I totally missed this, but Sling Media’s SlingPlayer iPhone app is now available in the iTunes App store for $29.99.  The app allows you to control and watch your DVR’s contents right on your iPhone.  Initially AT&T rejected the application due to concerns of network congestion since the app’s first iteration allowed users to stream video over both 3G and WiFi.  This version, though, only allows users to stream video over WiFi, hence the approval.

Read

Echostar unveiled their latest box with built-in SlingBox and DVR functionality yesterday, the T2200S.  Unlike previous Echostar boxes, though, this one will work with cable (Echostar owns Dish Network) and includes a DOCSIS cable modem, a 1TB hard drive and dual-tuners.  So, for those that invest in this mighty DVR, you’ll be able to enjoy your recorded or live programming from any where in the world assuming you’ve got a high speed Internet connection and a laptop or cell phone.

Sounds like EchoStar will sell the T2200S wholesale to the cable companies who will subsequently lease them to consumers for a monthly fee.  Although mass production of the box starts in Q4 of this year I wouldn’t expect to see them offered from your local cable operator until mid 2010, if not later.

Full release after the ‘leap’

ECHOSTAR UNVEILS WORLD’S FIRST SLINGLOADED HD DVR
FOR CABLE

EchoStar Technologies Creates tru2way™-based Set-top Box to Support
Cable Customers Seeking Entertainment Anytime, Anywhere

Englewood, Colo., March 30, 2009 – EchoStar Technologies L.L.C. and Sling Media,
Inc., wholly owned subsidiaries of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), today
unveiled the EchoStar T2200S, the world’s first SlingLoaded™, tru2way™-based, multi-
tuner, HD DVR set-top box designed specifically for the cable TV industry. The
announcement was made in advance of this week’s National Cable and
Telecommunications Cable Show ’09 in Washington, D.C. EchoStar will demonstrate the
T2200S at booth 917 in the Washington Convention Center April 1-3.

The T2200S integrates Sling Media Inc.’s award-winning placeshifting technology,
empowering cable TV subscribers to realize their dream of watching their home TV,
including live TV, DVR and VOD content, on almost any Internet-connected device,
such as the PC, Mac, mobile media players or mobile phones. The SlingLoaded
capabilities also enable remote video diagnostics which lets subscribers opt-in to receive
remote troubleshooting from an MSO’s tech support. This is just one of many
SlingLoaded features enabled by the T2200S that can help reduce the operator’s call
volume and truck rolls. EchoStar can also offer MSOs the power of SlingGuide™, giving
customers a powerful online search engine for their TV, the ability to schedule online
timers and to manage their DVR away from home.

The T2200S features a massive 1 terabyte hard drive for up to 1,000 hours of storage and
supports external storage via USB or an optional eSATA port. As a tru2way-based device,
the T2200S is proven to integrate with multiple OCAP electronic program guides and
will be fully functional for tru2way-enabled cable systems, including M-Card support,
embedded cable modem, DOCSIS Set-Top Gateway for two way communication, and
OCAP middleware.

“EchoStar and Sling engineers have created one of the most powerful set-top box devices
ever made for the cable industry, with the ability to watch content anywhere in the home
or anyplace in the world,” said Mark Jackson, president of EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.

The SlingLoaded T2200S also provides the following features:
• Supports MPEG-2, H.264 (MPEG-4) and VC1.
• 1GHz tuners to support expanded network bandwidth.
• Connect to the home network via Ethernet, WiFi (with optional WiFi adapter) or
Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA™).
• Picture-in-Picture
• Supports advanced resolution formats up to 1080p24.
• Individual branding opportunities for MSOs.
• Supports Macrovision and DCS analog copy protection.
• Features an attractive, capacitive-touch, backlit front panel with clock display.

The T2200S will be available for testing in MSO labs in June 2009, with volume
production rolling out in Q4 2009. Consumers interested in this product should contact
their local cable company.

MSOs seeking more information should visit www.echostar.com or email cable-
sales@echostar.com.

About EchoStar Technologies
EchoStar Technologies L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation
(Nasdaq: SATS) spans 25 years of delivering innovations in TV entertainment, advanced
set-top boxes, and end-to-end video delivery systems. EchoStar designs and engineers
products for satellite, IPTV, cable, terrestrial, and consumer electronics markets
worldwide by combining engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, and service into one
company. With more than 2,000 employees worldwide, EchoStar provides customers
with competitive business strategies, practices, and reduced product and operational costs.
Visit www.echostar.com.

About Sling Media
Sling Media, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ:
SATS), is a leading digital lifestyle company whose products include the acclaimed,
Emmy award-winning Slingbox™  that allows consumers to watch and control their
living room TV shows at any time, from any location, using PCs, Macs, PDAs and
smartphones. Sling Media also introduced SlingCatcher™, a universal media player that
seamlessly delivers broadcast TV, Internet video and personal content to the TV. Sling
Media also provides a video entertainment web site, Sling.com, offering consumers a
variety of popular TV shows, movies and other entertainment free for viewing online or
on TV using SlingCatcher. For more information, visit www.slingmedia.com. To watch
your favorite TV shows and movies, visit www.sling.com.

Tru2way and OCAP are trademarks of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.

During our time at CES, Echostar saw it fit to announces some pretty astounding and cool news: they unveiled a DVR box with a built in Slingbox, called the VIP 922.  What’s this mean?  Those who sign up with the satellite TV service provider (they’re competitor is DirecTV) will not only get access to an HD DVR box with a 1TB hard drive, but a DVR box whose content can be accessed from any where in the World.

You see, thanks to the built-in Sling technology and hardware, the die hard TV fanatic will be able to tap into their box at home and stream their recorded media to a myriad of devices (laptop, iPhone, Blackberry) anywhere they’re located assuming they have a broadband connection.

Without seeing an on hand demonstration it’s hard to say, but it sounds like Echostar has also thrown in a remote with a UI and form factor which is similar to Panasonic’s Easy Touch Remote Control; something we saw at CES.

The Dish Network VIP 922 will be available later this Spring.

Check out the other features offered:

• News feeds located on the home screen, giving viewers instant access to national news, weather, sports, and stock quotes.
• Ability to organize channels by channel name or number.
• 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480i and 480p support.
• Internet-delivered DISH On Demand including 1080p content.
• Ability to move one day in the guide while browsing full screen EPG or partial EPG.
• Connections to home networks via Ethernet, HomePlug Turbo (the next generation of HomePlug that allows for faster in-home transfer of content using home power lines), or WiFi (with optional WiFi adapter).
• Powerful search capability across all available video sources, including IP, VOD, satellite or DVR.
• Intuitive timer creation and DVR management, allowing users to categorize programming by groups (video source, title, genres) or by content description (date, length, ratings and more).
• Ability to load photos, MP3s and selected Internet content.
• Future upgrades such as photo sharing, movie ticket purchases, family calendars, instant messaging, streaming audio, and the ability to transfer content within a home network.

[Ehomeupgrade]