As with the Slingbox PRO-HD two weeks ago, since I work for Sling Media now it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to review it, but the SlingCatcher officially shipped yesterday. Instead of reviewing it, here’s a roundup of coverage I’ve seen:

Sling Community - Blog
Sling Community - Review
Sling Community - Review: SlingPlayer for TV
Sling Community - Review: MyMedia
Sling Community - Review: SlingProjector
ZatzNotFunny
Engadget
EngadgetHD
Gizmodo
CNET - Crave
CED Magazine
Obsessable
SlashGear
NewsFactor Network
HD Update
SFGate
Wired
Register Hardware
TG Daily
Stuff.tv
TechWhack
Electronista
Silicon Alley Insider
Electronic House
Pocket-lint
PC World
BLORGE
BroadcastNewsroom
Sci-Tech Today
Gearlog
TrustedReviews
Coolest Gadgets

Both the Slingbox PRO-HD and SlingCatcher MSRP at USD$299.99, but the best deals I’ve seen on both are from PROVANTAGE - currently Slingbox PRO-HD for $241.70 and SlingCatcher for $240.47.

Normally I’d review something like this myself. But I not only work for Sling Media, but I’m the Beta Manager on the Slingbox PRO-HD. So that really wouldn’t be appropriate. Instead here’s a roundup of coverage I’ve seen so far:
SlingCommunity - Blog
SlingCommunity - Review
Zatz Not Funny
EngadgetHD
Engadget
PC Magazine
CNET Crave
CNET - Review
Washington Post
Ecoustics

EDIT: And more coverage:
The Gadgetress
Engadget
EngadgetHD
jkOnTheRun
Gizmodo
Obsessable
TG Daily
TWICE
Silicon Alley Insider
TVPredictions
TechSpot
SlashGear
Multichannel News
ZDNet - The Mobile Gadgeteer
TheStreet.com
Electronista
Electronic House
Boy Genius Report
eHomeUpgrade
ZDNet - The Toybox
Obsessable - Product Page

Ever since the Apple iPhone hit the market, people have been asking for a version of SlingPlayer Mobile for the platform. To date Sling has only expressed their desire to support the platform when it is possible to do so. But with the Apple WWDC kicking off this week, they’ve been showing off a bit of what they’ve been up to, and a number of blogs have coverage:
Engadget (video)
Gizmodo (video)
Zatz Not Funny (video)
PVR Wire @ TV Squad
Ars Technica
Macworld
NewTeeVee
Electronista
jkOnTheRun
The Mobile Gadgeteer
Crave
CrunchGear
AppleInsider
Mobility Today
Gizmos for Geeks
9 to 5 Mac
I4U News
Gear Diary
Download Squad
Unwired View
GottaBeMobile
Nerd Beach
Brighthand
Geek.com
SlingCommunity

And I’m sure there others that I haven’t spotted.

Dave Zatz posted this video to YouTube:

Note that this is a proof of concept, a technology demonstrator, and not the SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone that will eventually be released. This was an engineering project written for jail-broken iPhones to characterize the performance of the platform and ensure that Sling could deliver a high quality customer experience on the iPhone & iPod Touch platforms. This allowed Sling to gain experience with the platform while waiting for the SDK to be released. The official SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone will be written using the SDK and sold through the iTunes App store like other official iPhone/iPod Touch applications. At least that is currently the intent.

If you’re attending the Apple WWDC this week you can get a look at the proof of concept application first hand. Sling Media Product Manager Vicky Shum will be at the Starbucks at 120 4th Street, San Francisco (across from the Metreon) between 10:00 and 16:00 (10am and 4pm) on Monday, June 9th running demos.

Disclaimer: I am currently employed by Sling Media.

Seen at CES in Sling Media branding, the TR40 is a digital TV converter box for antenna users. Slated for a June release, the hardware shown at CES had a Sling-ish trapezoidal shape. Now SlingCommunity is reporting that the final design of the box will be more curvy, with a softer, rounded body. SlingCommunity has an image, which looks like a render and not an actual box. And to go along with the new look is a new name to replace the dry ‘TR40′, it will be marketed as the DTVPal.

I’m ambivalent about curvy consumer electronics devices. It makes it hard to stack the boxes, which many people have to do. But it does look nice.

Disclaimer: While I currently work for Sling Media, which is owned by EchoStar, I don’t currently have anything to do with the TR40/DTVPal. I’m just reporting on what SlingCommunity said.

Personally I really can’t stand the guy, but he (or someone who works on his show) seems to have good taste in tech. As part of his 1000/1001 show celebration, Dr. Phil gave every audience member a Sling Media Slingbox PRO & HD Connect bundle from Buy.com.

Via SlingCommunity.

Sling Media continues their conquest of the globe with the Slingbox, this time Finland is the lucky winner. The Slingbox SOLO and Slingbox PRO are both now available from Verkkokauppa.com, which SlingCommunity reports is one of the largest electronics stores in Finland and the oldest web store in the country. The Slingbox SOLO is selling for €189.90 while the Slingbox PRO goes for €298.90, but that does include the HD Connect cable sold separately in the US. Those prices are inclusive of VAT.

“The tremendous success of the Slingbox Classic in Europe demonstrates that consumers have embraced the idea of placeshifting,” said Blake Krikorian, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Sling Media. “Sling Media is focused on designing products that will provide customers with top value and the best possible overall, out of the box experience. I feel great about the products we are bringing to the market here in Finland with today’s announcement.”

It’s great to see the Slingbox available in ever more countries.