The Slingbox is a TV streaming media device made by Sling Media that encodes video into the VC-1 format for transmission over the Internet and provides an infrared blaster. The video encoding and IR blaster can both be operated remotely over the Internet. These features allow users to remotely view and control their home's cable, satellite, or personal video recorder (PVR) system from an Internet-enabled computer with a broadband Internet connection.
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A Slingbox can redirect one of its inputs to one computer or mobile device located on a local network or remotely, when using a broadband Internet connection, anywhere in the world. To avoid copyright infringement, only one user can access the stream from a Slingbox at a time. This way to access content is named placeshifting.
A slingbox is a small device that can control the functions of a TV source (in this example, a cable box) to which it is attached. It is connected also to the Internet, typically via a local Ethernet network. A user with the related software on his remote computer can connect to the device, thereby controlling the cable box. He then receives back the video and audio output of the cable box, almost as though he were watching TV at home.
The Slingbox uses Sling Media's proprietary SlingPlayer[1] to display audio and video on Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh running Mac OS X, and selected mobile devices. SlingPlayer is not available for Linux, BSD or other open source systems. While old versions of SlingPlayer ran under old versions of Wine, as of 2011[update] there is presently no way to run SlingPlayer in Linux using current releases of either. The latest stable SlingPlayer version for Windows is version 2.0.4.[2] This version includes a live video buffer to pause, fast-forward, and rewind up to 60 minutes of live video, an integrated channel/program guide (USA/Canada only), and a web-based account to assist in finding and connecting to the Slingbox via the internet.[3][4]
Sling Media announced a Mac OS X port of the SlingPlayer at the January 2006 Macworld Conference and Expo with a promised release date of Q2 2006. The release was later delayed to Q3 2006, and then again to Q4 2006, leading to allegations that Sling Media was promoting vaporware. In September 2006, Sling Media began selling new Slingbox hardware in packages that had the official Mac OS X logo on the outside, indicating support for the Macintosh platform even though the Mac OS X port of the player software was still not available. Sling Media released the first public beta of their player for Mac OS X on October 31, 2006. A completed version was released in early 2007. Version 1.0 works on both PowerPC and Intel Macs as long as it runs at least Mac OS X v10.3.9. The latest stable SlingPlayer version for Mac OS X is version 1.0.10.[5]
During the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show, the firm announced a future feature named Clip+Sling.[6] It allows users to share clips of their favorite TV shows with each other through a hosted Web service. The announcement was made during Leslie Moonves' keynote speech.[7][8]
Applian Technologies released a PC-based recording program for Slingbox in 2006 called At-Large Recorder 1.0. Following that event, Sling Media added an encrypted protocol to the communication between SlingPlayer and Slingbox, rendering At-Large Recorder 1.0 useless with newer firmware. In October 2007, Applian Technologies released At-Large Recorder 2, which is once again able to capture and record Slingbox streams on a Windows PC. At-Large Recorder 2 includes a circular recording feature for use in continuously capturing feeds from security cameras or media monitoring.
mReplay[9] provides no-cost rich internet applications that allow Slingbox users to watch, control, record, edit and share the content of their Slingbox all in Internet Explorer or Firefox without traditional software installation called mReplay Live.[10] There is also a mobile version available for Windows Mobile phones for free called mReplay Mobi.[11]
On December 2, 2008, Sling Media announced the public launch of Sling.com, an online video entertainment destination. Users can go to Sling.com to watch clips, TV shows, films, news and sports. This includes video programming from over 90 content providers spanning 150 content brands. In addition to the on-demand offerings, Slingbox owners could connect to their Slingbox through the website, making their Slingboxes available without a software client download.[12]
On January 6, 2009, Sling Media unveiled a prototype of their HD solution for Mac OS X. SlingPlayer for Mac HD is a web-based version of the SlingPlayer software that will be accessible from Sling.com.[13] Sling Media also revealed that they would not release a standalone desktop version of SlingPlayer for Mac HD. This signaled Sling Media's intent to cease developing the standalone desktop versions of their software, and to begin migrating users to Sling.com for access to their Slingbox.[14]
As of 3 October 2011[update], sling.com redirects to Dishonline.com, Dish Network's version of online content.
Sling Players are available for various mobile platforms such as Android, BlackBerry OS, iOS, Palm OS, Symbian, Windows Mobile, and Windows Phone based devices.[15]
SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone was demonstrated at Macworld Expo 2009 in January and has been submitted to the App Store in March 2009.[16]
The announcement of the iPhone and iPod Touch application began a controversy among owners of older Slingboxes as Sling Media has announced that only the Slingbox Solo, Pro and ProHD models will be supported by the iPhone client. Older Slingbox models Classic, Tuner and AV are not officially supported, although they do appear to work with the application nonetheless.[17] Owners of these models have been offered a $50 discount, although they in turn have pointed out that this does not bring the price down to even what Amazon sells Slingboxes for as of 2010.
As of 2010[update], Sling Media had not offered any public explanation for the cutoff, although one possibility may be related to the DSP in newer models being programmable at runtime to deliver an H.264 stream (the iPhone's preferred format) while older boxes may only be able to deliver a WMV-encoded stream. Other communications from Sling refer to the need to upgrade to be ready for "new features" not yet disclosed.
On May 12, 2009, the SlingPlayer App became available at the Apple App Store, but only for US, Canadian and UK accounts. It sells for $29.99 and will only use Wi-Fi to stream content.[18] Sling's promotional email confirmed that the SlingPlayer for iPhone works with wi-fi connections only "At Apple's request" - a decision believed to have been made at the behest of incumbent iPhone network operators such as AT&T and O2.
