Filed under: Software, Video, Internet Tools
Slingbox beta client coming for Mac OS X
If you're primarily a Mac user, you probably haven't heard much about Slingbox, largely in part because it's never had a Mac OS X client. Slingbox, for those interested, is a device that attaches to your home TV/cable/DVR setup and allows you to stream your TV programming over the internet, typically to a Windows PC or even some mobile phones - but soon, a Mac as well. Blake Krikorian, Sling Media's CEO, confirmed yesterday in an interview with the The Guardian that a beta Mac client was coming "this week" for Slingbox, though since it's already Friday even in the U.S., maybe Blake includes 'the weekend' when defining 'a week'.All joking aside, this is great news for Mac users, as the Slingbox has typically been in the ranks of those gadgets reserved for the elite Windows nerds who just gotta have their TV (don't forget, 'nerd' is technically preferred over 'geek' as a positive adjective). We'll keep you posted when an actual Slingbox client is launched.
Thanks Dave Zatz
Update: Dave Zatz just informed me that Sling Media's VP dropped him a line to say that Blake was misquoted by The Guardian. As it turns out, the private beta is live and well, but the public beta is still a month or so out.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fizzy said 5:41PM on 9-15-2006
SlingBox for the Mac?! This made my day!
Reply
MK said 6:15PM on 9-15-2006
Is this something the final "iTV" might be able to do as well? Some people were unhappy about the absence of a PVR/DVR function in the iTV prototype. But what if iTV were able to stream TV input to Macs/PCs?
Reply
Matt said 6:27PM on 9-15-2006
Slingbox has been promising a Mac client "soon" since late last year. They have already missed at least three self-imposed deadlines, so I'll believe it when I can actually download it. All that aside, I hope they finally do release it this weekend.
Reply
DaytimeDeals.com said 6:30PM on 9-15-2006
They're only 6 months late from their supposed launch in the 1st quarter of this year! FYI - Slingboxes are being sold for $160 now.
Reply
Tan The Man said 2:37PM on 9-16-2006
Awesome. I've been hearing rumors for a while and the only reason that I haven't gotten this is the fact that it's not MAC compatible.
Reply
Seth said 8:43PM on 9-15-2006
OK, Anyone please have the Sling Beta for mac out there?!?!? I need it so badly. I am stuck in europe and need to see my college football. My Paralles partition died and I don't have a Windows disk to reinstall.
Can someone please send me a link to the Beta download? thanks
seth_weintraub@bigfoot.com
Reply
Jeff said 12:32AM on 9-16-2006
Anyone with an EyeTV can use CyTV to turn their Elgato device into a sling box. I use this everyday, check it out.
http://www.lucid-cake.net/cytv/index_en.html
Reply
Tim Day said 11:46AM on 9-16-2006
I'm the "mac guy" at a Detroit area Compusa. We carry a Sony Location Free client for the Mac and it's universal. Anybody know which is better, Location Free or Slingbox? I'm trying to get my friend who lives in Japan to split my Comcast bill with me...'til now I thought SLF was my only option.
Reply
MWD said 10:30PM on 9-15-2006
Too little too late. I got tired of waiting and went with Sony's Location Free TV which already has a MAC client. Sorry slingbox, you were my first choice, but I had to go with someone that supported the MAC...
Reply
Kevin said 12:30PM on 9-16-2006
I did a video review of Sony’s LocationFree Player on Mac, Windows & PSP.
Yes you read it right, I reviewed the Mac client from io-data and it rocks compared to the other clients. I was surprised why so many Mac users don't realize we have this for Mac already. You don't have to wait for the Slingbox solution.
See http://theory.isthereason.com/?p=1238
Reply
James D said 12:08PM on 9-18-2006
This Update is BS....I just went out and bought this thinking the software will be availiable this week....woe is me!
Reply
Leonard Nimrod said 4:32PM on 9-19-2006
I know it would nice to have a native Mac app, but within an Intel Mac and Parallels you can easily recieve the same results without a Mac version.
As an aside, this "Why doesn't Apple include DVR capabilities?" and "When is Apple going to include DVR capabilities?" is pretty shortsided by those scratching their heads in wonderment. APPLE WILL NOT INCLUDE A NATIVE DVR AND TUNER AS IT WILL CUT INTO THEIR iTUNES PROFITS. How is that, you ask? Why pay $1.99 for a TV show at 640x480 resolution the NEXT day when you can download, for FREE, a much higher resolution version that SAME day? If you want a DVR there are a many nifty 3rd party options for the Mac.
Reply
Rick said 5:25AM on 9-18-2006
So, "nerd" is an adjective now?
Reply
Andy said 11:58PM on 10-20-2006
Interesting that sling would ship a product to stores with a retail box which indicates that they support OS X when they do not at this stage. I thought that was illegal in the US?
I hope someone calls them on their marketing tricks.
I am also disappointed to see that CompUSA & Best Buy let this slip. Who can you trust now days. They all seem to be playing the same game.
Have a read for an update on the OS X client..
http://www.i4u.com/article6882.html
Reply