While Apple has not been shy about exercising its veto management of App Store applications--just ask Trent Reznor, for example--it's unclear why Sling's streaming video service is it being treated differently from, say, the YouTube app (owned by Apple-friendly Google), that is on the iPhone as the device's launch.
Apple did not reply to requests for comment about why about the Wi-Fi version of SlingPlayer was approved. But it appears the rejection also happens to be at AT&T's behest. At the outset of April, AT&T changed its terms of use for wireless customers, proclaiming that redirecting TV video or audio signals--as the SlingPlayer does--was not necessarily allowed on its network. Following public outcry, AT&T quickly reversed its decision, citing "a mistake." However , last month this agency reinstated the ban in its TOS.
Then on Friday, AT&T mobility spokesman Mark Siegel followed the Clark Howard radio show and also clearly asserted "Slinging"--the steps involved in accessing a TV signal in the Slingbox in a remote computer--was banned relating to the company's network.
Siegel compared using Sling's service for a wireless link with sending bulk e-mail and spam, activities that he said take excessive network's bandwidth. "You can't have a service called 'Slinging,' in which you redirect an invisible TV signal for your phone. And we don't allow that distinct application on our phones," he explained. "It's absolutely cool (technology), but in case we allowed these types of services, the highway would get clogged."
SlingPlayer for iPhone
(Credit:Screenshot by Erica Ogg/CNET)He confirmed again to CNET News on Tuesday that AT&T believes the SlingPlayer app would take up more bandwidth than it should. To always be fair AT&T comes with a legitimate point. Streaming video Gucci iPad Mini Case uses a lot of bandwidth. Because cellular networks are split into cells, users inside a particular cell share the accessible bandwidth for the reason that cell or region. So users streaming plenty of high-quality video along the network could take the entire available bandwidth and degrade service for other subscribers in something cell.
But a large slight disconnect with the information AT&T says and the reason doing: Other 3G smartphones that are powered by AT&T's network may use the SlingPlayer. For illustration, the SlingPlayer creates several BlackBerry devices, the BlackBerry Bold, BlackBerry Pearl 8120, BlackBerry Curve 8320, also, the BlackBerry 8820. Users can download the mobile SlingPlayer application from the Sling Media Websites onto their phones.
Siegel says that AT&T's relation to its use are clear when the SlingPlayer when he demonstrates that anyone downloading these applications onto a smartphone in the package over its 3G network is located Louis vuitton ipad case in violation on the company's relation to its use.
Bandwidth usage could be a legitimate concern when you're thinking of SlingPlayer. The application is made to provide the high quality video experience for the way much bandwidth is obtainable. But Dave Eyler, product manager for mobile at Sling Media, testified that the newest version within the SlingPlayer listed in Apple to your App Store capped the part rate to be sure of it was actually below Apple's and AT&T's threshold. He said in which the application actually works with a little less bandwidth than TV.com's application.
"Our latest application, which had been submitted for App Store, is it is in the bit rate that Apple has set for these kind of applications," he was quoted saying. "And you're below most of the apps where there are also been approved with the App Store."
So why won't Apple encourage the SlingPlayer for the iPhone for use over AT&T's network whether or not it doesn't eat up any bandwidth than other video applications which use long been approved by Apple?
That's a really good question. Eyler said the reason presented to his team was that AT&T doesn't allow video services that redirect TV signals onto their network. But interestingly, OrbLive, that is certainly offered over the App Store, also redirects TV signals onto the iPhone. The job is designed to allow people to stream media in a PC for your iPhone wirelessly. Additionally the company's website online explicitly states that reside TV could be streamed over 3G, Wi-Fi, or even slower 2.5G EDGE network, company is a TV tuner card in the PC. This essentially "turns your iPhone oriPod touch into an on-demand media center," the location says.
OrbLive's application sounds very much like just what the SlingPlayer does. Eyler admits the relationship is confusing as well as bit frustrating. But he states the company isn't getting too bent off form about things.
"We think our app is awesome," he said. "There is a lot of Wi-Fi to choose from. After all, we want it to be positioned on a 3G network, and that is ultimately our goal. But i don't need to have any additional information about the making decisions process."
Update 11:02 a.m. PDT: This still leaves the question of why. Sling was bought by EchoStar, people who just love Dish Network, in 2007. Sling sells standalone Slingboxes, but Dish Network now also has integrated Slingbox capabilities inside combination satellite TV/DVR boxes. That suggests AT&T and Echostar both sell TV subscription services with DVR capabilities. But Dish's product may very well be considered by some consumers to stay superior due to the Sling capability. Handicapping that capability located on the iPhone would cut into that perceived superiority. It's unclear if you can find a direct connection there, yet it is worth noting.
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