The Tomo Report has leaked photos of the forthcoming SlingCatcher’s packaging. They have pictures of the front and back of the box, and a (very, very blurry – someone needs a ‘macro mode’ on their camera) close-up of the system requirements and specifications. Check out their post for all the photos, and click on them for larger versions.
As best I can make out from the blurry close-up:
SLINGCATCHER™ SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
- A TV that supports any of: 480i (NTSC), 576i (PAL/SECAM), 480p*, 576p*, 720p*, or 1080i* (Note: SlingCatcher supports streaming from any Slingbox regardless of input video format)
- A broadband Internet connection (DSL/Cable modem)
- Home network router – wired or wireless*
SLINGSYNC™ SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS:
- SlingSync enables you to transfer video and audio files from your PC to SlingCatcher, for playback on your TV
- SlingCatcher requires optional USB 2.0 hard disk drive or USB 2.0 flash memory stick accessory with at least 1GB free space to support SlingSync
- Supported Media Formats
- Video: WMV, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, Xvid
- Audio: MP2, MP3, WMA, AAC, AC3, PCM
- File formats: .avi, .ts, .ps, .asf, .mpg, .mov, .vob, .wma, .mp4, .mp3, .mp4a, .pcm
The file formats were especially blurry, so I’m not positive I got them right – feel free to correct me in the comments, please. The remote certainly looks interesting – keeping with Sling’s triangle theme. I do wonder how it feels in the hand though. (Packaging leak picked up from EngadgetHD.)
How about what is in the box you ask? Well, SlingCommunity is reporting on yet another leak from the FCC. Some of the documents on the previously reported filing have just been updated. Geeks may enjoy the internal photos and block diagram, while the external photos have that mugshot-under-a-fluorescent-light look. The real interest is the SlingCatcher User Guide.
It looks like the SlingCatcher will come with the remote (and batteries), composite video & analog audio cables, an Ethernet cable, and a power adapter. So we’ll have to supply our own HDMI cables, no surprise. But what is a surprise is on page 2:
Note: For ease-of-use, performance and convenience, Sling Media recommends that you use wired Ethernet or SlingLink™ TURBO to connect SlingCatcher to your home network. Alternatively, you can use SlingLink WIRELESS. It plugs into a USB port on the back of the SlingCatcher and allows you to connect SlingCatcher to your wireless router.
SlingLink TURBO and SlingLink WIRELESS are sold separately.
Visit http://www.slingmedia.com/slinglink for more information.
SlingLink WIRELESS? I believe this is the first we’ve heard of this – though I’m not surprised. I speculated that the USB port on the Slingbox SOLO was meant for a WiFi adapter when it shipped. But, as far as I know, this is the first real confirmation we have that Sling will be shipping a branded WiFi adapter. I think that will make a lot of people happy. And I’m sure some will grumble about a branded adapter and/or that it isn’t built-in. Such is life.
The good news is that, while Sling plans to sell their own USB 2.0 storage devices (drives and flash), you can supply your own as well:
If you want to sync media content from your PC using the SlingCatcher Desktop software, you can connect a USB 2.0 storage device to the back of SlingCatcher. If you purchased a USB 2.0 hard disk drive or USB 2.0 flash drive accessory from Sling Media, or have your own, install it by connecting it to a USB port on the back of SlingCatcher.
SlingCatcher is compatible with most USB 2.0 storage devices. Your device must have at least 1 GB available free space. Devices using USB 1.1 or USB On-the-Go (OTG) are not supported. Your device must also be formatted with the FAT32 file system for use with SlingCatcher. If your device is not formatted correctly, SlingCatcher can format it for you.
So this seems to be getting real, I hope it ships in time for the holiday shopping rush.
The Slingbox SOLO FCC filing has also been updated with the block diagram, internal photos, etc.
