Media Overview

Early next month, the Foster City company will release the SlingCatcher, a $300 gadget that, among other things, will allow consumers to watch just about any video they can find on the Web on their living room TV. So a user could watch a home video on YouTube, an episode of "Fringe" from Hollywood studio-backed Hulu or even a video report from the Mercury News Web site.

Sure, we've seen a few updates to SlingPlayer here and there since then, but these were mainly maintenance updates, remote control upgrades, and firmware fixes. Don't get me wrong, these are always welcome. However, as an avid Slinger, I've been waiting to sink my teeth into the meaty new features of SlingPlayer 2.0 ever since I got a sneak peak at it back at CES. Suffice it to say, it's been a long, grueling wait. The wait is finally over... SlingPlayer 2.0 is here... at least in Public Beta form. Will it exceed your wildest expectations? Does it live up to the months and months of hype? Will it blend?

The beta version of the SlingPlayer 2.0 software is now available for Windows users as a free download from Sling Media's Web site. The software, which allows owners of the company's Slingbox products to access their TV programming via any broadband-connected PC, includes several notable upgrades from the previous version.

So what does SP 2.0 offer? In terms of new features, the biggies are a 60 minute video buffer and EPG. The video buffer allows you to pause or scrub through playback, without the lag associated with remotely controlling a DVR. OR a major bonus for those without a DVR. And the EPG is exactly what it sounds like - an electronic program guide of your local television lineup. SlingPlayer 2.0 also sports a modern, refreshed UI that I find visually appealing.

Today Sling Media is releasing a public beta of their Windows 2.0 software that adds several new features to the service. Among these upgrades, users can expect a built-in programing guide that enables quick channel search and channel change functionality from your PC with no IR delay. There will also be a live video buffer with DVR-like control, integrated Sling Accounts, and a fancy new look and feel. Clip+Sling is still MIA—but Sling promises that 2.0 will start an "important transition process" that will pave the way for that application and others like it. Detailed information on the new features is available after the break.

Kelly wants to watch American Idol and her husband wants his Mets.

Sling Media's Brian Jaquet talks about the upcoming Slingbox PRO-HD and Slingplayer Mobile for Blackberry.

Thanks to Buy.com and Sling Media, Dr. Phil gives away Slingbox PROs to his audience in celebration of his 1000th episode.