Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2008/01/07/ces_slingcatcher_ship_date_named/
Sling reschedules, redesigns SlingCatcher
SlingPlayer-for-TVs finally coming in Q2. Hopefully...
Posted in Personal Tech, 7th January 2008 21:36 GMT
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?
Related Reviews
• Slingbox Pro
• Slingbox Solo