First Look: SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone

After some hiccups in the development process, Sling has finally released SlingPlayer Mobile for the iPhone. The software works with your Slingbox at home, and lets you control and watch your satellite or cable box and DVR from your iPhone or iPod Touch.

All of the functionality found in previous SlingPlayer Mobile platforms is still intact. You'll have access to a menu bar that'll let you use a remote-like interface on-screen to control your box as well as switch sling devices and manage your favorite channels. What's new are a few gestures that'll allow you to scroll through your favorite channels as well as let you scroll up and down through channels.

SlingPlayer Mobile will work with new Slingbox and legacy devices, but Sling officially won't support the Sling Classic, AV, and Tuner models--that means that if you've got a problem with one of those devices, Sling won't be able to help you troubleshoot your issue.

Now here's the real bad news: SlingPlayer Mobile for the iPhone only works with a Wi-Fi connection, meaning you cannot use the 3G network to stream video. Also, we should note that SlingPlayer Mobile will probably perform better on your home network rather than a public Wi-Fi spot.

Performance wise, the software worked well. The gesture response is a bit sluggish, but overall it does work. Picture quality will always depend on your connection, but during our testing it was very good although not as smooth as a video you'd play natively off the device's internal storage.

SlingPlayer Mobile will cost $30 at the App Store, which is what the company has charged for the software on other platforms. If you're an iPhone or iPod Touch user and you've already got a Slingbox at home, the mobile software will really let you get the most out of your Slingbox. The ability to control your DVR will come in handy though you'll need to find a hot spot to connect.

That said, if you don't own a Slingbox but do have an iPhone or iPod Touch, you may want to think twice about purchasing a Slingbox. To purchase the device solely for use when you find a public Wi-Fi hotspot isn't exactly practical.

The real irony is that the other versions of SlingPlayer Mobile on PalmOS, BlackBerry, and Windows Mobile phones allow you to stream video over your cell phone network (and the PC and Mac versions of the software are free). At the end of the day, it will really depend on how much you'll use the Slingbox outside of the Wi-Fi only iPhone software.

[reidme314]

"Now here's the real bad news: SlingPlayer Mobile for the iPhone only works with a Wi-Fi connection meaning you cannot use the 3G network to stream video. Also, we should note that SlingPlayer Mobile will probably perform better on your home network rather than a public Wi-Fi spot."

So its really only useful at home, where your TV is...

[Oahu808]

Yeah you make it sound like it not worth it unless you use it at home, which would mean you wouldn't even need to use it since you'll be watching your own TV. and that using it on 3G would be fine compared to public wifi?

[iFone]

This is an absolute atrocity. I have been dreaming about a Sling player for the iphone since I heard the iphone was being created. I bought the 3G iPhone believing I would be watching my television over 3G network wherever I was. Instead, I woke up to a nightmare where I can only use sling on wifi (when i would watch it on a computer, instead). THIS IS RIDICULOUS. Sling: you're out $300+ from me. AT&T/Apple: you are awful--instead of locking in everyone with this amazing selling point, you are screwing yourself out of many many new customers.

Who's fault is this? Att or Apple? Who do we need to bombard with emails, letters, youtube rants, to get this changed?

Who's with me?!?!!?!

[vmisbr]

I am with you. This is absolutely silly!! What is the point? The one application I really wanted to use on my iPhone was the SlingPlayer Mobile app. The second I heard this app was approved, I grabbed my credit card so I could download the program. Then I saw this review talk about how it is limited to WiFi ONLY. Forget it, not wasting my money on the app. What a crock!!!!!! ATT has me so mad at this point, I think I am going to Sprint when my contract is up. I love SlingPlayber Mobile, and need to go to a carrier that let's me use it!!! I've had it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

iPhone will have my money, but Slingbox will not. Such a total let down. You can only leave a review on iTunes if you buy the $30 abortion of an app. I think the lack of reviews will speak for itself. Instead of a new landmark move that would propel Slingbox into the stratosphere, they instead gimp there product, let down their faitfull customers and force us to NOT recommend them to new customers. Such a bad move.

[DanMarrero]

I agree its about time that apple open up the iphone to other carriers. A little more competition would not only drop the price of the plans but also allow iphone users to get a break from ATT's ridiculous hypocrisy. They sure do a good job of pissing people off, now if they could only do a good job of not letting my iphone drop every other call.

[soccerkrzy]

This is Apple's fault! Not AT&T. I use Slingbox Mobile on my AT&T 8525 over the network all the time.

THIS BLAME FALLS AT THE HANDS OF APPLE! This is just one more reason why I'm not getting an iPhone. Stick with WinMo phones, you have more freedom.

[gba2000]

What? AT&T denied SlingPlayer to access 3G. It originally had it and AT&T had Apple deny the app.

