Announcing Sling for Palm OS! (Review)
You’ve been waiting for it, and your patience is finally being rewarded. Slingmedia is releasing the Slingplayer Mobile for PalmOS public beta. For those of you unfamiliar with the marvel of Slingbox, we’ll take a look at the basics and Palm specifics.
What is a Slingbox?
Slingbox is the 21st century magic that allows you to watch your home theater from anywhere in the world at any time. Roughly the size of a paperback novel, it connects your cable, satellite, or more (depending on the model) to your router. This allows you to broadcast your content over the internet: and what can be broadcast, can be viewed.
Setup on your computer is simple, and results are startling.
Set it up to match your system, and your on screen control looks identical to the remote that came with your TV, and guaranteed to never get lost behind a sofa cushion! Once setup, you can take your laptop anywhere there’s an internet connection and watch your local programming. Have you ever been in the middle of a business trip and realized you forgot to set the DVR to record your favorite show? You can take care of that from the Slingplayer by using the on screen remote.
Now comes the best part. Slingplayer, which has been available for Windows Mobile for well over a year now, has been engineered by Slingmedia to work on Palm OS devices as well. Shrouded in secrecy, with no hints at a release date, it is finally ready for its public debut. The secret beta was distributed in February under embargo.
While Slingmedia is officially labeling the new release as a “public beta,” it’s truly beautiful to behold. This New Orleans Saints fan will never miss another televised game!
Quality is exceptional on my Treo 700p. I have viewed my home system in both EVDO and non EVDO areas. Obviously, the stream is superior with EVDO speed, but I have been able to watch small amounts of programming without EVDO without hiccups.
If you have watched any streaming video with Kinoma on your Treo, the quality is even better through your Slingbox, depending on the upload speed of your router and internet provider. I’ve seen no difference in the streaming speed/quality on my Treo and my laptop.
The Palm OS version allows you to control your home system, although not quite as conveniently as on your laptop. There just isn’t space on any handheld for a replica of your remote control, so navigation has to be accomplished by other means. That being said, navigation is customizable. You can add favorite channels to the on screen menu at the bottom of the viewing area, and icons for almost all channels are available. In the screen shot, you can see how I’ve set my most viewed channels.
Notice the highlighting? You can access all functions with your five way navigational pad. Because I have DirecTV with local channels, even if I’m visiting relatives in NY or CA, when I click the 3 major networks, I’m getting local (Mobile, AL) programming. If you are a channel surfer, you can “channel up” or “channel down” as much as you want, or enter all your favorite networks and navigate between them. My only disappointment here is that you cannot directly enter a channel via the numeric keypad.
The first icon on the left at the bottom brings up the remote control functions. From here you can check your onscreen tv guide, access menu functions, and control a DVR (if you have one).
The advantages Sling has over its closest competitor, Orb, is that with Orb you must have a TV video card in your computer. This is impractical if you’re using a laptop. With Sling, you don’t have to leave anything running at home because nothing is connected to your home computer, and you can control the power on/off from your Treo. While the two lower level Slingboxes only offer television or cable/satellite control, the top model will allow you to control your entire home theater with up to four devices. Sony has also entered the competition with a product called Location Free, but it doesn’t have the product range covered by Slingbox, and it is not available for Palm OS.
If you already have a Slingbox, the Palm OS Slingplayer software costs $29.99. If you don’t already own a Slingbox, this is a good reason to go out and buy one.
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Hi
You said “My only disappointment here is that you cannot directly enter a channel via the numeric keypad.”
Sure you can, Alli.. it’s even in the built-in help :) .. just hit the space bar to go into “123″ mode - then use your Treo’s keyboard to enter the channel numbers manually.. some cable boxes want a zero “0″ in front of a one or two-digit channel number, some don’t.. so if entering “23″ doesn’t switch the player to channel 23, then try entering “023″..
Hi
You said “My only disappointment here is that you cannot directly enter a channel via the numeric keypad.”
Sure you can, Alli.. it’s even in the built-in help :) .. just hit the space bar to go into “123″ mode - then use your Treo’s keyboard to enter the channel numbers manually.. some cable boxes want a zero “0″ in front of a one or two-digit channel number, some don’t.. so if entering “23″ doesn’t switch the player to channel 23, then try entering “023″..
