Slingbox Rumored to be Shipping Soon

Back in August 2004, I wrote about an innovative new product called the Slingbox and filed it under the heading “Why Is This Not Here Already?” The Slingbox connects to your satellite or cable box and your WiFi network and will stream your TV shows to other devices, including your laptop while you are on the road.

I do not crow over products that are “almost” here (well, OK sometimes!), but I have a tip that this is going to ship in the next week or so, and for $249, it’s a great add-on to your network if you travel lot and want to take your TV with you. The idea that TV itself will be personal and portable is a major new trend, so even if you’re a homebody, this is something to keep an eye on if you like staying up on things.

“The Slingbox enables a consumer to watch their live TV programming from wherever they are by turning virtually any laptop or Internet-connected device into a personal TV.

“The Slingbox redirects, or “placeshifts,” the TV signal from any cable box, satellite receiver, or personal video recorder (PVR) to a viewer’s location and device of choice, whether in another room in the home or anywhere in the world with a high-speed Internet connection. An elegantly designed compact box that fits neatly into a user’s existing TV setup, the Slingbox will retail for $249 with no additional monthly service fees. The product is due to ship in the first half of 2005.”

More On the Slingbox