EchoStar’s Sling Media is out with a survey today testing the waters for console-based placeshifting. While the SlingCatcher is dead and buried, SlingPlayer for Connected Devices has been slowly bringing Slingbox feeds to various set-top devices including Google TV, WDTV Live, and Boxee. Next up, your Xbox, Wii, or PS3? From the emailed survey (pictured below):
In this section, we’re trying to gauge your interest in using SlingPlayer on your game console. Imagine if you could watch your Slingbox in full HD on your big screen TV using your game console. Essentially, you could enjoy everything on your main TV but you would use your gaming device. In other words, you could:
A big advantage is that you would NOT PAY for another cable or satellite set top box. A couple of situations where you can enjoy this are:
While the proposition is appealing, I’m not sure a game console is the most efficient platform for delivery… for Sling or for us. Assuming our Slingboxes will never stream content to Apple TV, Roku is an ideal platform if Sling can work out the technical challenges — it’s small and cheap, with an open SDK and much greater penetration than say the WDTV Live Sling currently supports. How much would an app like that be worth to you? Question 10 of the survey, while focused on those gaming consoles, proposes a few values ranging in cost from $0 to $40. I’d easily drop $20 on a Roku SlingPlayer app, maybe $30… But have limited interest in connecting to my Slingbox via such a bulky device, like my Xbox, located at our primary television.
View Comments
I have been watching a lot of Sling on my Boxee Box and my WDTV Live unit as I rented a Sky satellite television service in London and have been watching the BBCs coverage of the Olympics in glorious HD via Sling to my home in Connecticut.
I am actually enjoying watching TV from London more then I do from the American Satellite companies (and there is almost as much American content there as there is here!)
Dave let me know if you want to check it out. (Their satellite receiver technology leaves a lot to be desired) :D
BTW I forgot to add, that I would rather have Sling on a XBOX 360 or PS3 then a Roku.
Don't get me wrong I love my Roku, but not everyone has one. Being able to watch my content from home (or London) I would be able to do almost everywhere because most of my friends have one of the video game systems, while most do not have a Roku.
Being able to watch your content everywhere is key for me. :)
Sling on a 360? Yes please! I would even shell out for Live Gold if that was required. Since I use both Sling and Media Center that would make the 360 the perfect media box for me.