Whoa…how did I miss that?! In that case, I have no disappointments!
My son was watching ESPN in the car while I was driving him to school. He figured out that you can change the channel by punching in a number (say 4) and then pressing the center button on the rocker to make it change immediately.
I am amazed at how well this works! I have not had my Slingbox long, but in general it has blown me away. On my Treo 700p, the streaming is nearly flawless, and video clarity is very good (even with fast action sports). It outperforms SprintTV, and blows away streams through Kinoma.
Fabulous product!
Last night I went out and bought the Slingbox AV version $179.00 because of the Palm software just came out!
It’s totally a MobiTV ($9.99/month) killer. Its very clear and smooth on my Treo 700P.
Now I will be able to watch my RED SOX on DirectTV MLB extra innings anywhere/anytime.
This is a good thing for Palm Treo’s!
Are there any Slingbox detractors out there (perhaps the cable industry) with any traction against the company/service?
What about potential future shifts in the business model itself? monthly fees, etc.?
I’m jazzed. Now what about the 650?? :) I mean I hate to be a 700 playa.hata but where’s the love for the 650? sorry, my artificail getto speak is all wack. hehehe Will we need a firmware update? Can the processor handle it? any links to reveiws that address the 650 specifically would be appriciated. thanks.
Sorry dude. You really need the EVDO speed, and the 650 can’t do EVDO.
James, there isn’t anything they could charge a fee for. You broadcast from your own router, you don’t use their server. It’s not a service, just hardware.
Just an aside…Verizon Wirele$$ watches the usage on the “unlimited” dataplan to see if you’re (heaven forbid) using a video streaming service that they don’t control, and will drop you without recourse since they ostensibly don’t have the bandwidth to support all of their customers not buying their overpriced media offerings. Of course, if they do that, and you’re on a contract, you’re not liable for the cancellation fees…and can go to Sprint, who I understand is a lot more encouraging about actually filling up their net pipes.
I love this application. As a pilot, having instant access to the weather channel as well as my entire menu of DirecTV offerings while waiting interminably in airports, as well as my DVD changer and home security system (which just about fills up the sling pro box) in a palm-sized device is absolutely great.
For a propeller head…this makes the treo absolutely indispensible (as well as even more useful…:))
BB
I have been very pleased with the service so far. I am a long time Sling user and now having it on my Treo, I cant wait to cancel MobiTv. The beta version is working well I believe it can only get better!!!
Just an aside…Verizon Wirele$$ watches the usage on the “unlimited” dataplan to see if you’re (heaven forbid) using a video streaming service that they don’t control, and will drop you without recourse since they ostensibly don’t have the bandwidth to support all of their customers not buying their overpriced media offerings. Of course, if they do that, and you’re on a contract, you’re not liable for the cancellation fees…and can go to Sprint, who I understand is a lot more encouraging about actually filling up their net pipes.
I love this application. As a pilot, having instant access to the weather channel as well as my entire menu of DirecTV offerings while waiting interminably in airports, as well as my DVD changer and home security system (which just about fills up the sling pro box) in a palm-sized device is absolutely great.
For a propeller head…this makes the treo absolutely indispensible (as well as even more useful…:))
BB
Just so you goys are aware, you can get the slingbox for only $125 right now…the site is http://www.slingmedia.com/clones. That’s how I got mine.
I have the 700wx and the video gets a little choppy if I am on the move and the singnal strength is weak. Does anyone know of a way to help with the problem. Thanks for any help.
Do you need to get the sling box Pro or will any of the more basic hardware work.
Do you need to get the sling box Pro or will any of the more basic hardware work.
If you are close to metro Atlanta, then CompUSA has Slingboxes for $79 (tuner) & $143 (a/v). They are going out of business IN METRO ATLANTA ONLY.
Just an aside…Verizon Wirele$$ watches the usage on the “unlimited” dataplan to see if you’re (heaven forbid) using a video streaming service that they don’t control, and will drop you without recourse since they ostensibly don’t have the bandwidth to support all of their customers not buying their overpriced media offerings. Of course, if they do that, and you’re on a contract, you’re not liable for the cancellation fees…and can go to Sprint, who I understand is a lot more encouraging about actually filling up their net pipes.
