Sling reschedules, redesigns SlingCatcher
SlingPlayer-for-TVs finally coming in Q2. Hopefully...
CES Sling Media has finally named the date when it will ship SlingCatcher, the SlingPlayer-for-TVs box it announced at last year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
Sling's new SlingCatcher: SlingPlayer for TVs
Based on the distinctive design of the Slingbox series - though the original look has been dropped - SlingCatcher can pick up the feed from its sibling or from a PC running SlingProjector, which not only streams content out to the SlingCatcher but provides a route for internet-stored content, such as YouTube videos, to be displayed too.
Sound a little like Apple TV? Unlike the Apple box, SlingCatcher has no local storage of its own, but it does boast not only a USB port to which you can hook up a hard drive but also on-board software to synchronise what's on the disc with content kept on a PC. That will allow users to get their SlingCatchers to play back content even when their computer's turned off.
SlingCatcher first time round
SlingCatcher will work with both standard definition and HD TVs thanks to a mix of composite-, s- and component-video outputs and HDMI. There's an Ethernet port for the network connection, but no built-in wireless. For that, you'll need Sling's upcoming SlingLink Wireless add-on.
That adds $50 to the SlingCatcher's base $250 price. SlingCatcher will ship in Q2. Hopefully - at launch it was promised for mid-2007 but was later reschedulaed for before the end of that year... Third time lucky?
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COMMENTS
Why do they all require special software?
Every single one of these type of devices (remote media playback for tv/radio) requires you to install the special (usually windows only, mac if you're lucky) software on a PC before it can access any media.
Why can't they log onto a samba or NFS share, is it really that hard? Not all of us have windows based servers that they wish to leave on and logged in all the time.
Keep It Simple?
12 months ago, all I wanted was to stream what the slingbox was already outputting directly to a TV, rather than have a laptop or PC in the middle. However, it seems sling have decided to make this product an all things to all men type box, which has obviously delayed production, increased costs, increased complexity and will ultimately end in a worse product I feel.
Isn't it trendier to bring out the box ASAP, then update the firmware later these days anyway?
