• On TechRepublic: 10 cool USB flash drive tricks
January 6, 2007 10:45 PM PST

Slinging in reverse

by Erica Ogg
  • Font size
  • Print
  • 1 comment

What's the opposite of the Slingbox? The new SlingCatcher.

The SlingCatcher is a set-top box that will let users project Web content to a TV screen, either wired or wirelessly, through an application called SlingProjector. Navigation can be done with either the included remote or through a PC.

SlingCatcher

SlingCatcher

(Credit: Sling Media)

The device is set to be announced Sunday at CES 2007 by Sling Media, the same people behind the Slingbox, which lets you watch your home TV channels on a laptop or a smart phone. The SlingCatcher retains the Slingbox's familiar trapezoid shape.

With an eye on Apple's upcoming iTV, Sling Media CEO Blake Krikorian said announcing the new device for bringing Web content, such as YouTube videos, to a living room is his company officially "throwing our hat in the ring there."

Krikorian said the SlingCatcher will be available for "less than $200" sometime in the second quarter or as late as this summer.

Erica Ogg is a CNET News reporter who covers Apple, HP, Dell, and other PC makers, as well as the consumer electronics industry. She's also one of the hosts of CNET News' Daily Podcast. In her non-work life, she's a history geek, a loyal Dodgers fan, and a mac-and-cheese connoisseur. E-mail Erica.
Recent posts from Crave
MP3 Insider Podcast 170: Holiday hullabaloo
BMW debuts the new 5-series online
Out-of-this-world gifts for space fiends
Indecent Exposure Podcast 69: Intervals explored
GoPro HD Hero Motorsports sacrifices simplicity for flexibility
Tweaks can't save low-buck LG's picture quality
Tamrac's new foldable tripod is like tent poles
Creative set to release latest Flip Video competitor
Add a Comment (Log in or register)
That's nice, but the Wii does the same thing.
by doublerig January 8, 2007 8:46 AM PST
Greetings,
This sling product would probably have been a great addition to my living room, if nintendo hadn't just done the same thing almost a month ago as a free addon to it's Wii. The Opera browser is fully flash enabled, so you can watch YouTube or Homestarrunner all you want, on your televison, will all your friends not croweded around a laptop, controlling the system from your easychair with the fairly elegant Wiimote.

Since the Nintendo only runs $250, this Sling product will have to run way under $200 for it to be feasable. Good idea, but unfortunatly it looks to be a little late on the draw.
Reply to this comment
advertisement

About Crave

The name says it all. Crave is our blog about gorgeous gadgets and other crushworthy stuff. If you would like to contact Crave with a tip or comment, please write to: crave@cnet.com

Add this feed to your online news reader

Crave topics

Let the battle for holiday gadget shoppers begin

Retailers try different strategies for competing with behemoths like Amazon and Wal-Mart in the cutthroat competition to lure those giving electronics as gifts.

Firefox hopes to one-up IE with fast graphics

Windows 7 features called Direct2D and DirectWrite will speed up Internet Explorer 9 performance. But Firefox hopes it might retool for the same benefit first.