I love this application. As a pilot, having instant access to the weather channel as well as my entire menu of DirecTV offerings while waiting interminably in airports, as well as my DVD changer and home security system (which just about fills up the sling pro box) in a palm-sized device is absolutely great.
For a propeller head…this makes the treo absolutely indispensible (as well as even more useful…:))
BB
Question: Do I have to watch the same channel on my Treo 700p that someone at my home is watching on DirecTV at the same time?
Hi
bdboyle said:
“Just an aside…Verizon Wirele$$ watches the usage on the “unlimited” dataplan to see if you’re (heaven forbid) using a video streaming service that they don’t control, and will drop you without recourse since they ostensibly don’t have the bandwidth to support all of their customers not buying their overpriced media offerings. Of course, if they do that, and you’re on a contract, you’re not liable for the cancellation fees…and can go to Sprint, who I understand is a lot more encouraging about actually filling up their net pipes.”
Okay, I’ve read this bit about Verizon cancelling people who stream a lot, even though they’re on an “unlimited” data plan, but I have yet to see anyone post anywhere that THEY have actually been cancelled.. do you personally know of or have you actually been cancelled by Verizon for this reason, or is this another urban rumor spread by the Internet? I have nothing for or against Verizon.. I’m a Sprint customer (I do not own any stock in either company an my affiliation with Sprint is ONLY as a regular, paying customer..) .. and have an unlimited data plan shared by two Treos, and Sprint has never said a word to me about the amount of data I stream, but I keep reading this bit about Verizon cancelling people and I’d like to get to the truth, if there is any truth to it.. you don’t have to name any names, but can you document it as a fact?
Thanks
Harv
Hi
sbynyc asked:
“Question: Do I have to watch the same channel on my Treo 700p that someone at my home is watching on DirecTV at the same time?”
Here’s how it works - if you have a Slingbox sending codes to a DirecTV (or a digital cable box, or a TiVO or whatever you have hooked up to it).. and you use one of the remote players, whether on Winblows, WM, Mac, or now PalmOS, you are CONTROLLING that device, whatever it is, connected to your Slingbox.. so if you are out and about and using your Treo and the Slingplayer Mobile for PalmOS (or WM).. and sending commands, channel changes, whatever, to the device your Slingbox is controlling, and someone is sitting at home watching a teevee connected to that device, then yes, when YOU change channels remotely, THEY will see what you see on your remote device..
This is just the nature of the beast. Just imagine if you’re 1000 miles away from home and are watching your cable or DVR on your Treo and controlling it with your Treo.. it’s as if you had 1000 mile long arms and were sitting in front of the teevee changing channels..
The only solution to this is to get multiple digital cable boxes or multiple whatevers, so that if you are controlling one remotely, anyone at home can control and watch what THEY want to watch using a second cable box or TiVO or whatever..
The Slingbox “place-shifts” whatever is on your teevee to wherever you are. A teevee cannot display two channels at once.. (well some with “PIP” can but you know what I mean, I hope..) ..
Harv
Question: Do I have to watch the same channel on my Treo 700p that someone at my home is watching on DirecTV at the same time?
Hi
jamesrreed says:
“Are there any Slingbox detractors out there (perhaps the cable industry) with any traction against the company/service?
What about potential future shifts in the business model itself? monthly fees, etc.?”
When I wrote my Slingplayer Mobile for PalmOS review for TreoCentral.com, I worked very closely with Sling PR execs to nail down all the facts and asked them those very questions. They have no plans to charge any fees. You buy their hardware, you install their software (Winblows XP desktop / laptop Player software comes on a CD in the box with the hardware, the mobile versions are $29.99 extra).. and that’s it. A one-time buy-in cost for the hardware and optionally the mobile software.
Now the question as to if the actual companies feeding your teevee content to you can / are / will going to do anything about the Slingbox.. well from what I gathered in my conversations with Sling.. no, they’re not. Of course nothing in this crazy world of consumer electronics is carved in stone, but you’re already paying your cable company money for their content. All the Slingbox is doing is putting that content on the Internet, protected under very complex encryption and two levels of passwords.. (so that only YOU can watch it and only on ONE remote device at a time.. in other words, you can’t “sling” to your laptop and your Treo from the same Slingbox simultaneously..) ..
