Ready to Start Slinging?

TV-on-the-go is rapidly becoming America's newest obsession, and the SlingPlayer Mobile is another reason for TV junkies to get their hands on a Slingbox. In my opinion, this device has the potential to do for television, what the iPod did for music. One of the great things about having an iPod, is that you can load all your favorite music on a small device, and take it anywhere you go. The Slingbox "playshifts" or redirects real-time television shows playing at home to an Internet-connected laptop or smartphone half-way across the world. Meaning that you can watch Oprah, while enjoying a nice cup of coffee in a Parisian Cafe. Of course, you won't be able to effectively use Slingbox without a high-speed Internet connection. Many users have complained about image quality when connected to a slow connection.

Last year, Sling Media made a splash by releasing the silver device that streams live broadcasts from your local cable feed or recorded shows on your DVR to a Windows-based laptop. This meant users could travel half-way across the world, and still watch their local news, sports, or even their favorite sitcoms on Tivo. Once installed, the Slingbox remains stationary in your entertainment center, and is controlled through the SlingPlayer software installed on your laptop. The software currently works with any Windows-based PC, although a Mac OS version is expected to be released later this year. I do like the fact that Slingbox doesn't charge an additional monthly fee, unlike Tivo.

Sling Media just released SlingPlayer Mobile, an application that allows you to stream TV shows to your PDA or smartphone. Slingbox registered users can download a free version until April 26. After that, the company will start charging a $29.99 one-time fee. Also customers who purchase and register a Slingbox before then will receive a free license of the software.

The downside to the Slingbox system for the average consumer are still many. Some of the reviews I read, mention the installation can be quite difficult for a novice. It seems that not having a Universal Plug-and-Play (UPnP) router could be a problem, which means you have to manually change your router settings. Resolution is another pitfall, unless you don't mind watching television in a small window. And the most important thing to consider when changing channels on your SlingPlayer, is that you'll also be changing channels on your resident Slingbox-connected TV set. This means that if you're somewhere in Europe flipping through the channels on your laptop, your TV at home will also be changing channels. This could be a problem if someone at home happens to be watching that particular TV set.

It's a great device for those who travel abroad, but for those who travel to the office and back, you're better off saving your money for now. Even with the SlingPlayer Mobile, you still need a smartphone with an unlimited plan. Otherwise, you'll be paying a hefty bill at the end of the month. We might have to wait a few years until mobile internet access becomes more affordable, and SlingPlayer Mobile supports any mobile phone. It's definitely a step forward for TV-on-the-go enthusiasts, but the rest of us will feel compelled to wait until this actually becomes more mainstream. How do you feel about the Slingbox? Is this something that appeals to you?