Dish TV set to start streaming to mobiles

[Uniquely]

Now that the SlingLoaded ViP922 DVR is actually available from Dish Network it's ready to offer more features from the Sling Mobile side of the menu, with plans to add free live TV (or recorded DVR program) streaming to its own mobile apps. Right now, the iPhone and recently released iPad app (Android version due in October) just let the devices control the box and view listings information, but after an update in September it will offer similar functionality to the $29.99 SlingPlayer Mobile, minus all the IR blasters and potential compatibility issues. The best part? According to the Associated Press all this comes at no extra cost to Dish subscribers, other than the fee for the new DVR or broadband connected 612, 622, 722 and 722k set-tops hooked up to a Slingbox.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/04/d...e-mobile-apps/


This sounds very cool! No additional gear needed for the VIP 922. Other VIP models will require a SlingBox, or a (leasable?) sling add-on that the dish website shows becoming available next month.

[brettallica]

This is pretty awesome. I'd love to catch some of my Sarah Silverman Programs or Important Things with Demetri Martin episodes on my iPhone. I'm sure DirecTV will follow suit with this technology, and when it does I'll be all over the app.

There is some serious battling going on right now between Dish and DirecTV from a competition standpoint. Major points to Dish for this one.

[Uniquely]

Yeah... I recently switched from Direct to Dish because they made me pretty mad one too many times. It was the week of Super Bowl, and I had friends coming for a party. I'd had a reocurring problem with my hd boxes just losing satellite signal until I'd unplug another receiver and reboot the problem one. It occurred on multiple receivers so I KNEW it was in the multi-switch but they REFUSED to send a tech because the problem kept resolving while I was on the phone with them. It happened again on Super Bowl week and WOULD NOT resolve so I finally got the service call I'd been needing. I take that day off work and they call me first thing in the AM to say they can't make it that day because a tech is sick. I explain the importance of having it fixed that day and how I'd practically begged to have it fixed before, and they say there's nothing they can do. I call Dish and they say they can be there THAT day to install new service, and I said DONE!

That coupled with their refusal to give me an HD DVR after 7 years of $100 a month subscription, when they pass them out to new subscribers like free candy, was the last straw. Dish gave me an HD DVR and two other HD receivers at no cost. When I joined Direct; HD was so new I had to pay $400 just to get a leased HD receiver with no DVR, and they STILL wouldn't give me a DVR seven years later.

The features are pretty comparable I'd say; but my subscription is the same price, even though I have ALL the premium channels, whereas I only had the Showtime package with Direct.

[brettallica]

^ OK, you definitely win when it comes to customer service problems experienced with DirecTV! I've had my fair share, but nothing compared to what you've had. I've only been with them for about two years, though, so give it time. Historically, my issues have involved billing. Performance has been pretty spot-on from day one.

One thing that bugs me about them is that they don't offer locals in HD yet in my area. Both Dish and Comcast do. I know it's some sort of licensing thing, but it still sucks. I can still get locals in HD, as well as record them using DirecTV's DVR, but I have to use my own HD antenna as well as an adapter box thing that attaches to my DVR. All in all it works as if nothing is different; there's just more gear to have to worry about in this setup.