So, for the forseeable future, unless some company throws some raw meat to their lawyers and figures out some method by which they can attack Sling Media for what they’re doing, I wouldn’t worry about it.. Orb does something similar, although you need a teevee tuner card in your confuser (which means it’s impractical to use it with a laptop).. and there are a couple other devices similar to the Slingbox with more coming along, although Sling has the lion’s share of this teevee place-shifting market.. I don’t pretend to read every tech site out there, but I also don’t see them going head to head with any serious competition either.. kind of like how eBay got into the online auction biz and Amazon got into it a year later, but by that time, eBay was the 900 pound gorilla and Amazon just was a day late and a dollar short.. and their online auction site went nowhere, same as Yahoo’s..
Sling Media invented a better mousetrap and they are fimrly entrenched and have a pretty good foothold on the market they created and their products are stellar.. anyone else trying to break into that market is going to have a hard time unless they can come up with a solution that is a fraction of the cost of a Slingbox.. look how many iPod clones there are out there, and yet people still buy iPods by the truckload, even though they’re one of the most expensive portable players around..
Harv
Hi
alleyboy says:
“Do you need to get the sling box Pro or will any of the more basic hardware work.”
There are four Slingbox models - tuner (for analog cable), AV, Pro, and “Classic” the first model. The AV basically replaced the “Classic”.. any of them will work with the mobile players..
Check out slingmedia.com, look at the product lineup, and decide which one is the best for you, which will depend on what kind of teevee boxes you want to connect to it.. and control.. if you ONLY have basic Analog cable and NO digital cable box, (and no plans to get one).. then you want the Tuner model.. if you have digital cable and perhaps also a DVR, then you want the AV or the “Classic.” If you are some rich dude and have a huge home theatre system with many video components you want to view remotely, then you want the Pro..
I have the first model, the “Classic”.. the Silver one.. although it’s been discontinued, you can still buy it brand new all over the place.. and upgrade the software that comes out of its box with the latest version which works just fine on it.. or you might be able to get one cheaper like a used one on eBay from a seller who has upgraded to a Pro..
So go to slingmedia.com and look at the different models, and the best place to ask questions is on the independently-operated slingcommunity.com Forums.. (Sling does not own or operate those Forums, although Sling employees DO answer questions there and eventually Sling Media will have their own forums, but currently, that’s the place)..
Harv
Hi
alleyboy says:
“Do you need to get the sling box Pro or will any of the more basic hardware work.”
There are four Slingbox models - tuner (for analog cable), AV, Pro, and “Classic” the first model. The AV basically replaced the “Classic”.. any of them will work with the mobile players..
Check out slingmedia.com, look at the product lineup, and decide which one is the best for you, which will depend on what kind of teevee boxes you want to connect to it.. and control.. if you ONLY have basic Analog cable and NO digital cable box, (and no plans to get one).. then you want the Tuner model.. if you have digital cable and perhaps also a DVR, then you want the AV or the “Classic.” If you are some rich dude and have a huge home theatre system with many video components you want to view remotely, then you want the Pro..
I have the first model, the “Classic”.. the Silver one.. although it’s been discontinued, you can still buy it brand new all over the place.. and upgrade the software that comes out of its box with the latest version which works just fine on it.. or you might be able to get one cheaper like a used one on eBay from a seller who has upgraded to a Pro..
So go to slingmedia.com and look at the different models, and the best place to ask questions is on the independently-operated slingcommunity.com Forums.. (Sling does not own or operate those Forums, although Sling employees DO answer questions there and eventually Sling Media will have their own forums, but currently, that’s the place)..
Harv
Question: Do I have to watch the same channel on my Treo 700p that someone at my home is watching on DirecTV at the same time?
Buy.com has good discounts on slingbox products. I got the AV for $119. If you sign up for the buy.com visa card, they knock another $30 off for a total of $89…they have the pro, too…I think it was $199
gs
Buy.com has good discounts on slingbox products. I got the AV for $119. If you sign up for the buy.com visa card, they knock another $30 off for a total of $89…they have the pro, too…I think it was $199
gs
I have free basic cable @ the apartments i live in & use my 755p as a modem to surf the net on my desktop. will it still work?