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Dish Promoting Free ‘Test Drive’ Of Slingbox

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May 112012

Via: Multichannel News, 5/11/2012 4:56:18 PM

Dish Network released a revamped app iPad app for “TV Everywhere” access that improves video performance — particularly for the new iPad’s higher-resolution screen — enhances the on-screen guide and also allows access to the operator’s Blockbuster on-demand titles.

The satellite TV operator said the enhanced Dish Remote Access app improves on-device video quality, taking advantage of the new iPad’s 2048-by-1536 Retina display, with the implementation of Apple’s HTTP live streaming (HLS) technology.

Dish iPad app with multitasking slider In tandem with the launch of the new iPad app, Dish is pushing a free 24-hour trial account to let cable TV and DirecTV subscribers access its “TV Everywhere” features with 15 live channels on PCs, smartphones or tablets, provided using a farm of Slingbox-enabled DVRs.

The channels Dish currently offers through the free trial are: DIY, HGTV, Cooking Channel, GSN, GMC, MavTV, A&E, Bio, History, MavTV, Epix, TBS, TNT, CNN and Cartoon Network. Users can sign up for the free service at www.dish.com/testdrive.

A Dish spokesman noted that service provides a 24-hour test drive, “but you can sign up multiple times if you want to try for more than one day.”

The trial service currently does not provide DVR features. Dish originally launched the promotional service at CES in January.

Ordinarily, to watch live or recorded TV on computers, iPads, iPhones and Android devices, Dish subscribers need a Sling Adapter and a compatible broadband-connected HD DVR receiver, such as Dish’s Hopper whole-home DVR.

With the new iPad app, customers with Dish’s Hopper can access eight days of primetime programming from ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC using the new iPad app. Dish this week announced a new feature of the PrimeTime Anytime service called Auto Hop that lets users skip commercials.

Other new features of the Dish Remote Access iPad app include a multitasking slider that allows users to simultaneously watch a program and browse available video content; and an on-demand tab to access titles from popular networks, including HBO, Cinemax, Epix, Encore, Starz and MoviePlex.

Separately, Dish in the midst of a fight over its attempt to secure a trademark on the term “TV Everywhere,” which it originally applied for in September 2009.

Cable operators, Time Warner Inc. and Hulu have objected to the move, arguing that “TV Everywhere” is a generic industry term, while Dish asserts that it has successfully associated it in consumers’ minds with the Slingbox-enabled DVR service.

Check it out and sign up here.

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Where Does Sling Media Get Their Designs?

New Deal Design, Place Shifting, Sling Media, SlingBox Comments Off

Apr 172012

Dave Zatz of Zatz Not Funny recently called my attention to the site of New Deal Design. Specifically because we’re both ex-Sling employees, and it turns one one of New Deal Design’s clients is Sling Media.

They have a short video which walks through the different generations of their designs for Sling Media and highlights some of the key design points:

They also have one on the Sling Touch Control 100, which they designed of course:

This was announced at CES 2010, but I don’t believe it ever shipped.

New Deal Design has worked on a number of other well known projects as well – such as the Lytro, Sifteo Cubes, the Fitbit Wellness Tracker, and, reaching way back, the Palm Zire. They’re the design wizards behind the curtain.

SlingPlayer For Connected Devices Coming to WD TV Live

Place Shifting, Sling Media, SlingPlayer, Tech of the Hub, WD TV Live, WD TV Live Hub, Western Digital Comments Off

Apr 032012

Well, I guess I have to eat my words. Last November when SlingPlayer for Connected Devices was first released for Boxee, I posted the following:

As for other streaming boxes – Popbox, Western Digital, etc. – no idea. None of the other devices really have much of a user base so it may not be worth the effort.

Well, according to a post today on Tech of the Hub, I was dead wrong. SlingPlayer for Connected Devices is coming to the Western Digital WD TV Live family. They posted a message from a tipster, apparently from the Sling Media Beta site:

If you have a WD TV Live or WD TV Live Hub, now would be a good time to list it in your TV & AV Equipment Test Platform. We may have a beta opportunity coming up real soon and we usually recruit testers based on their beta profile information.

Today SlingPlayer for Connected Devices is available for Boxee and the Logitech Revue Google TV – though it also works on Sony’s Google TV products. And now it looks like it is coming to the WD TV Live Hub 1TB Media Center (MSRP $229.99, Amazon $169.00) and WD TV Live Streaming Media Player (MSRP $129.99, Amazon $92.95), at least from that note. It isn’t clear if it will be coming to older models like the WD TV Live Plus (Amazon $149.84).

Monsoon Multimedia Vulkano Beta Tests Dish TV Remote Viewing

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Apr 012012

It’s no secret that if you own a Vulkano Lava or Blast and have a remote Vulkano located elsewhere you can ‘Catch’ your remote Vulkano stream directly to your TV. This feature has been available for several months now.

If you want to watch a video stream from a remote Vulkano directly on your TV instead of your computer or mobile device there are two Vulkano units that will connect to a remote Vulkano and allow you to stream it’s content directly to your TV.

The Vulkano Lava and Blast both have this feature. You can read more about how it works here.

The folks over at Monsoon Multimedia have been hard at work adding easier to use controls and features for doing this.

They are just about ready to release these updates to the public but want your input on the design before doing so. They have created a beta test of their new on screen features using two Vulkano units and a DISH TV setup.

If you have a Vulkano here are the details.

This Beta testing is only open for Dish TV owners at this time. The requirements are as follows.

1) Must own either a Vulkano Blast or Lava at a receiving location.

2) Must have a Vulkano of any type located at a sending location.

3) Must have a Dish TV DVR connected to the Vulkano at the sending location

4) Must be a member of the Vulkano Community to apply, obtain the firmware(s) and provide feedback on the testing.

The Beta test will require that you install a private beta firmware to your Vulkano Lava or Blast.

Click Here for their application for the Beta test.

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The Slingbox was really created by Aliens!

Place Shifting, SlingBox, SlingPlayer, Uncategorized No Responses »

Mar 292012

We all thought that Blake Krikorian and his brother Jason invented the Slingbox. Well now we really know where it came from and who invented it.
At least according to this video.