Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone Release Imminent? Wi-Fi only?

Any developer that writes an app that streams anything over cell networks knows there's a chance it will get rejected. It's spelled out very clearly
Must not in Apple's reasonable judgment excessively use or unduly burden network capacity or bandwidth;
Click to expand...
The key words there are "in Apple's reasonable judgment." Even if you're streaming a 1k encoded MP3 file they can decide it's too much of a burden on the network. If you don't like the terms, develop for or use another vendor/carrier's product. That simple. Does it suck? Very much so, but there isn't much you can do about it other than switch or deal with it.
 
str1f3 said:
**** AT&T! I am tired of their ********. If they actually put money into their network instead of pocketing the cash, this wouldn't be a problem. I live in NYC of all places and can't get good reception. It will be a great day when the iPhone loses exclusivity and AT&T goes out of business. They are the worst of the four major carriers.

This app is useless. I carry my laptop wherever I go and I'm not going to pay $30 bucks to sap battery power from a phone that already has battery issues.
Click to expand...

Where you live maybe, but in the Shreveport/Bossier City area they are the best of the 4 major carriers.
AT&T's (and all of the others) service is better in some places than in others. Where I live .... Verizon is crap.
 
theaustinpeay said:
First off, all three companies are being stupid. Sling for charging $30, when without 3G, the app is almost worthless. AT&T for holding a double standard with the iPhone, when other phones support slingplayer over 3G. It's not like everyone who has (or will get) a slingbox will be watching it all the time. I only do it in rare instances when I'm on the road and I need to watch live sports. Everything else can wait. And Apple for being babies.

HOWEVER, this isn't that big of a deal, because if you have a jailbroken phone, you'll be able to watch over 3G, just like you can make calls over 3G with Skype. On top of that, because of how RIDICULOUS the pricing is, in no way in hell am I paying for this, and I'll wait until it's cracked. That way I get my redemption. Screw you Sling, AT&T, and Apple.

I thought this was a freakin' free market.
Click to expand...

you will not need to wait too much before they crack it...
 
Xian Zhu Xuande said:
"F***ing Apple!" people cry. Do you really think Apple has anything to do with this? If they are the ones who told them no to Wifi and Edge, it is specifically because AT&T said no. Apple wouldn't care to limit it otherwise, so direct your animosity where it belongs.

That said, "F***king AT&T!"

And $29 is a ridiculous price for this app. It might have been somewhat respectable with Wifi and Edge, but as is, for customers who have already bought their Slingbox hardware, that's just way too much...
Click to expand...

Well, that is not exactly true ... Why would Apple care? Because Apple has a vested interest in the consumer satisfaction with the overall user experience with their product.
If they feel that 3G/Edge enabled Slingbox would cripple AT&T's network to the point where the overall user experience would suffer then they would be wise in saying no and forcing WiFi only.

Sure, they know that a lot of potential Sling mobile purchasers will be pissed but they might think that the potential for more dissatisfied customers dealing with dropped calls, or network outages is greater.

I am quite certain that they don't make these decisions on a whim ....
 
bbyrdhouse said:
Well, that is not exactly true ... Why would Apple care? Because Apple has a vested interest in the consumer satisfaction with the overall user experience with their product.
If they feel that 3G/Edge enabled Slingbox would cripple AT&T's network to the point where the overall user experience would suffer then they would be wise in saying no and forcing WiFi only.

Sure, they know that a lot of potential Sling mobile purchasers will be pissed but they might think that the potential for more dissatisfied customers dealing with dropped calls, or network outages is greater.

I am quite certain that they don't make these decisions on a whim ....
Click to expand...

totally agree with that.
sometimes people ( i include myself) talk a lot o **** about those kind of decisions and they dont even know whats going on backstage. i doubt that apple and sling dont want us to use 3G with slingplayer , even at&t we dont know if they can support all that , lets see what happen ...

a lot of people who talk **** about the price , 3g etc.. will end up buying sonner or later , and lets be real a looooot of people who will not end up buying will find a way to get for free ( u guys know what im saying )
 
fishkorp said:
It was not free, unless your friend pirated it. The Windows Mobile version has always been $30.
Click to expand...
Was it? I swear he said he didn't pay for it. Well, I stand corrected, but it still seems steep for an iPhone app, especially when they are already making a lot of money on the hardware end. I understand you want to cover your development costs for a new version of your software, but it seems like they're looking for profit there as well. As always, the market will dictate the success. They have the right to charge what they want, but personally I don't think they're going to get many people to bite at that price. Then again, I can see it being worth it for people who pay for MLB, NBA, NFL online subscriptions.
 
bbyrdhouse said:
Well, that is not exactly true ... Why would Apple care? Because Apple has a vested interest in the consumer satisfaction with the overall user experience with their product.
If they feel that 3G/Edge enabled Slingbox would cripple AT&T's network to the point where the overall user experience would suffer then they would be wise in saying no and forcing WiFi only.

Sure, they know that a lot of potential Sling mobile purchasers will be pissed but they might think that the potential for more dissatisfied customers dealing with dropped calls, or network outages is greater.

