Sling box
The sling box is a set-top box for location-independent television (place-shift).
In addition, the Slingbox offers the option of transmitting and reproducing a television signal using the Internet protocol in the local area network or the Internet and vice versa to control the signal source, such as a digital receiver (e.g. changing the television channel).
The idea of location-independent television (place-shift) is a continuation of time-shifted television (time-shift, such as with the TiVo ).
The Slingbox was the first box with this functionality and is the most widely used in the USA . In Europe, the Slingbox is currently only sold in Great Britain , Austria , Germany and Scandinavia .
Use and importance
100,000 sling boxes were sold in the first six months of sales.
In November 2006 the Slingbox won the Disruptive Communications Technology Award from the Financial Times in London.
From the consumer's point of view, the sling box is particularly useful in conjunction with pay TV . Pay TV pays for viewing the programs, but due to technical restrictions this is usually only possible in one fixed location, the location of the digital receiver . The sling box and similar devices allow you to watch these programs in other locations.
From the point of view of media companies, several legal questions arise, since broadcasting rights are usually acquired for a precisely defined territory. When streaming over the Internet, however, this area can no longer be technically restricted. On the other hand, this method enables a closer connection with the Internet, which some media companies are very interested in.
technology
S-video , composite video (cinch) and coaxial antenna are available as inputs for the signal transmitter. B. DVB-T , the signal from a digital receiver , from a cable connection , a connection for satellite TV or a DVD player .
The switchover of the signaling device takes place via infrared according to the principle of the universal remote control , whereby the receiver must be selected from a list. If your own device is not in this list, you only have the option of entering the IR codes manually.
The transmission process takes place via broadband internet access ("uplink"). For this purpose, the television signal is encoded using Windows Media Video . The data rate is adapted to the available bandwidth using a proprietary process.
The signal can be played back on a PC or mobile phone. The player exists for Windows , macOS , Windows Mobile , Blackberry OS and Symbian OS . Sling Media offers a portable version of the player for iOS in Apple's App Store . A version with the Android operating system was recently presented.
The Slingbox is now also available in an HDTV version.
Manufacturer
The manufacturer is Sling Media, in which the American cable TV provider Liberty Media and the satellite TV operator EchoStar Communications have a stake of 46.6 million dollars. Other investors are Allen & Company , DCM-Doll Capital Management, Goldman Sachs & Co, Hearst and Moebius Venture Capital.
similar products
The Sony LFPK1 LocationFree Player, which has also been sold in German-speaking countries (Austria) since July 2006, offers a similar function .
Pearl also offered the 7LINKS Internet & Network TV Box for Personal IPTV with a similar scope.
swell
- ↑ Article from Stern magazine (Germany) issue 35/2006 about hard disk recorders (time-shift), and the sling box (place-shift) as an info box
- ↑ Assessment of the market potential and risk of place-shift devices by the IT&T consultancy Berlecon Research, in particular Slingbox and the competing product from Sony ( Memento of the original from September 24, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked . Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Test report on the Slingbox in the online magazine World of PPC (Germany)
- ↑ The X-Series in the test: Skype, Sling, Google and Co. for a flat rate on the mobile phone
- ↑ Golem: Slingbox brings home television to the Internet - TV companies are investing in Internet technology
- ↑ Internet TV, tv ip box: 7LINKS Internet & Network TV Box for Personal IPTV - ip box / UPNP - pearl.de
