SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone announced

Updated at 10:00 AM Pacific.

Six months after announcing its intention to bring SlingPlayer to the iPhone 3G, Sling Media has another announcement to make--just not the one you're wishing for.

SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone isn't ready yet, Sling said on Tuesday, but it is on its way.

Like SlingPlayer Mobile for Windows Mobile, Palm, Symbian, UIQ, and BlackBerry (beta) platforms, this iPhone version will let you access one or more Slingboxes from your mobile device, and watch your TV stations on-the-go. It will also be compatible with the iPod Touch.

You'll also be able to manage your DVR from the iPhone, and can synchronously add and remove favorite channels directly from the phone's interface--a first for the SlingPlayer Mobile line.

In our demo, the client streamed live, high-quality video of stations like MTV and TBS on both Wi-Fi and the iPhone's 3G network. Swiping the screen horizontally advances you through favorite stations, and flicking up and down rotates through all your home channels.

Sling Media says it will submit the file to the iTunes AppStore by the end of the first fiscal quarter. While Sling Media shared no firm price tag, it could mirror the $29.99 lifetime fee of SlingPlayer Mobile on other platforms.

Before getting too excited, just remember that Apple has been known to kill promising apps, ostensibly for the crime of a large data transfers. SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone could suffer the same fate. Assuming it doesn't, the client still faces competition from Orb, whose full version, OrbLive, delivers live TV and media stored on your PC for $10.

[letsgethightech]

Looking forward to this on the BB Storm soon too!

[loose_screw]

I don't care about Orb. I have a Slingbox, and it's long past due for Sling to deliver on their promise of a client for the iPhone. It has been vapor ware for so long, but it will truly be a killer app for my iPhone.

[cthellis]

Has Apple themselves "killed" any apps for bandwidth concerns? I was under the impression that they only bounced some apps to make sure they were locked to "WiFi only" mode if their bandwidth consumption estimates were too high.

Considering iTunes itself and the App Store (for 10MB+ apps) are similarly restricted, this seems to come from whatever contractual obligations they have with their carriers for those "unlimited data" plans.

I would imagine it would work the same way Joost and Truveo and others do, which is to say "not on EDGE or 3G." Heck, it seems to me that even apps that are SUPPOSED to work over the cellular network like the built-in YouTube app and Howcast (which doesn't give me a "cannot connect" or "WiFi only" warning) are exceedingly pokey when I connect by 3G, and haven't been doing anything but spinning their wheels even if I leave them alone for a minute. Perhaps that's just the network itself this morning (my email seems to be spinning its wheels, too), but it makes me wonder if at&t is doing anything else on their back end.


Back to the point, though, I can't see anything standing in the way of the SlingPlayer iPhone app. I just see it having to be WiFi-only.

[icallarlo]

So we should plan on seeing this app in 2010. Lots of hype, there are lots of apps by large commercial vendors that have been "in review" for 3-4 months now.

[polaris20]

I wonder if it'll work on an iPod Touch (through WiFi only, of course). It would still be nice to have access to a slingbox from work on my Touch, whilst sitting in the lunchroom eating.

[galanga]

Sprint allows slingplayer on the Treo - their netowrk could easily handle the bandwidth 2 years ago, AT&T is lame, 3g not.

[cthellis]

Well, considering iTunes just started offering downloads over 3G as well, maybe they're starting to relent?

Maybe not. I mean, this IS at&t...

[rgs1218]

I guarantee the number of iPhone sling users will dwarf those that have been using the WinMo version on Sprint so there certainly could be a cumulative effect on bandwidth.

What puzzles me is why Apple cares about large data transfers. It would certainly make sense if the carrier (AT&T) had objections but unless there is an agreement between the various carries and Apple, I don't see why Apple would care.

[curcioj]

When is the end of Sling's first fiscal quarter? (Same as calendar quarter??)

I have Orb on my iPhone now - it works perfectly well over 3G. Additionally my 3G treo 750 runs sling without any issues on ATT's 3G - so there should be no _technical_ reason (as opposed to Apple's political reason) for forcing only WiFi operation

Finally - if Apple rejects the app, any chance it will appear as a Jailbreak app?

[timstarockz]

i heard about this like 6 months ago and i have seen a live demo but sling didnt get excepted yet so they ran it on a jailbroken iphone

[TechnoMan475392]

Plz no price plz no price plz no price!!!11

[mbren28568]

OK I have to ask, how the hell does orb show 'live' tv that is 'stored on your PC'. That isn't live tv. Live tv is TV that is happening now...you know, LIVE.

Slingplayer is unique from orb in that it actually shows, you know, LIVE TV. Stop bringing up orb, it is a completely different animal. I'm not saying orb is bad, but it doesnt show LIVE TV, it shows tv shows that you have RECORDED onto your PC.

[solu1978]

Looks like you dont know what ORB is .. try and read a little info about Orb it plays music and files on your computer and if you have a TV tuner on your PC it can also play live TV.

[dctech08]

i bet you have to have a wifi connection to use it. personally if that's true then its useless.

[travismcn]

MacRumors says that the iPhone Slingplayer Mobile app will even work over the EDGE network, but I cannot find any confirmation or other references to this. Anyone know?

[merrick100]

I've been using Slingplayer on a Blackjack II through T-mobile's Edge network for over a year. It works ok...just expect frequent jumps, freezes, and subpar screen quality. GOOD LORD LET THERE BE AN IPHONE 3G APP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[georgex7]

or also you could always submit it by cydia or installer!!!!!!!!

[jmjunique]

Here is the answer. The iPhone SlingPlayer will work on Wi-fi only!....too bad....

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/05/applesling/

[...
When Sling originally submitted its SlingPlayer app, the software had the ability to stream video over the iPhone?s 3G, EDGE and Wi-Fi connections. However, Apple required Sling to modify the app to work with Wi-Fi only, according to Sling.
...]