iPhone SlingPlayer for iPhone - does it work with older Slingboxes, or does it not?
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 3:22PM In an earlier post, I explained why I wouldn't be getting the SlingPlayer for the iPhone.
However, as the player was launched today, curiosity got the better of me, so I took a look on the App Store. If you scroll down to the bottom of the description, it states:
The Slingbox Classic, AV and Tuner are not supported for use with SlingPlayer Mobile on the iPhone and iPod touch, although they may stream with some configurations.
So, in other words "It MIGHT work, but we're not going to tell you which configurations will work and which won't. You'll have to pay your £17.99 to check".
What the hell are they playing at? They've already done themselves enough damage with forcing the hardware upgrades and now they're telling people they potentially needn't have upgraded after all?
Funny way to run a business if you ask me.
Update
The Sling Media site now states:
The Slingbox AV, Slingbox TUNER, and Slingbox Classic are not fully supported for use with SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone & iPod touch. A Slingbox SOLO or Slingbox PRO is highly recommended.
Still as clear as mud, eh? What does "not fully supported" mean? Has anyone tried it on a Classic?
iphone
Reader Comments (7)
Sorry I can't answer your question, but I was hoping echoing your sentiment might help the brave souls who did purchase this let us know if it works with our "legacy" SlingBoxes (a term I resent having bought my Sling Box NEW OFF A SHELF less than 1.5 years ago)...
I have a SlingBox AV, that I Love and use DAILY and was really hoping that the iPhone player would bring me back to where I was on my BlackJack before I got my iPhone. But alas the 3G loss is heart-breaking and the idea of having to upgrade my SlingBox is a deal breaker... but if it works, even just on WiFi, it might still be useful enough to justify the expense...
I have purchased the SlingPlayer App and I own a Slingbox Classic. It works PERFECTLY FINE.
And I've just read a couple of posts elsewhere confirming this. The message seems to be "It'll work with the Classic, but don't complain if it doesn't"!
So, the big question, Stuart - is it any good? :)
I've also read on AppleInsider that if you have a previous version of SlingPlayer Mobile for another platform, you may be able to transfer the license. I've emailed Sling to find out more.
If you find out about transferring a license please do share... I'd be ecstatic, having owed it for WinMo... (although this seems complicated since it would involve the iTunes Store and some kind of credit and so on)
Also the only mention I have seen of the SlingBox AV is from MacLife, who said theirs didn't work... Anyone else?
Here's the response from Sling re license transfers:
Thank you for contacting Sling Media Support.
As I understand it you would like to transfer your current mobile key to the Apple iPhone.
Unfortunately keys purchased for other phones and PDAs are not transferable to the Apple iPhone or iPod Touch.
Main reasons :
Software will be available only through the iTunes App store.
All payments will be handled by the Apple App Store.
Our software will be available through our own webshop, so you have to see this as a policy of two different stores.
We do apologize for the inconvenience.
Ugh... I thought so.
Thanks for the info Psion...
Also, I am sure you guys saw this, but if you are willing to Jailbreak your iPhone, there are ways to make the SlingPlayer work over 3g...
http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/o3bX5QO7Hes/how-to-hack-the-iphone-to-use-slingplayer-and-skype-over-3g
I'm still on the fence, but predict I will break down eventually...
I just wish there was a "trial" so I was sure I wasn't just paying $30 for the right to go buy a new SlingBox, ha ha...
Okay, I gave in. I'd heard from a number of sources that it works fine with the classic, so I decided to go for it.
It works very well :) Picture quality is pretty good and the program guide wasn't quite as slow as I imagined it would be.
Overall, a pretty good first attempt. Full screen would be great when in widescreen mode, or at least as full as the aspect ratio will allow, but I'm sure that will come in a future update.
To be honest, I'd probably have got it on day 1 had Sling not been initially so adamant that it wouldn't work on older hardware. I think they realised they'd shot themselves in the foot and simply switched if back on.