Sling released SlingPlayer for the iPad – a much-anticipated move for anyone who’s ever wished their living room TV could magically follow them around. The iPad’s bigger screen makes it a far better fit than the iPhone version, and Sling clearly knows it. This is the first time the whole “placeshifting” idea actually feels comfortable instead of cramped.
The app isn’t cheap, and you still need the Slingbox hardware to make the magic happen, but the experience finally looks like what Sling has been promising for years: your own TV lineup, just… somewhere else. Couch optional. It’s basically remote control plus remote living room.
This also marks another step in the iPad quietly becoming a serious media device. Sure, it’s a tablet, but people are already using it as a TV surrogate, and Sling clearly wants in on that habit before everyone settles into their app ecosystems. If nothing else, it gives travelers, sports fans, and cable refugees one more excuse to carry the iPad everywhere.
And yes, it’s still funny that we need a tiny box at home to beam TV to a giant tablet, but honestly, that’s half the charm of early mobile video.
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