Comments on: Older Slingboxes incompatible with Sling iPhone app

Sling is offering a $50 discount for owners of older Slingboxes to upgrade to one of three more current models.

[aqnguyen87]

paying more for a device that does the exact same thing my current one does, giving me a coupon that is online only, touting "new" software that lacks originality (slingbox on iphone and TV online is not considered new)... I had been waiting for the release of slingbox on iPhone for months and now I find out I have to upgrade my hardware, I might as well go back to my T-Dash... This is larceny at its worst...

[rnthomas]

On the slingbox comunity forums, thare are people talking about how the Beta version of the iphone slingplayer works with all of the older slingbox hardware. Not to mention the documented fact that sling media reps have been telling us all along that the iphone player will work with ANY slingbox. See: listen to the sling media rep at 03:10

http://www.on-a-mac.com/2009/01/10/iphone-slingplayer-mobile-app/

IN OTHERWORDS!!

Sling Media has crippled the iPhone player such that it can only connect to only the newest versions slingbox's on purpose.

Myself, I don't like doing business with a company that misleads and/or LIES to it's customer base.

Also, by pulling the plug AT THE LAST POSSIBLE SECOND, they keep the prices of their OLDER PRODUCTS HIGHER FOR LONGER PERIODS! Allowing certain folks to cash in as the older hardware gets dumped!

For me, An ORB server (server is free see www.orb.com) with downloaded tv shows and/or a tuner card, and the $14.00 orb software on the iphone is looking mighty nice right about now. I don't think I need the headache of Dish Network and Sling Media anymore.

[rickmcclain]

I, too, am hoping that this is a very stupid April Fool's joke (although the jokesters should have said, "Got ya," by now). I have enjoyed my Slingbox, but if this is the way SlingMedia treats early adopting customers, I won't buy any future products. I looked up EchoStar's website, and it doesn't look like they have many products, but I'll avoid their products, too.

Frankly, I don't understand this as a business decision. If you have a product that you have many people eagerly waiting to give you $30 per copy for, why not take the money? Given past demos, there seems to be no technical problems with the older Slingboxes or the iPhones. This makes no sense at all.

[rnthomas]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-KnNVBp91w

Here is another Sling Media Representative doing an iphone SlingPlayer Demo.
Listen to what he says at 3 mins 49 secs into the video.

Just another LIE told to you by your friends at Dish Network / Sling Media!

BOYCOTT all the greedy companies -- Sling, Apple, AT&T and our favourite -- DishNetwork.

Send a message -- they have to be a lot more innovative in increasing revenue AND maintaining our loyalty.

As for me, I am seriously considering Verizon Fios for:
1) Video -- Bye Bye DishNetwork (Greed Rating #1)
2) Local & Long Distance -- Bye Bye AT&T (Greed Rating # 2)
3) Iphone App - Sorry Apple, we know you had something to do with this. I will not convert to the macbook pro I was considering. (Greed Rating #1)
4) Sling -- BIGGEST loser here -- you have or will lose a lot of loyal fans. Come on, $50 coupon?? It should have been $150. SHAME ON YOU!!!

Actually, Shame on all of you (you know who you are), trying to charge extra money for something we already had, especially in these times.
SHAME, SHAME SHAME!!!

[surlyman]

This is truly a shame. From the myriad of comments on several forums, including this one, many slingbox users were eagerly awaiting the expansion to Iphone. Many of us love our slingboxes and don't have the need or inclination to upgrade out boxes for added functionality when our current hardware works well. Whether it is due to economic concerns or just the sentiment that Sling's claim that you buy the box and then you never have to pay fees again, by extorting your customer base to buy new hardware, I can only hope that the negative hit to Sling by the word of mouth is as enormous as the positive impact that it has had during Sling's early years. Don't be shy people...tell everyone you know who asks about your Slingbox that the company is greedy. Play up the problems with your box and suggest that they explore other options. Post comments back to Sling. The more the merrier.

It may not get through their greedy skulls intially, but a sustained effort is bound to at least get their attention in the only way they understand: $$$$.