On February 4, 2010, the SlingPlayer App gained the ability to stream content on AT&T's 3G Network.[19] This change was done 100% by AT&T as the SlingPlayer App already features quality scaling of content based on connection type.[20]
On November 24, 2010, Sling Media announced the release and immediate availability of the SlingPlayer Mobile app for the iPad.[21] The price is $29.99 for the app. The iPad-specific app will take full advantage of the iPad's large screen by offering a higher resolution stream than on other devices with smaller screens.
SlingPlayers also work on Nokia Symbian S60 platform based mobile devices, such as Nokia N73, Nokia E65, Nokia N95 and Nokia 6120 classic.[22]
Minimum technical requirements:
SlingPlayer Mobile will work on BlackBerry devices with these minimum technical requirements. It does not work with operating system 6 or newer. [23]
A supported BlackBerry smartphone with 3G wireless service and/or Wi-Fi Internet connectivity, and these minimum device software versions:
| Smartphone | Minimum version, and above |
Optimal version, and above |
|---|---|---|
| BlackBerry Bold 9700 | 5.0.0.0 | 5.0.0.656 to 5.0.0.743 do not work |
| BlackBerry Bold 9000 | 4.6.0.0 | 4.6.0.167 |
| BlackBerry Curve 8900 | 4.6.1.0 | 4.6.1.114 |
| BlackBerry 8820 | 4.5.0.0 | 4.5.0.110 |
| BlackBerry 8350i | 4.6.1.0 | 4.6.1.83 |
| BlackBerry Curve 8320 | 4.5.0.0 | 4.5.0.81 |
| BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 | 4.6.0.0 | 4.5.0.174 |
| BlackBerry Pearl 8120 | 4.5.0.0 | 4.5.0.110 |
Slingbox released its Android player on June 21, 2010 via the Android Market for 2.1 only at this time.[24]
Sling Media released a Windows Mobile version of their player on April 26, 2006 which allows users to stream their video over smartphones and Pocket PCs.
On November 9, 2010, Sling Media announced the availability of SlingPlayer Mobile for Windows Phone 7.[25] The app is priced at $29.99 and is available through the Windows Phone Marketplace.
A Palm OS client "SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS" is available. The current version as of October 2010[update] is 1.00.22 which was released on April 10, 2009.[26]
When the Palm Pre (the first Palm webOS device), was announced in the spring of 2009, Sling Media was a "launch partner", indicating that they would make their SlingPlayer Mobile software available for the Palm Pre at or near the launch of the handset.[27] As of October 2010[update], no version of SlingPlayer Mobile for webOS has been made publicly available.[28] This has led to complaints from users and allegations of Sling Media promoting vaporware. Using the Classic emulator in webOS, "SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS" will start, successfully connect to and control remote Slingboxes; however, the VC-1 video and audio stream will not be decoded.
SlingPlayer has gained support for devices connected to a television.
On November 22, 2011, Sling Media and Boxee announced the availability of SlingPlayer for the Boxee Box.[29] It is the first and only connected device to gain official SlingPlayer support .[30]
In January 2007, Sling Media announced the launch of the SlingCatcher, a hardware device similar to a set top box, which would enable users to watch their television remotely, without the need for a computer. The SlingCatcher will purportedly ship with a hardware remote control to replace the on-screen remote and thus give a more true-to-life television experience.
The SlingCatcher[31] was scheduled for release by the end of Q2 2007. One year later, information about the device could still be found on the Sling Media website and occasional snippets of information referencing it appear in industry magazines, but the absence of a release date led to accusations of the product being vaporware.[32]
In early September, 2008, Sling Media announced that the SlingCatcher would be available for an October 2, 2008 release date (later revised to "Early October".) Several websites offered the SlingCatcher for pre-order.
The SlingCatcher became commercially available in October 2008, to mixed reviews.[33] Much of the initial criticism revolved around a lack of support for streaming HD, which is now possible after software update v1.0.0.57.[34]
The SlingCatcher appears to have been discontinued as of April 2010. It is no longer available for sale through online retailers or on the Sling web site. There was briefly an announcement on the Sling web site SlingCatcher page that remaining inventory would be sold online through BestBuy.com at $199.99, double the $99.99 price in Best Buy stores from December 2009. As of May 2010, there is no mention of the SlingCatcher or similar devices on their products page. No official announcement has come from Sling regarding the future of this technology. The rumor is that Sling Media has decided to focus on Catcher like devices for provider channels (e.g., cable companies), so will no longer sell a retail device.[35] Subsequently, prices for SlingCatchers have skyrocketed in secondary markets such as Ebay to $300–$400 for a NIB SlingCatcher SC100-100.
People have reported problems with Slingbox Solos "freezing, stuck optimizing, losing connection". The problems were resolved by replacing damaged capacitors on the circuit board.[36][37][38]
The SlingBox has found an unexpected niche market in television broadcasting. Broadcast engineers at several TV stations have installed them at remote "towercam" locations to observe traffic and weather conditions. KPIX-TV in San Francisco has several connected with wireless networking, using EV-DO via a cellular network (mobile phone) provider. This costs only a few hundred dollars for each site, versus well over ten thousand for a setup with a remote pickup unit and auxiliary broadcast licenses. However, the system is not yet reliable or broadband enough to handle live remote broadcasts. Cable TV providers are also using it to provide proof of performance for companies that run TV ads on their systems.[39][40][41]