Hasta La Gadget!

Sling only refreshes its TV-streaming set-top boxes once every few years, and indeed, the current models only came out 13 months ago. So, it’s a bit early for new hardware, but the company has at least been busy making over its family of apps. Today, Sling released an overhauled version of its iOS app (SlingPlayer 3.0), along with a brand new Sling channel for Roku players. Additionally, the company says it’s coming out with a Windows 8.1 app, but that won’t arrive until December.

Starting with SlingPlayer 3.0, it ushers in a redesigned, split-screen UI, with various filters for finding the shows you want. There’s also a bigger emphasis on sports this time out. For starters, it should be easier to figure out what channel a game in on; once you do, you can pull up stats, real-time scores and other factoids you might find interesting as you’re following along. You’ll also notice some deeper social media integration throughout the app, allowing you to post to Twitter and Facebook as they’re watching TV. (Where was this feature when the finale of Breaking Bad aired?) Also, though you could watch shows on your iPad’s display, you can also fling it to a TV and use your device as a remote control instead. %Gallery-slideshow122017%

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, HD

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Source: Sling

DirecTV recently switched the name of its Nomad transcoding device to GenieGo to match its new DVRs, a change we first noticed on its Android app. On Windows PC and iOS the apps are about to get a new update that changes the name and lets users stream video from their DVRs over WiFi even when they’re away from home (Mac and Android support is due later in the year.) Previously, it allowed users to stream live and recorded TV, or download recorded TV to a mobile device for viewing offline, but Slingbox-style streaming of live or recorded TV anywhere is new, and brings it closer to the device we thought it could be when it launched. Solid Signal and DBSTalk report the incoming update (not live yet, but it should pop up tomorrow) is easy to use, letting users stream recordings, start a recording so it can stream or remotely setting up the transcoder to make a mobile copy users can download once they get home. Satellite TV competitor Dish has brought deeper integration of Sling into its new Hopper DVRs, and now DirecTV has its own in-house solution, anyone thinking of switching sides?

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile

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Source: Solid Signal, DBSTalk, DirecTV

What’s next for television? We’ve got reps from Boxee, TiVo and Sling on hand to discuss the ways in which technology is evolving in the early 21st century.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Microsoft is silent no longer on its buyout of R2 Studios. The software giant has officially confirmed its purchase of R2, a home automation and entertainment startup, for an unspecified amount. It’s also clearer that ex-Sling chief and R2 founder Blake Krikorian is central to the deal — he’s becoming a VP in the Interactive Entertainment Business, and much of the release (after the break) centers on Krikorian’s content-related design experience and how it could help the Xbox. We’ll just have to be patient enough to wait for the eventual results in our living rooms.

Continue reading Microsoft confirms R2 Studios acquisition, makes Krikorian a VP with the Xbox in mind

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft

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Source: ZDNet

Dish’s Hopper just took a massive leap. The whole-home DVR solution, which launched at CES last year and began shipping to consumers this past spring, now has built-in Sling functionality — think of it as a supercharged version of the “SlingLoaded” DVR we first saw in early 2009. The new Broadcom 7125 chipset under the hood enables full Sling capability, with all the benefits of DVR integration, letting you view live TV from any of your subscribed channels, along with each and every program saved to the 2-terabyte hard drive — there are no content or location restrictions, meaning the box will feed HD video to a compatible device anywhere in the world. Dish subscribers who don’t plan to take advantage of Sling will see speed boosts as well, thanks to a new 1.3GHz clock speed and 2 gigs of RAM, with a faster bus speed to boot.

All this power translates to a much smoother experience device-wide. During our hands-on and side-by-side demo with the previous-generation Hopper, menu navigation felt much speedier, with apps launching more quickly and no hiccups during guide scrolling. Like other Sling products, you’re limited to one connected device at a time, so don’t plan on handing your login to friends and family members on the other end of the world (unless they’re willing to play nicely, of course). You’ll also have on-demand content through the Dish Anywhere app, and because this is standard video streamed from the web, the simultaneous device limitation jumps to five. Externally, this latest Hopper looks identical to its predecessor, and offers all of the original features, with the added benefit of Sling, boosted performance and built-in WiFi. It’s set to ship this month and will ultimately be free for new customers, though an upgrade path for owners of the now-retired original Hopper has yet to be detailed.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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