The Future of Remote TV
Sling Media is a start-up company that struck it big by simplifying a process that has been around for a while, but mostly in high-tech circles. There are free downloads available, like VideoLAN, that let you stream any video signal (as well as pictures and music) from your home PC over the Internet, but these applications typically require a host PC along with a deeper level of technological expertise than the general public is comfortable with. The Slingbox offers placeshifting functionality in a device that's about as complicated to set up as a cable box and doesn't require a host compter. Slingbox is flying off the shelves because it makes remote viewing accessible to the masses.
Sony's LocationFree TV is a comparable product -- it's more expensive (around $350), but it has very similar functionality. In addition to computers, LocationFree TV also directs a video signal to a PSP. TiVo to Go lets you watch your pre-recorded TiVo programs on your PC, Internet-connected laptop or a wide selection of handheld media players, but it only works with TiVo Series 2. If you have a TiVo Series 2 box and you don't need to watch a show in real-time, this could be a good way to go -- there's no additional hardware or service fees involved.
 Photos courtesy Amazon.com LocationFree TV (left) and TiVo Series 2 |
There are also some free downloads out there, such as Orb and VideoLAN, that let you watch your TV programming from a computer. VideoLAN is combination media player/server that supports both Linux and Mac OS in addition to Windows machines, and Orb can stream content to Web-enabled smartphones and PDAs in addition to computers.
To stay ahead of the competition, Sling Media is in constant upgrade mode. In January 2006, the company announced support for select PDAs and smartphones, and the number of supported mobile devices will continue to increase. Sling Media plans to release an HD version of the Slingbox in the near future.
The big issue right now surrounding "placeshifting" TV is about copyright and digital rights issues. Like the music and motion-picture industries, the TV industry is concerned that people are going to be able to access their product for free. In the case of Slingbox, it's not just a concern about one person subscribing to HBO and giving their friends their Slingbox access codes so they can watch "Rome" without paying for it. The spatial nature of TV licensing adds another dimension to the risk. TV stations typically purchase program rights for a specific region, so "placeshifting" the TV signal infringes on regional access rights for certain shows. Sling Media says it's observing copyright and digital media laws because the Slingbox is a one-to-one transmission device. Slingbox owners can't broadcast a show to everyone they know. Only one person can access a Slingbox at a time, and if the device is used properly, only the person who pays for the programming can watch it. Only time will tell whether the TV industry will accept placeshifting technology like it ultimately accepted the "timeshifting" capabilities of TiVo and other DVRs.
For more information on Slingbox and related topics, check out the links on the next page.
