SlingPlayer Mobile Officially Released for S60
Symbian users have been anxiously awaiting this day for quite some time now and the wait is finally over… Sling Media has officially announced the public availability of their newly ported SlingPlayer Mobile application for compatible S60 3rd devices! SlingPlayer Mobile allows you to connect via WLAN or 3G and watch/control your home TV, DVR, TiVo, digital cable box or satellite receiver from anywhere in the world. Symbian users can now make use of their Slingbox with certain QVGA devices (additional device support is in the works). Initial compatibility is listed in the US for the Nokia N95, N75, and E65 (3G and/or WiFi). In Europe and ROW, the Nokia N95, E65, N73, and 6120 are listed as compatible devices.
Thanks to Dave Zatz of Sling Media I’ve had the pleasure of playing with this app for a while now and I have to say that I couldn’t be enjoying it more! Before I get into the review I feel obligated to tell you that if you plan on using 3G to stream to your device, an unlimited data plan is absolutely essential! Ignore that advice and before you know it you’ll be surrendering your home to the taxman for not being able to pay your phone bill… That said, let’s check out SlingPlayer Mobile:
Setup is extremely easy and worked flawlessly for me. You can add your Slingbox using an IP address or your box ID. I opted for the latter and my box was detected in a matter of seconds.
The Settings screen of the app allows you to define a default access point so that SlingPlayer will automatically connect when you select your box. If your default connection is unavailable, the app quickly recognizes this and prompts you to select from a list of available APs. The only other notable settings are Audio Settings (stereo/mono, high/low quality), Audio Channel (stereo, right only, left only) and Full Screen Video Quality (normal or high) which will determine your video quality when viewing in landscape mode. Once you’ve added your box and tweaked the settings to your liking you’re ready to start streaming!
Now those of you who have used a Slingbox before know that SlingPlayer isn’t just for watching your TV; it’s for controlling your TV. Access the SlingPlayer remote from within options and you can perform a whole host of functions - adjust your channel, power the system on and off, control guides and menus, etc. You can even configure a variety of custom configurable functions if a specific operation that you need isn’t preconfigured in the app. Note that there’s a bit of a pause as you send each command with SlingPlayer Mobile so you should definitely make use of the favorites feature for quick and easy access to your most-watched channels.
Beyond that you can even control your DVR/Tivo using SlingPlayer Mobile! Access your recorded shows, rewind, pause, view guides and menus, and even set it up to record new shows. It’s as if you’re sitting in front of your (tiny) TV! ;)
Despite the screen shots, don’t think that you’re confined to a tiny portrait-orientation viewing area. Simply toggle to fullscreen mode and enjoy a nice big landscape viewing experience just as you would with a mobile video player.
In terms of navigation, Sling gives you plenty of functionality using the remote but of course there are few options for easy channel surfing and access to 16 of your favorite channels. To flip to a specific channel while watching TV simply dial in the channel number and you’re there. Favorites on the other hand provide visual shortcuts on your display that you can toggle on and off with the # key. Adding a favorite is simple: With your favorites bar open move right and left to an empty favorites slot (or one you’d like to overwrite) and hold the select key. You’ll now be able to enter any channel number and even browse through the channel that have logos included.
In case you haven’t figured it out yet - I love SlingPlayer Mobile! It works extremely well over 3G or WLAN and looks great on the display of my N95. The audio quality is decent on the lower setting and more than adequate on the higher setting. The freedom that this app provides is wonderful - entertainment anytime, anywhere! If you’re a current Slingbox owner then you already know the value and freedom that SlingPlayer provides. Add the mobility of SlingPlayer Mobile for S60 device and you’ve got yourself solid gold. With a launch price of $29.99 (US), $34.99 (Canada) and £19.99 (UK), this is one app that is without a doubt worth the cost of admission. If you currently have a Slingbox, download the trial and prepare to be impressed. If you were waiting for this release to make your Slingbox purchase, the wait is over!
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