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story category Slingbox
Control and watch your TV, anywhere
(old news - 09:34AM Thursday Jun 30 2005)
tags: Video · hardware
Engadget points out that the Slingbox has been released, and is available at CompUSA and BestBuy for $250. The device hooks into the back of your TV, and allows you to watch television on any desktop or laptop in the house (or outside your house, provided you've got a broadband connection). Hook the device to your television and home router, and manipulate your Tivo from another zip code.

Related:
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  5. Cox Multi-Room DVR Looms
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  7. Apple Unveils New iPhone 3GS
  8. AT&T Offers Free iPhone U-Verse DVR App
Forums » Slingbox
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packetscan
Premium
join:2004-10-19
Bridgeport, CT
clubs:

Lunch Break

Well i know what I'll be doing for lunch..
Taking a trip over to compusa.

Chris 313
Come get some
Premium
join:2004-07-18
Houma, LA
clubs:

Re: Lunch Break

I second that. I'll be checking into this and might get one after I finish moving.
ftth_freak

join:2005-06-17
Ballwin, MO

Re: Lunch Break

I got the first one at my CompUSA at noon, the guys at CompUSA had to get it out of the warehouse becuase it just came in. I'll hook it up tonight and let you know on the PIX Qa. However the techy guy on CNBC said he used it and was amazed at how good the PIX Qa was.
tidgins

join:2005-07-04
Portland, OR
Yeah, the quality is amazing. At the smaller sizes, I can detect no problems with the video at all... At the larger size of Full Screen, there is some loss of video quality, but I find it to be hardly noticeable.
B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28

Or $150!


Bare bones PC. $150

VLC Server. $0

-- B
--
In a realm outside causality and function

swimly

@comcast.net

Re: Or $150!

whatever dude. that doesn't come close on so many levels, i don't even know where to start.
*changing channels on my tivo?
*streaming in what format? mp4 simple profile? anything better than that would die on some 150buck pc
*user interface
etc etc etc
tidgins

join:2005-07-04
Portland, OR
Yeah, You gotta be careful. There are system requirements. And the better your Video Card... The better the video quality will be.
Gilitar

join:2000-11-20
Mobile, AL

Picture quality

Picture quality couldn't be that good with most ISPs only giving 256k up.

SlingBXX

@208.145.x.x

Re: Picture quality

Does Billy Bob Thorton have one?

Wills

join:2001-01-03
Port Charlotte, FL

Re: Picture quality

UMM HMM
Primis1

join:2005-06-13
Coldwater, MI
It wouldn't *need* to be that good for the purposes of most.
kelch1999

join:2003-02-01
Midlothian, VA

Re: Picture quality

This is true, but what if there are other upstreams? Voip, web server, ftp, etc. Would it be worth watching your "own" TV?
Primis1

join:2005-06-13
Coldwater, MI

Re: Picture quality

Heh. You're asking one of the biggest sports fanatics in the world if it'd be worth it to him if he could be in some-remote-place-with-no-TV-but-wifi-istan taking care of something important, and still be able to watch The Game on his laptop? Even at low quality?

You bethca'!! Sign me up!!!

You have no idea the number of people that will, when stuck at work during a game, sit and watch/monitor one of those GameTracker java applets that give realtime data for a game. it's a huge number. And that's with no audio or video!!

With a video stream though?! Even a low-quality one? Totally. I'm there...
tidgins

join:2005-07-04
Portland, OR

Actually, You guys are cutting the Slingbox short. The video quality is actually pretty good.

Obviously if you were to have a higher upload speed, then your video would stream better. However 256 kpbs is the Sling recommended upload speed. It actually looks pretty good at that type of speed.

Anyway, just thought I'd put my 2 cents in on that with having seen it already.

Toadman
How do you like these Apples

join:2001-11-28
Medina, OH

X10?

Boy does this sound like an X10 product.
gagorder

join:2005-07-04
Hillsboro, OR

Re: X10?

If I were the company owners I'd slap you for that heh.

It works with quality and reliability, that I have not seen in a device of this kind ever, even being a mythTV, Orb, and TV2Go knowledgeable user, this device far surpasses anything I have ever seen/used.

Give it a chance, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at this "X10" type product *evil grin*

-gagorder

C0deZer0
Oc'D To Rhythm And Police
Premium
join:2001-10-03
Davenport, FL
·Verizon FIOS

Killer App?

I wonder if this will be the "killer app" that will bring about a surge of demand for broadband throughout the states, and forces ISPs to more seriously start deploying én massé at an accelerated basis (compared to the rate they are going now, any serious deployment would be accelerated ).
--
VIA sux 3K club GameCube online
Skippy25

join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO

Re: Killer App?

Don't be silly!

nivago
Think For Yourself

join:2000-11-16
Little Rock, AR

Re: Killer App?

oh, snap!

brandon
Some truth included in this post.
Premium
join:2003-03-31
Hurley, MS
I know you're trying to look cool and all but there are no accent marks on en masse, French or English.
Primis1

join:2005-06-13
Coldwater, MI

Re: Killer App?

