SlingPlayer Mobile for IPhone

Users of Sling Media Slingbox place shifts the family of products that allow you to view your home TV signal from remote locations, have been watching TV for Mac, PC and mobile phones for several years. Now, with the release of SlingPlayer Mobile for the App Store, then on the iPhone and IPod touch the place.

GPP in the $ 30 price tag might seem shocking in comparison with the rest of the square store, but the same price that Sling for SlingPlayer Mobile for all other mobile phones. In contrast to the SlingPlayer Mobile on these platforms, though, SlingPlayer Mobile for the iPhone does not support video for mobile communications, but only through a Wi-Fi. It is a concession to the forced Apple to Sling and - more to the point - AT & T, which feared that the Legion of iPhone use Slingbox, viewers can destroy your data network.

Setting up a network of side issues, for a moment, let's talk about the app. To use this device, you must create an account on the Sling website and register there Slingboxes - SlingPlayer magazines at this point to see a list of available Slingboxes. Once you have logged in, you can choose a Slingbox, and you're all set - the default application will automatically connect to the Slingbox, that every time it opens.

Once you have logged in and view the video, one click brings up a menu with options to view your favorite channels, the remote device to emulate the remote control, rear DVR program guide, or control, a set of options, and to disconnect from the Slingbox. Guide and DVR button shortcuts to quickly find the program to configure or play, even though sometimes I found that they were on the road, and I usually just prefer to use all the buttons on the remote control emulation.

(Image Caption: Click on the buttons to emulate your DVR or cable box remote control.) Once you've created a list of favorite channels, you can switch between them, just scan your finger from left to right or right to left. If you simply want to move to the next channel in the lineup, but not among the favorites, you whack the top to the bottom (channel down), or bottom-up (channel up). They are designed for tools that will help save you time, but I accidentally swiped (that led to long delays in viewing to wait until I have a channel to change, then change it back) much more often than I did it deliberately. It would be nice if you can choose to turn to leave, or gestures, even better, the map of their commands you use most often.

The picture quality of the application well, although far from perfect. This square is constrained in the iPhone is relatively meager (compared to full-fledged computer) processor speed. But until you do not receive pristine video from SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone, that you will get quite watchable, especially if you are on the home team the game, while in the departure hall at the distant airport. (Of course, the picture quality will vary depending on the speed of your Wi-Fi network and connect your Slingbox to the Internet.)

(Image Caption: Unfortunately, there is no way for us to show this picture of the Slingbox HD without a black border.) I am disappointed that no SlingPlayer honor one of the most basic iPhone gestures, though: double-tap on the video, which switches between the enlarged image and letterboxed or pillarboxed picture. At my home Slingbox Pro HD, which is attached to the DVR is in widescreen mode, from 16 to 9 aspect ratio, I could never get SlingPlayer to fill my iPhone screen. Widescreen content letterboxed, but also had some pillarbox operation. The old-style 4-for-3 content was even worse, appearing as the stamps on my screen, surrounded by empty space.

In the end, I am pleased that the SlingPlayer for the iPhone does not exist. This gives me the opportunity to watch the video when I was trapped in a boring, but with existing Wi-Fi network. But we must admit that my joy at the existence of this app is hampered by the fact that it retains its full value is not functioning, in spite of the mobile network. Its fast scanning is too easily activated by mistake, and although the quality of the video display is passable, I was disappointed by the failure of the application to show my video without a large black border on the upper side, or all around.

I am sure that I find myself using the SlingPlayer Mobile when the need arises. But I will not use it with great enthusiasm, while Sling Media can solve some of their quirks and limitations, including, ideally, that will require changes in the heart of AT & T and Apple.

SlingPlayer is compatible with any iPhone and IPod touch Launches iPhone OS 2.2.1 or later.

[Jason Snell is editorial director of Macworld. He uses a Slingbox to view your favorite San Francisco Giants for several years.]