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Slingbox Classic and SlingPlayer iPhone

My last post about Sling Media and their rumoured decision to not allow the highly anticipated Slingplayer to work with the iPhone seems to have been premature.

When the software was finally released  on 7th May 2009, Sling confirmed that the software simply ‘will not be supported’ for the iPhone and iPod touch with older devices (like my own Slingbox Classic). It has to be said the software works perfectly, with my iPhone now streaming TV from my Sky+ box (as seen above). Sadly, due to restrictions placed by AT&T in America on the use of streaming TV over their network, Sling Media restricted the software at the last minute, meaning the software only works over WiFi.

There are however hacks available to get around this, although it does require a Jailbreak of the phone, something i’m personally holding back on for now. Streaming works surprisingly well, with swipe gestures to change channels and full pause/rewind, record, Sky Anytime and Planner functionality from my Sky+ box in the UK and i really can’t recommend the software highly enough for TV on the go.

As at the time of this post, the software itself hadn’t sold as well as originally anticipated and that’s likely to do with the restrictions on using it over a cellular network, but I'm still hopeful of the removal of this limitation at some point in the not too distant future You can find the sofware for purchase from the iTunes AppStore, currently at 17.99GBP

SlingPlayer for iPhone – an online petition

Sling Media this week has announced that it’s much anticipated Slingplayer for iPhone software will not work with older Slingbox models (the Original/Classic, AV & Tuner)

I’m a Slingbox Classic owner and purchased this device purely in anticipation of the Slingplayer for iPhone software release. I was more than willing to spend the money on the software to stream TV to my iPhone, however the recent press release from Sling Media may change my opinion completely on this great product.

In the week that Slingplayer for iPhone was submitted to the App Store, Sling Media release a statement informing everyone that older Slingbox devices will not be supported on the iPhone version of the software and putting us in a position where we have no choice but to upgrade our units.

Apart from the poor marketing and communication from Sling around this whole episode, there has yet to be a sound technical reason why they should take this approach with their user base.

Sling Media now run the risk of alienating a huge portion of their loyal fan base and owners of the older units (noted via twitter and community forums) are already saying that they are disappointed and infuriated with the decision and will not be upgrading, I agree wholeheartedly.
I’ve setup an online petition below, Sling Media need to understand how we as purchases of their product feel about this move and I’d like to think with enough signatures we can get a change to their strategy

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/slingplayeriphone/