[Armo15]

I am beyond with you! I bought the Iphone 3G in Feb (not due for a new contract), ditching my BlackJack II, on which my SlingBox worked perfectly. I believed (first mistake) that they were telling the truth in this app.being ready in March so I could watch the NCAA tourney. So 2 months later they finally come out with this GARBAGE? This just goes to show how disconnected Apple is from what they "believe" their customers want. "No no no, they would never want MMS or copy and past or landscape texting. We know better than them. Oh and lets make SlingBox only WiFi because who would possibly want to use theirs from anywhere other than their living room or Starbucks?" And I've already paid $30 for the initial setup on my BlackJack II so if i have to pay another $30 for a WiFi only app on the most "advanced" phone available, then I would loooove to let the appropriate parties have a piece of my mind, as should all of you. Sometimes common sense goes out the window in these dilusional corporate environments and it's up to us, the consumers, to speak up. I am sorry that I bought my Iphone now. I would love to tell Apple that, and I will. I used my slingbox everywhere, all the time with my old phone and it worked flawlessly, so THANK YOU APPLE..you are again, proving to have the some of the most superior hardware with a bunch of drunken monkeys making decisions on how to utilize it. Bravo Apple,...Bravo.

[thowe21]

Read my comment below, totally AT&T's fault.

http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/04/29/att.anti.sling.tos.returns/

[Renegade Knight]

Both. AT&T would prefer to "save their bandwidth" meaning limit customer access to what they paid for. Meanwhile Apple who should be interested in not selling crippled software gave in to somebody. One guess.

Apparently nice as the iPhone is, it's impared by corporate philosopy and not oriented to customers.

[flametrick]

The App Store already sells Orb and it streams video from your home PC over 3G. What's the big difference between it and Slingbox? Or are Orb users going to get hit with huge usage charges?

[eddieruiz001]

This is just ridiculous, I was waiting for this application and now that I found out it only works on wifi, I sure will not buy this app. and I cannot believe AT&T is doing this. If they keep up this nonsense I will freakin switch to verizon if they end up getting the iphone too.

[soccerkrzy]

See my comment earlier, this is not AT&T's fault. The blame is Apple.

Verizon phones come constricted by the proprietary crap they put on it.

To soccerkrzy: While it may be Apple's fault, the Sling Player App is FAR from the only reason to get an iphone. WinMo is surely more flexible, no doubt. But the overall user experience with the iPhone is, imho, so far superior that it's a no brainer. I've tried other phones, and it's just insane how much effort it takes for very simple tasks. From the hardware to the software, iPhone is far better than any other phone. Again, just my opinion and my experience.

Anyway, as for this Sling debacle, it wont last long until whomever's fault this is, get's the point and makes the changes......I hope.

Peace

[matttx]

It is Apple, not AT&T. I used SlingBox mobile on my AT&T Tilt on the exact same network before I got my iPhone. Every other version of slingbox mobile works over 3G. The ONLY one that doesn't is the iPhone.

[thowe21]

This is totally AT&T's fault. They changed their TOS to reflect the Slingmobile player coming through the pipeline.
http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/04/29/att.anti.sling.tos.returns/

[matttx]

Yea, I've read that TOS (both when it was put in initially, then pulled out, then put back in), so I guess both Apply and AT&T are at fault. The app store has products (Orb for instance) which allows similar functionality over 3G, so for some reason they felt the need to reject the 3G version of SlingBox mobile but allow other similar apps in.

There is plenty of blame to go around. I like my iphone, but the crap each of the companies pull sometimes is enough to make me want to switch to a different phone on a different carrier.

[stephen_sens]

The reason the SlingPlayer for the iPhone not being able to connent on a 3G network has nothing to do with Sling. Do not send hate mail to them. Sling allows a 3G connection with their other mobile apps, so they likely would have wanted to have 3G on the iPhone app as well. It would also make good business sense for them. This has everything to do with the AT&T/Apple partnership. Anytime a presumed heavy-use cell network app is proposed. (Skype,SlingPlayer) Apple brings it up to AT&T to give a thumbs up or down. The popularity of the Singbox and stress it would put on their cell network made them deny it and consequently forced Sling to make it WiFi only. I agree, it sucks, because it limits the usefulness of the app. Hopefully, At&T will get their head out of their ass and actually have a 3G network that can support heavy data loads. Come on, when then signed on to get the iPhone, they knew things like this were coming. Another option is for Apple to open it up to multiple carriers. At least there would be some competition for data service. IMO, Sprint has the best data network out now.

[aqnguyen87]

I just had to have this app!!!... yes I paid the $30 to have it, but my workplace has wifi here and I can stream my home TV just fine... its better to have it then to be limited by the proxies at my workplace... it functions very well, I've had the slingplayer on a T-Mo Dash before, and even on wifi it did not perform as well as the iphone does... in the end, if you have a slingbox and have access to wifi where you want to use it, GO FOR IT... I promise you will not regret it.

[Ro_S]

I was absolutely set to purchase a slingbox and buy the app as soon as it was released.
At this point, I'll pass. Not allowing it to be used on 3G/Edge and restricting it only to wifi is a horrible business decision.

At this rate I will wait my contract out and get a blackberry with another carrier....AT&T and Apple this was a massive failure on your part.