Well there is on "massé" I think... if you mean the pool term for curving the cue ball around an obstacle or obstacles.

myhoes
Michael Extreme User
Premium
join:2003-10-05
Laval, QC
clubs:
thats or they will just make the thing illegal to own like the decoders ppl used to have :P
--
And that my friends is what they say is..That!
tidgins

join:2005-07-04
Portland, OR

Actually... They can't make it illegal. Because all you are doing is watching your own television, etc. Your are not actually doing any re-broadcasting because only one person can watch the device at any given time. So there aren't any legality issue on re-broadcasting.
rdiedrich
Premium
join:2002-11-25
Mchenry, IL
clubs:

Piracy and other problems

I wonder what this will do to the Pirates hobby. Does it have Macro-vision to protect video or not? Also I wonder how some of the pay content providers like HBO will like the rebroadcasting of their signal?

_-Rdiedrich-_
tidgins

join:2005-07-04
Portland, OR

Re: Piracy and other problems

Actually in response to your first question... They can't. The only way to be able to log into your Slingbox is using your Finder ID, and password which us, the users specify. If someone manages to discover your password, all you have to do is reset your Slingbox, and then you can use a different password that the Pirates won't know.

As far as people like HBO, there shouldn't be a problem there either. You aren't actually rebroadcasting. What you are really technically doing it watching that same television in the same place. You have already bought and paid for that signal, so it is your to watch.

The Slingbox only allows you to watch it from one computer at a time. Thereby removing the question of rebroadcasting.
rdiedrich
Premium
join:2002-11-25
Mchenry, IL
clubs:

Re: Piracy and other problems

for the pirates hobby I was referring to making it easier to make content digital.

_-Rdiedrich-_

LD 50

join:2000-08-28
Milford, NH
clubs:

Nice step

I could see where this would be a nice way to catch TiVo records while you are out of the house, either in the backyard or a 1000 miles away.

The problem though, is the “source” TV has to be showing whatever sling is streaming. So, in my case, say I am watching the Pats on a Sunday afternoon, and my wife has a show on the downstairs DirecTiVo she wants to watch upstairs, she cannot use this to watch it upstairs, since sling needs DirecTiVo to switch to that show. So, while this allows you to watch the 1 show on multiple TVs, it does not allow you to watch the 1 show on any 1 TV.

It’s a nice step, but, in my case, a networked DirecTiVo that serves up any show to any TV at any time is what is needed.
--
"At what exact point, then, should one resist? When one's belt is taken away. When one is ordered to face into a corner? When one crosses the threshold of one's home? . . . ."

footballdude

join:2002-08-13
Imperial, MO

Re: Nice step

said by LD 50 See Profile:

So, in my case, say I am watching the Pats on a Sunday afternoon, and my wife has a show on the downstairs DirecTiVo she wants to watch upstairs, she cannot use this to watch it upstairs, since sling needs DirecTiVo to switch to that show. (snip)in my case, a networked DirecTiVo that serves up any show to any TV at any time is what is needed.
Since any self respecting football fan with DirecTV has Sunday Ticket, you'll be using both input lines and your wife will be out of luck regardless. I make my wife leave the house on Sundays....

LD 50

join:2000-08-28
Milford, NH
clubs:

Re: Nice step

Someone has to bring me nachos though.
subman87
Another day in the Brentwood

join:2000-11-24
Harrison, NY

Re: Nice step

don't forget the brew!
bogey780

join:2004-03-19
Here
A Directv unit can be hacked to incude networking.

Apps can then be installed.

»www.weethet.nl/english/tivo_dtv2···eper.php

LD 50

join:2000-08-28
Milford, NH
clubs:

Re: Nice step

I have read that, but I get conflicting information if these hacks will work with the newest DirecTV DVR with TiVo.
tidgins

join:2005-07-04
Portland, OR

It will only work that way because all the Slingbox does if transmit your signal accross your network, or the internet. It is not actually re-broadcasting the signal. So in essence you are just giving yourself the ability to watch your same TV remotely.
gagorder

join:2005-07-04
Hillsboro, OR
Not necessarily... most tivos have dual outputs on them, so you can have 2 devices running off of them at once. So one output goes to the tv, the other to your slingbox.

-gagorder

Anonuser

join:2003-01-03
Milwaukee, WI

Lan

Would be great over my lan. My tinkering with Wi-Fi has now enabled 25% of the lake I live on to be wi-fi accessiable.

I would enjoy this, Relaxing on a raft, watching SG-1 and SG-Atlantis, Or hell, could be anywhere within 2k feet from my home :P

HEHE
--
Do the Dew!

hurleyp

join:2000-06-20
Ottawa, ON
·Rogers Hi-Speed

Cool

So I can lay back in my hammock and watch TV at the same time? Call me "Homer"!
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer_Simpson
--
"I reject your reality and substitute my own."

tapeloop
1959. I try to kick the ball. I miss.
Premium
join:2004-06-27
Airstrip One

Re: Cool

said by hurleyp See Profile:

So I can lay back in my hammock and watch TV at the same time? Call me "Homer"!
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer_Simpson
Now imagine if you were watching The Simpsons while doing so...:D
--
Copyright infringement is illegal. Murder is illegal. Therefore, file sharing is murder.

funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC

Needs 1 Mbps upload bandwidth

... this will be okay for for LAN use, but road warriors will have a hard time squeezing this much out of a non-FIOS line or getting this much in their hotel rooms.