I am quite certain that they don't make these decisions on a whim ....
Click to expand...
True.

And I think the carrier has some input on it.

Remember the tethering application that showed up in the App Store last summer? Then got removed from the App Store? Then was put back in some App Stores outside of the US? Sounded like Apple worked with the carriers and let the app go into the App Store where the carrier agreed. But who the heck knows? :)
 
To be honest the 3G thing doesn't bother me unduly. Obviously I'd *like* to be able to access live TV anywhere but in truth most of the places I'm likely to be slinging are covered by wifi hotspots which are free anyway (BTOpenZone in the UK). Hopefully in time the 3G thing will be enabled but until then I'll be happy to live with the app's limitatons.
 
Even if AT&T doesn't get a say in what apps are banned, I'm sure they can still detect packets (for example, Sling video) and throttle bandwidth to those users if they want. All the cable/DSL/fiber providers are doing it, I don't see why it can't also be done on wireless networks.
 
I am fine with the $30 price tag ... also fine with WiFi only. If I feel like I must have it on 3G then I will just Jailbreak the phone.

Looks to be a really awesome app!
 
I've been thinking about getting this before but for 30 dollars I can carry my laptop from my home office to my bedroom. Over 3G, it might have been worth it.
 
tucker19 said:
Can I say Jail Break! thought Iphone was going to be the best way to go!!!! I WAS WRONG!!! if I can only use it in a WI-FI only mode, most likely there is a TV at that location as well... What do I need this app for if there is a TV near. This app is so I can watch TV walking down the street or seating in traffic!!!! Why buy it????? So sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!:confused:
Click to expand...

Do you have a TV everywhere in your house? In the garage? In your basement? In your back yard?

Do you spend most of your time getting to your destination, or at your destination (say work, a friend's house, etc.) where you're likely to have wi-fi.

3G would be nice for watching TV on a train, but it's hardly a worthless app without it.
 
HiRez said:
Was it? I swear he said he didn't pay for it. Well, I stand corrected, but it still seems steep for an iPhone app, especially when they are already making a lot of money on the hardware end. I understand you want to cover your development costs for a new version of your software, but it seems like they're looking for profit there as well.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure you understand business. Of course they are looking for a profit. That's the ****ing point. If companies just did business with the point of meeting cost then there would be no motivation to do anything. Breaking even is not good business. Of course they are in it to make a profit.
 
...and for O2 users in the UK?

O2 actually do have an unlimited data plan (subject to fair use etc etc) so perhaps.. just maybe it will be 3G in the UK but not the USA?

Is this likely?
 
aristobrat said:
Didn't Google pull the Android app that allowed tethering thru the G1 on T-Mobile's request? I'm doubting they'd allow SlingPlayer.

I'm curious to see how much veto power the carriers get in the BlackBerry, Palm, and Windows Mobile upcoming "app stores".
Click to expand...

That is different. You're using data for a screen that has 4x the resolution of an iPhone (if you're using a MBP) and use up far more with bandwidth. Also, T-Mobile offers a tethering solution I think. Also, you can still go to the apps' website and still download it.

My questions are:
What happens to a Hulu app?
What happens when YouTube starts carrying a lot of TV shows and movies?

They have now blocked ustream and slingbox. I guess the writing is on the wall.

FU AT&T
 
We need a way for our voices to be heard! Petetion? boycott? How do we get everyone on the same page?
 
At & T

I have a great way that we can voice our frustration to AT & T, why don't we pick a date and time when we can all get on the network and stream some type of media through thei 3G network. I am sure if we do that they will pay attention. I have been a loyal customer of AT & T for many years and I defend them when ever I can but this really pissed me off today. Every other phone they carry can stream Sling, so they punish us for having an iPone? I really hope that Apple pays attention to this and doesn't extend their exclusive contract with AT & T, the are holding the iphone back from it reaching it's full potetial, if Apple makes the phone available to Verizon I am sure I won't be the only customer to leave.
 
bbyrdhouse said:
Ok then ... here is my voice ...

I WILL buy this app the hour it is released

I could care less about 3G on Slingbox

Go Apple!
Go Sling!
Go AT&T
:D
Click to expand...

Different strokes for different folks. I only wonder if you'll actually get your money's worth.:(
 
bronksy said:
O2 actually do have an unlimited data plan (subject to fair use etc etc) so perhaps.. just maybe it will be 3G in the UK but not the USA?

Is this likely?
Click to expand...

I very much hope so... but cant see it.

Seems like ATT dont want it so the whole world has to suffer :(
 
JW008 said:
I'm having a tough time justifying paying $29.99 for an app that I can only use over Wi-Fi. Am I being crazy/unreasonable to think that the price should be quite a bit lower since the feature set is significantly crippled? To me, the beauty of this app would be using it over the 3G/EDGE networks.

I need some convincing to pay $29.99 for Wi-Fi only...
Click to expand...
I feel you are right. No 3G and $30.00. Sorry more like $15-$20 maybe.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back