Last week we heard that a SlingPlayer app for the iPhone was just around the corner, which is great news. But it seems there’s a cruel twist in the tail: the app will not work with older Slingboxes, only the Slingbox SOLO and Slingbox PRO-HD models.

That means anyone with a Slingbox Classic, Slingbox Tuner or Slingbox AV will have to upgrade to “sling” their home TV to their iPhone. What makes it even worse is that, according to Engadget, there’s no legitimate technical reason to limit the functionality to newer models – it’s simply a money-driven decision.

That’s raised Slingbox user hackles, and it seems that Sling Media’s offer of a $50 coupon to help them upgrade to one of the new models isn’t doing much to placate them.

We’ll bring you more on this story as it develops.

Out TBC | £TBC | Sling Media (via Engadget)

Be Sociable, Share!

No related stories.

  • gadget-ben

    Why is it the bean counters never seem to realise that getting greedy with great tech will just hold back the efforts of their own geeks – giving someone else’s geeks an invitation to do the same thing cheaper and without the ‘money grabbing b••••••s’ reputation..

    The forthecoming iPhone Slingplayer app has me checking for news hourly like a kid on xmas eve trying to sleep and I bought a Slingbox-Pro purely in anticipation of the iPhone app release so I wont be shafted. However, this latest revelation changes my impression of Sling (the company) from tech gods to corporate scrooges.

    Gadget-Ben

  • Phil

    This is disappointing news if it turns out to be true. I have two other Sling AV models at my house and the Classic still has the pest picture. Being a Sling Classic owner since 2005, I have always been a fan of the device. I have probably been responsible for helping sell 30 Sling Boxes just buy being a happy customer over the years. Early 2009 when they went to a pay as you go tech support for Non-New Sling’s. They always helped as a comp phone support in the past to device owners. Like other I have been waiting for the iPhone application so I can have another connection. The expected sales price is anticipated to be in the $30.00 range which puts it into the top pricing tier already. Bagging on all of the oldest customers is BAD FORM! Did they do this to the Palm or BB users?

  • Oops

    I can only hope that this some dimwits idea of an April fools joke.

    The Slingplayer app hasn’t even been approved by Apple yet so how can Sling start getting people to fork out for new boxes already?

    On the UK Sling page (if it’s a real page!) it still gives the price in dollars!

    Same on the Korean page and it’s in English too…but the official Sling website is in luvvly korean!

    If it is true then I will simply not buy the app…saving 20-30 quid and not buy any new box either saving another 150 quid….meaning that sling’s new moneygrabbing owners would have made precisely 0 Dollars out of me!!

  • Oops

    ….and another thing! the sling classic might be the original box….but its not “old technology” that has been discontinued…they are still making and selling this box.

    That would mean that I could have bought my brand new sling classic today and be told on the same day that it’s obsolete and must be returned for an upgrade!

  • Oops

    am I waffling! sorry!

  • Oops

    Oh my god….It’s True ! Snivvel!

  • Oops

    **********BOYCOTT THE APP!*************

  1. Crafting smart paint that detects cracks
  2. Rolls-Royce was started by an electrician
  3. Design for a smell-free dog
Get more recommendations - see all our Top 5 lists

Hot chat, right here!


Our most commented stories right now...