SlingPlayer Mobile for iPad is finally getting near to release. A short video walkthrough of the new app has been posted on Sling’s official YouTube account. The video emphasises that the app is all about the quality of the video, due to Apples excellent H.264 streaming capabilities. The interface looks very similar to other recent versions of Sling Player Mobile.

Now here is the bad news, Sling Player Mobile for iPad will be a separate app, no universal binary love here. If you already have the iPhone version you will have to pay again for the iPad version. It will cost another $30, the same price as the current iPhone version.

Also, Sling point out that the iPad version will only work with Slingbox PRO-HD and Slingbox SOLO equipment. Legacy versions do not have the hardware capability to stream at the iPad’s higher resolution.

No word on when this is going to hit the app store; but you can sign up now, to be kept up to date on availability information.

Are you are looking forward to this app? Do you think it is fair that you will have to pay again for the iPad version? Let us know in the comments!

[Engadget]

This may not be much of a surprise but according to a former Sling Media employee over at Zatsnotfunny.com, the company will be working on a iPad specific version of the ever popular SlingPlayer – “some day”. Unfortunately that day will not be April 3rd.

“When it makes a noticeable difference in quality, we will definitely provide higher resolution streaming. The iPad is a good example of a device where we are hard at work on this, but unfortunately it won’t be there at the April launch.”

With the absence of the likes of Hulu and Netflix streaming on our iPads we can only hope SlingPlayer gets here sooner rather than later.

[Via 9to5Mac via Zatsnotfunny]

We know SlingPlayer for iPhone was built (we saw it in action at Macworld and shot the video above). We know SlingPlayer for iPhone was submitted to the App Store (SlingMedia disclosed that). But its current status is anyone’s guess. Users got upset they’d need to upgrade to the latest SlingBox. AT&T futzed with their Terms of Service but then backpedaled. BGR reported that it might or might not have been denied at AT&T’s request. SlingMedia responded that they hadn’t heard anything yet. So what’s changed?

Nothing. TUAW checked in with the folks at SlingMedia and the official word is that there’s still no word, and with an app as complex as SlingPlayer for iPhone, there could be no word for quite a while still.

So why post on it? Two reasons. 1) We get asked about it a lot. SlingPlayer is popular with the tech enthusiasts. 2) We hope that the minute blogs start posting that there’s no word, Apple will release it just to make the blogs look silly. Hey, it happens!

Maybe we should start a little informal drop pool. Pick the day you think SlingPlayer will finally be released in the iTunes App Store and post it in the comments. Let’s see if anyone can nail it!

We don’t know. BGR originally posted that it had, but has updated with a comment from Sling PR saying they haven’t heard from Apple one way or another yet.

While SlingPlayer was submitted quite a while ago, all we have right now are questions. Bandwidth is likely a concern for AT&T. Sure, they’ve had other devices running Sling Player for years, but suddenly dropping 10 million odd iPhones streaming video into the mix is a non-trivial concern from their perspective — remember their quickly rescinded “new terms of service“.

However, we’re still keeping our fingers crossed. YouTube app runs off 3G, after all, and while Ustream was forced to be WiFi only for now, Sling Player should at least have that option over flat out rejection.

Or do we the people demand our Sling over 3G now? (Even if we have to still get a new SlingBox to enjoy it…)