It used to be that television was something you watched from the comfort of your living room. As of early 2009, though, thanks to Slingbox, which is produced by Echostar’s Sling Media division, users can watch television from anywhere they have an internet connection. This is particularly attractive to iPhone owners, who can get a signal on their phone from almost any location and stream high-quality television right to their cell phone.
Using Slingbox to watch Tv on Iphone
To stream live or recorded television on an iPhone, a user first needs to get a Slingbox. A Slingbox is a box-like device that connects to any television, whether it uses cable, satellite, DVR, etc., and transmits the TV signal over the internet to any Wi-Fi device. There are several models available including the Slingbox SOLO, Slingbox PRO, and Slingbox PRO-HD. All Slingbox models offer live streaming from any television, but only the Slingbox PRO-HD supplies high definition quality. However, when watching on a device like an iPhone, the need for HD seems overkill. Still, the PRO model does offer some advantages over the SOLO. For example, it has an extra tuner so that watching on the go will not interfere with a viewer watching the television at home. It also allows connection to multiple audio and video sources, which means you can connect to a television and DVR.
With a Slingbox installed, a user also needs to get the appropriate software to stream the video on their iPhone. This means downloading SlingPlayer Mobile’s iPhone version. The cost for this software is currently $29.99 and is available from the iPhone’s App Store. In addition to the software, the user needs to know the password for his or her specific Slingbox device as well as access to a Wi-Fi connection. This means that the Slingbox will not currently work over a 3G network alone, but it may at some point in the future.
Slingbox + Iphone = Complete Control
When everything is up and running users can do anything on their iPhone that they would normally do with their television and more. This includes changing channels, controlling DVR, and even fast-forwarding, rewinding, and pausing up to sixty minutes of live television.
Following initial setup costs, there are no monthly fees associated with using Slingbox on an iPhone. Plus, the same device can also be used with any internet connected PC, laptop, or even other mobile devices. This means more flexibility for users and an almost endless variety of places to watch television.
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