Slingbox Swings Into Action
The Slingbox, a new electronics device that enables consumers to watch television by turning virtually any internet-connected, Windows-based computer into a personal television, is now available in the UK.
The box, which is already available in the US and Canada, redirects or “placeshifts” a single live TV stream from a basic aerial connection, cable box, satellite receiver or personal video recorder to the viewer’s PC, located anywhere in the home, the office or on the go via the internet. The device can use a variety of different displays including laptops and desktop PCs, PDAs and smartphones.
The European version of the Slingbox is tailored for the UK market and features an integrated PAL analog/digital tuner with DVB-T support, giving customers access to Freeview programming from their aerial streamed to a laptop or desktop computer. In addition, Slingbox controls a wide range of Freeview, digital cable and satellite set top boxes that are available in the UK market including those offered by Sky, Homechoice, NTL and Telewest.
Concurrently, Sling Media is releasing a new version of the SlingPlayer PC software in conjunction with the Slingbox hardware. SlingPlayer PC version 1.1 is now available to UK customers and supports 16:9 widescreen video, enhanced favourite channels organisation features and the ability to customise the look and feel of the software with a range of pre-installed or user-created skins.
Blake Krikorian, co-founder and CEO of Sling Media Inc said: “We are excited about the timing of the launch with the World Cup set to start just over a week from today. When the game is on, England fans with a Slingbox can watch the home team from no matter where they are: halfway around the world, stuck at work or simply around the home.”