blank'>http://www.livedigitally.com/?p=288</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Before we go any further, let me answer the $64 Million dollar question: What is the Slingbox? Sling Media has created a device that sends a stream from your house to your computer over the internet. This isn’t your normal stream. Most streams are a one way open loop system that dumps content to you with very minimal control as a user. The Slingbox is a controlled stream. You have the ability to change your television channel or program your DVR remotely. Sling Media’s new toy is just getting started so buckle up and enjoy the ride."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/sling.jpg" /> <br /><br />Wow! After first getting over the shock over how cool this is, I started to kick myself because it seems so obvious as the next step from time-shifting. You could place-shift before, by recording a show, but this allows you to place-shift in real-time. You could be overseas and still catch the local news for a taste of home. Sports fans would probably love this as a way to get around local blackouts (with the cooperation of someone from outside the blackout area of course).

[Tom W.M.]

Am I the only one that thought that that thing was a couple of giant, aluminum keyboard keys at first sight?

But really, this is pretty cool (though that article was a spelling nightmare). What I want to know is, can it be used on a PocketPC?

[encece]

I just saw this yesterday as well and am very excited about it. I have a 17" laptop with no video card and this would allow me to view TV all around my home without a TV Tuner card.

But better yet, It would allow me to view from outside of my home, at work, anywhere.

I have the same question: Will this work on Smartphones and PPCs?

[Tom W.M.]

I've just gone off and read the PC Mag review of the Slingbox, and it appears that it only works with it's own proprietary client software. On the Slingbox web site (http://www.slingmedia.com/how.php4), they say,
In the coming months, SlingPlayer software will be available for select PDAs, smart phones, and Macintosh computers and will be fully compatible with the Slingbox. Please visit our support site for the latest information on additional Slingbox and SlingPlayer platform compatibility.
So we'll have to wait and see, I guess.

I would wager that Pocket PCs are on their list, though, since they (Pocket PCs) are quite easily networkable, and have plenty of processing power for video decoding.

[Ed Hansberry]

Mossberg had high praise for this. http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/ptech-20050630.html

[pradike]

Since this doesn't support DTV (HDTV) and/or MPEG4, it would appear that this device would have a relatively short shelf life.

IMHO, buying anything that doesn't support HDTV today is throwing away $$$.

Thdere'a a reason they're practically giving away regular TIVOs these days - they're old news/old technology, and with HDTV, become virtual doorstops.

[Ed Hansberry]

I think you are a little optimistic about how widespread HTDV is and the bandwidth HTDV would need from a device like this or the hard drive space a DVR would need. HDTV is nice, but most shows aren't HD and most cable channels aren't HD.

[encece]

Well, I bought it and I love it....cool in it's simplicity. Cant wait for PPC/Smartphone compatibility (which is supposedly coming).

The shape was ugly to me at first but I like it up close. It's smaller than you think. About as big as a carton (not a single pack) of cigarrettes.

And the shape allows you to stack multiple units on top of each other.

More feedback later when I actually test it from outside my home!

[encece]

Works like a charm from my office as well! Quality is slightly diminished over the internet....but barely noticable.

Movies and series shows on HBO are very dark. There is no way to adjust the brightness in the software. But other than that....VERY COOL!