Uhh...super boo! I have an original slingbox and was waiting for the iPhone app to come out...

This is WHACK. I bought my husband a slingbox when they first came out and we've both been waiting patiently for the iPhone app. I second the "super boo!"

@12-Inch Idongivafuck Sandwich: Same here. Sling Media is offering a $50 rebate to upgrade, but it looks like the cheaper Slingbox SOLO has less functionality, iPhone app aside, that the classic. The next model up is $250 after the rebate, at nearly twice the cost.

FYI, there is no speculation. Beta versions worked on old slingboxes. This is purely a money grab.

There are very few companies I evangelize and this is (was?) one of them. Sad to see them do this- though I don't own an iPhone I bought SlingPlayer mobile knowing that an iPhone version was coming out soon- one license for all phones it said at the time. I guess they didn't mention whether it was all hardware for all phones...

These guys are not too smart. Apparently they got bought out last year by Echostar, whose CEO apparently likes to be in 'control'.

The original founders left the company in January after the iPhone App preview at Macworld, and April Fools Day is the first we hear of the Classic - which btw has more functionality than some of the newer Slingboxes - not working on the iPhone - which it did in January.

Who in their right mind would think this is a sensible move.... Who?

SMRT

It's not just the classic. The slingbox tuner and AV won't work either. The pro (from the same generation) will.

Yes you're right Rodalpho. I guess I only mentioned the Classic because that's the model I have.

You're kidding me...Engadget...speculating about something?

@Rodalpho: Especially since you can update the firmware on the old boxes.

There's no reason to upgrade a slingbox... unless you get crazy future internet, you're barely going to stream around SD anyway. This is a bummer and SlingMedia lost a customer in myself unless they adequately address this.

I was personally waiting for this app.
I am part of the Dish Network sling guide beta, which lets me set my DVR with my iPod touch, and promised to let me watch my DVR as soon as this app was out.

But now I am stuck along with thousands of others with Sling Media trying for a money grab at the wrong time.

So any bets going on the amount of time Sling has left before they go the way of circuit city?

@zapwizard: I give 'em 6 months.

BTW, how much longer before somebody creates a hack for iPod/SlingBox that will let everybody do this, do ya think?