Make it right or you will lose me and others like me.

[eriknokc]

Then it's not worth the $30 price tag that's put on it. It's insane that it is available to both Blackberry and Windows Mobile users but not iPhone users. One of the primary reasons I bought a Slingbox Solo is because their website advertised that it was coming to the iPhone and the other phones have 3G capabilities. I hope too many people didn't do the "upgrade" option that Slingbox offered since they changed their mind and made it compatible with the older boxes. Those are the customers I feel really sorry for since Slingbox tricked them into thinking they had to upgrade to get this option. Now to top it all off, 3G isn't availabe. I think there is some major false advertising going on just to make a buck. It's sad what companies will do to try to boost profits in bad economic times.

[tdaloisio]

The lack of 3G streaming has ruined every dream of the fun Sling+iPhone had me drooling over since purchasing both. Sling+AT&T+Apple = Fail

[mrodriguez81]

Hey guys quit your crying!!! Jailbreak your phone go into Cydia, install TrickerthreeG and you?re set?I installed it and I?ve been watching all my shows for 2 hours on the 3G connection?see all that crying for nothing we had a fix for this in less than 24hrs!!!
Slingbox + Apple + AT&T + JAILBREAK (CYDIA) = GOODTIMES!!!!

[M_Ross]

Seems like everyone is at fault here..

Apple -> For forcing Sling to push out a WiFi only app while allowing others like Orb to operate over 3G

AT&T -> For targeting Sling specifically for no operation on 3G network.

Sling -> For forcing everyone to upgrade to Pro with their non-support policy.

When are people going to realize that Apple more of an evil corporation than Microsoft. Apple builds monopolies around delivery of applications to it's own proprietary platform, yet there is no screaming about anti-trust violations.

[chukra]

I still appreciate my iPhone but this is a major letdown.

Hopefully these companies will see the light and remedy this as soon as possible!

Here's hoping I don't have to think Pre or BB...

[mrodriguez81]

did you not read the comment i left??? (refer to my last comment!)

[jhdogtraining]

This is another application I can put in my iPhone. It is interesting. Thanks for the post. Very helpful!

[InuHanyou1701]

Ok Apple... lame. And I say Apple, and not Sling, because of what was said in the email notification

"SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone is Wi-Fi only at Apple's request."

Seriously Apple what the heck were you thinking? This is pretty darn useless. Most public wi-fi hotspots are so loaded down it's like walking through mollasses (And yes I probably mispelled that). The whole point to the Sling is to be able to watch it wherever you please with the use of a cell phone provider's internet system (In this case the 3G network from AT&T). If I'm at home I'm going to watch the TV ON MY TV! NOT MY iPHONE! Honestly! I like the iPhone. I think it's a good design and I don't think it's been beaten yet (In my opinion), but this was just stupid! We're getting ready to get rid of Sprint and we were considering getting iPhones but this isn't going to cut it. My mom won't go this, so we're going to end up with Verizon I guess. Way to drop the ball guys.

[ddonuts4]

There is a hack for using this app on 3g but you need to jailbreak first
If you already have a jailbroken iphone, then go to Cydia and install "Tricker ThreeG" (without quotes) which fools the app so that you can use it on 3g
for more information on jailbreaking, google "iphone jailbreak"

[jig_king]

oh my god, i cant believe there is actually a forum that bashes apple and or att. im so used to my blackberry storm/vzw hate fueled forums. you guys should know that it could always be worse out there. sling is awesome, im praying for the day this thing works on the storm. i used to sling on my wimo moto q and it was amazing, it would be so great to have it on a nice screen like the iphone or storm, im patiently waiting. at least i know it would work over the network and not just wifi

[jig_king]

and yeah there is always a hack, im sure you can easily make it work.

[chrisx1]

Look, Apple wants you to buy your TV shows off of iTunes, not stream Slingbox for free over 3G.
They feel they are doing you a favor by allowing you to even use the app via WiFi.

Apple doesn't want to give you free things that hurt their revenue stream.

[justinf79]

^^This...I bet Apple is going to roll out their own app that will allow users to stream stuff off of Apple TV through the 3G net.

[daghostpunisher]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHHAAHA
HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
IPHONY! THE IPHONE AND AT&T R USING THE OLD SMOKE AND MIRRORS TRICK. WHEN YOUR BATTERY RUNS OUT CAN YOU REMOVE THE BATTERY AND USE A SPARE...NO. CAN THE IPHONE BE USED AS A CAMCORDER...NO. "THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT" GARBAGE I TELLS YEAH. THE IPHONE IS OUT DATED AND APPLES GRIP ON THE FONE IS ridiculous. THE FUTURE IS WITHIN TOUCH... AS IN THE HTC TOUCH PRO2! WM FONES ARE BETTER THAN EVER ESPECIALLY WITH TOUCH FLOW. BTW YOU CAN GET FREE APPS ON THE WEB. SO Y R U WITH AT&T AND APPLE 4!