Hasta La Gadget!

The folks at Sling Media have let it be known today that they’re ready to give the full SlingPlayer family a boost in the software world. The two bits that’ll get this update straight away are SlingPlayer 3.0 for the likes of the iPad and Android devices and the Roku channel SlingPlayer right out the […]

If you’re an inveterate place-shifter and have the internet bandwidth to spare, there’s no longer any reason to keep your cable TV feeds all to yourself. A Watch update has arrived for the Slingbox 350 and 500 media streamers that includes Facebook integration, letting you invite your friends to view your Slingbox streams on a browser when you’re not (only one connection is allowed at a time). Along with no doubt more “likes,” the update also brings improved zoom controls to handle aspect ratios like anamorphic and letter box, a relocated pause button and advanced device search during setup. You can start inviting your pals on the social network now, but you may want to warn them: you can interrupt their viewing, but they can’t interrupt yours. Check the More Coverage link to see which browsers are supported.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD

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Source: Slingbox

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

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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