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Provides: TV over Wifi
Developer: Sling Media
Minimum System Requirements: A Slingbox, WiFi connection, iPhone OS 2.2.1
Price: $29.99
Availability: Now
Version Reviewed: 1.0

Nothing quite compares to a big screen TV and some great content to watch on it. But then again, even the most picky amongst us may lower their standards when boredom sets in. The SlingPlayer Mobile app for iPhone is an app that takes your existing SlingBox content and makes it available to your iPhone, provided you are connected to the Internet via WiFi.

Surely if you’re interested in the SlingPlayer Mobile app for iPhone, then you already know about its number one limitation. It (currently?) can only be used over Wifi. Is it because it doesn’t work well over 3G? Nope. Is it because it violates Apple’s App Store agreements? Nope. Is it because Sling Media for some reason wants you to have a crippled app? No, no no no, a million times no. The only reason is because AT&T, just like the rest of us, doesn’t have any confidence in their network whatsoever and thinks that the extra load as a result of this single app would all but kill their network. I can’t say that I disagree with AT&T, but I also wouldn’t mention this as a reason for a potential subscriber to sign up with AT&T. What I’m trying to say is…AT&T, how about you spend your time building a better network instead of crippling great apps. Add awesome new features, don’t take them away. K, now that it’s out of my system…

The SlingPlayer Mobile app is a piece of work. Configuration is nothing new, if you’re accustomed to using your SlingBox. After the simple setup is done, the streaming TV loads automatically every time you launch the app. It’s semi-amazing. Just think, you can have high quality television in the palm of your hand anywhere there is WiFi available.

It controls very well. Swipe up or down to change channels incrementally. Swipe left or right to cycle through your favorite channels. Tap the screen to bring up the onscreen display where you can enter in specific channel changes, call up your favorites list, set your DVR, change connections etc. You can even browse your guide, if your cable box supports it. It has all of the things you’d want to do, all in one place. It really feels like a mature, well polished media app.

But then again, it only works over Wifi. Guess what else only works over WiFi? The desktop app. The free desktop app. It’s a little hard to justify spending almost $30 on an app that works on a smaller screen with likely worse speakers. If this worked over 3G (like every other mobile version of SlingPlayer ie SlingPlayer for Windows Mobile), then it would be an obvious buy. But it doesn’t. Therefore, you need to figure out just how much time you spend attached to WiFi, without a laptop, in need of television. If you have a SlingBox, this might be quite often.  But still, if you’re limited to just WiFi with no 3G option, then perhaps the app should be priced lower to something more like $10 or $15 until, if ever, the app is enabled by the big, bad AT&T to work over 3G.  Of course, if you don’t have a Slingbox, then why did you read this far?

If this app ever does become fully operational, then $30 is somewhat justifiable, and so would 4 out of 5 apples on our little rating here.