See 7 replies to this post

Rally1

join:2000-06-12
Irvine, CA
·AT&T U-Verse


2 edits

The important part

SlingRemote™ - a virtual remote control, which displays on your PC screen the buttons found on the remote control of the TV source connected to your Slingbox. If a PVR is connected, you can play your recorded programs and control the action. Recordings can even be scheduled within the SlingPlayer software. Use the SlingRemote to control whatever TV source is connected to the Slingbox.

If VLC can do that, great, but I could find anything saying it could. (show me if it does, i'd be interested)

See 6 replies to this post

Rally1

join:2000-06-12
Irvine, CA
·AT&T U-Verse

More info

One of the developers is posting here: »www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthre···=1&pp=30
And is quick to respond to any questions.

I might buy one on a whim.

Subaru
1-3-2-4
Premium
join:2001-05-31
Greenwich, CT
clubs:

1 edit

a better view of it?

How do you control it? I no larger pictures?

nevermind found it

»www.onlinereporter.com/Charts/to···gbox.JPG
JJV
Premium
join:2001-04-25
Seattle, WA
clubs:

TV Cable

You can buy a lot of tv cable for $250.00.
tidgins

join:2005-07-04
Portland, OR

Re: TV Cable

Yeah, but will you even be able to watch the television using that cable???? All of that distance???? The signal quality would be so horrible it would be worth nothing.

This device provides you with a realistic way of actually watching your television from a remote location.
SuperG03
Premium
join:2004-01-26
00000


2 edits

Gotta check it out

Nice, after reading that article on pcmag, and it saying max 1 Mbps gives near 1:1 quality of the source, I will have to seriously consider this. I should be able to support that u/l and have room left over. I wonder if anyone can post a screen shot of the video quality when u/l is at 1 Mbps. Thanks.
tidgins

join:2005-07-04
Portland, OR

Re: Gotta check it out

Click for full size
Screenshot
The video quality is pretty amazing on the the Slingbox/SlingPlayer. Here is a screenshot
patulrich

join:2005-06-30
Paron, AR

Slingbox on DirecWay

Does anyone have any information on how Slingbox would work on a DirecWay internet connection? I'm thinking the upstream might be too slow. Thoughts?

See 12 replies to this post

Chris 313
Come get some
Premium
join:2004-07-18
Houma, LA
clubs:

Slingbox reviewed! Scored well.

»reviews.cnet.com/Sling_Media_Sli···?tag=lst

It hasn't been out long and it's ALREADY been reviewed!
wificheck

join:2003-01-09
San Jose, CA

Slingbox works as described

I have a Slingbox hooked up to my living room Tivo, and connected to 802.11b wireless via wireless game adapter. I have 768kbps upstream DSL.
I am able to stream Tivo content to my notebook in my hotel room while traveling. It streams at about 400-500kbps. Docked to 1/4 of my notebook screen, the quality is quite good for TV-on-computer. The unit continues to optimize the video streamed from the Internet based on the connection speed. If the network is congested, the stream quality will degrade a bit and it might stutter here and there, but because the algorithm continues to optimize the picture, the image is completely viewable.
An OK quality ball game viewed from work is better than no ball game at all. The most important difference between this and other streaming products is that it allows me total remote control of my Tivo (or any cable or DVD device, for that matter). The control speed could be faster, but considering I'm controlling my home Tivo in California while traveling in Japan, I think Slingbox rocks.
tidgins

join:2005-07-04
Portland, OR

Re: Slingbox works as described

The reason why the remote takes some time to respond, is because of the built in buffer on the SlingPlayer. The command executes, but does not actually display on the player until the stream catches up to the buffer.

If you want the Player to respond to the remote control command instantly you can turn on "Control Mode". However, since this flushes the buffer, you will notice that the video stream will become choppy.
jtoeman

join:2005-01-23
San Francisco, CA

Hi,

The Slingbox is designed to have latency of 2 seconds or less at all times, even when travelling abroad. Please also remember that some devices, such as a TiVo, do not instantly respond to remote events, thus causing some potential extra latency.

If you ARE seeing significant lag time, please let me know.

Also - the "control mode" should flip on and off automatically when you press buttons (or keys) on the SlingRemote.

Best,
Jeremy
--
Team Sling Media
jjanarth6

join:2003-07-04
Tucson, AZ

Plugging a camcorder into Slingbox

Has any one pluged a camcorder into Sligbox to do a live broad cast ? What kind of delay are you seeing ?

I am looking to get this as a low cost Video Conferencing system.

Jay

See 6 replies to this post
garyore

join:2005-07-03
Boca Raton, FL

Remote Control

I have a Scientific Atlanta 8300HD. SA did a bad job with the remote but you guys made it almost impossible to understand.

See 14 replies to this post
Forums » Slingboxpage: 1 · 2


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