Sling Media is sprucing up its Slingbox offerings. The company, which is a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation, just announced a complete redesign to the line, debuting the Slingbox 500 and Slingbox 350.
Designed as a replacement to the standard-def Slingbox SOLO and the 720p-capable Slingbox PRO-HD, the new boxes can deliver full 1080p HD-quality streaming of live and recorded programming to any connected device, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and more.
The Slingbox 350 is the more affordable option of the two, delivering that "TV Anywhere" experience for an MSRP of $179.99. Besides the 1080p support, the 350 includes integrated IR emitters for controlling a set-top box. For $299.99, the Slingbox 500 adds in built-in WiFi and has HDMI, component and composite inputs/outputs.
If you're willing to spring the extra $120 for the Slingbox 500, the company is also planning all kinds of goodies for it in the near future. An example is the SlingProjector feature, which will allow users to stream personal media, such photos, from any connected smartphone onto a big screen.
"Slingbox is still the best way to extend the entire living room TV experience anywhere," said Raghu Tarra, Sling Media's senior VP and GM. "We've redesigned our Slingbox products from the ground up, adding features and enhancements that make them easier to set-up and use while creating the highest performing products on the market. With these new product introductions Sling Media continues to evolve and disrupt the category we created."
Pre-orders have yet to show up on Amazon, but Sling Media plans to start selling the Slingbox 500 and Slingbox 350 in the U.S. on Sunday, October 14, 2012. The company is also rolling out an upgraded version of its SlingPlayer software, which is available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone devices. That's currently on sale for $14.99.
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