Slingplayer for iPhone rejected by Apple/AT&T?
Uggghhhh!!!
Boy Genius tipsters say that the Slingplayer for iPhone was rejected by Apple/AT&T today. This whole Slingplayer saga has been a huge bust for us, and if true, the rejection would be a fitting end to this circus.
First of all, it has been almost a year since the App Store opened. Sling is just getting around to submitting an iPhone App now. We had a Windows Mobile version working almost two years ago (and it still works today!). It even works over EVDO on Sprint's network. Another streaming video app, Joost was able to make an iPhone app in a matter of months. What took Sling so long? CBS and MLB also had no problems making applications that stream video over WiFi.
Next, Sling decided it wanted to get some extra upgrade revenue out of iPhone owners so they said it would need some extra horsepower to make smaller resolution, iPhone encoded videos (Never mind that Windows Mobile devices have worked for years). If you didn't have the latest hardware, you'd need to upgrade. We'll say it again, they needed more power to make smaller resolution videos. They were selling upgrades to iPhone owners saying they wouldn't be able to use their iPhones to watch Sling broadcasts. How many iPhone owners paid money to upgrade and now aren't going to get an app?
Next, if the rumor is true, Apple would have no reason to reject such an app. This is clearly the work of AT&T (are you as sick of them as we are?). How much AT&T horse54!t do iPhone owners have to take? The question that immediately comes up is: why can't Sling make the app WiFi only? Are they worried about Jailbreakers allowing Sling to work over AT&T's network?
And finally, and this really makes us ill, AT&T is rumored to have a video service of its own coming to the iPhone soon. This could easily be their way of cutting out any competition.
Sling, if you are listening, how about we make a truce? Put your app in that Cydia Jailbroken apps repository, and let all your Slingboxes work with the iPhone app. Then charge us a nominal fee of 10 or 20 bucks to use the application. We'll be square. That's more money than you charge your Symbian and Windows mobile customers and you'll sell a lot more boxes.
Cool?
Update: from publicknowledge.org from last week,
Quietly, last night, AT&T revised its wireless plans. In the latest changes to the service terms, it looks like AT&T is trying to exempt its own video services but prohibiting services like the Slingbox or other video web sites. See, this change (changes emphasized):
This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services, customer initiated redirection of television or other video or audio signals via any technology from a fixed location to a mobile device, web broadcasting, and/or for the operation of servers, telemetry devices and/or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition devices is prohibited.
Sling never had a chance to work over AT&T. So why the rejection?
Update 2 :BGR says Sling says that they “have had no word from Apple.” Yay!
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Comments (29)
I really do hate all the restrictions ATT puts on the iPhone. I see no reason why Apple would not like to have this app on their phone. I also don't see why Apple would like to renew their ATT exclusivity contract, except for the subsidized price, which at this point they could get from any (or all) service providers. It would also be better for Apple to drop the contract because other service providers would allow apps like this (and maybe Skype...but doubtful) which is more $$ from the App store. This is just my opinion, does anyone see why apple would want to extend their contract with ATT?
Does that mean that ATT doesn't want the MLB app either? They are redirecting video from a fixed location (IE their server) to a mobile device!
I'm not fond of legal actions but in this case I think that they need to file an action against Apple. It might not go anywhere but someone needs to find out why apps are being rejected.
One thing I've learned - if your code bundle doesn't build, there is no way Apple will approve it for the store.
Given the Sling fiasco, I'd say the chance is far higher than zero.
Why does the Slingplayer seems like a new thing or an unsuspected news to Apple or ATT? They knew that this app was coming and a lot of iPhone owners wants to watch their tv on their phone just like the other WM and blackberry cell phones that are already capable of doing so. This really pisses me off that Apple and ATT would go this route. Did Apple forget that Slingmedia was demonstrating the Slingplayer at MacWorld. They saw it. It's not something they're seeing for the first time. It has to be ATT with it lame a** restriction with its slow 3G network.
Common carrier or traffic cop? ATT can't be both.
Maybe they'll pass the FrenchFriedPotaters app. H-hmm H-hmm
Keep in mind the new TOS prevents iPhone apps such as SimplifyMedia from being used as well.
Technically, it prevents a person from VPNing into their own network and playing A/V files, for example from the HP Media Smart server.
The statement is so vague as to be unenforceable I would think. If even a single exception is made there would be grounds for a lawsuit.
It's also a fundamental change to the TOS, allowing customers to get out of their AT&T contract, jailbreak, and switch carriers to a less oppressive one.
Could the reason for rejection be that Sling has royally ticked off a huge population of their loyal customers? Perhaps even Apple is offended at such unbridled greed?
I am in the process of getting a SlingBox and had been watching the iPhone developments closely and now this!
I posted saying it was a good thing for T-Mobile banning Skype on iPhone in Germany and got wholly shouted down, which has now caused me to change my views on the whole big business idea.
This is just a shocking move by Apple/AT&T to not allow slingbox users to view on iPhone.
When will they wake up and start giving the customers what they want?
Meh - Whatever. Who knows what is really going on? It's all just speculation. I'm not surprised Sling wanted to charge more money. Their Mac player SW has been about half a version (or so) behind the Winblows version for ages. I mean, it works, it's still good, but lacks a load of Winblows only features. They're still happy to charge Mac users the same price for a box, but provide them with lesser performance on the SW side. That's the kind of company you're dealing with here. I don't need to pay extra to see my SB feed of an important football match (soccer game) in low resolution. I just watch it from an airport lounge in Tokyo and it has to be around the same size as the iPhone's screen to be vaguely usable anyway....
Clearly AT&T Are still managing the data flow to suit their own ends and as such these sort of squabbles will continue until Apple pulls their thumb out and opens the iPhone up to any network. Competition is what is needed. At the very least, just limit it to WiFi and the problem is eradicated. Here in the UK, I'm not sure if O2 would restrict 3G use in a similar fashion, but it wouldn't surprise me.
I love it, another let's blame AT&T thread.... Don't like it? Jailbreak your device, go to another carrier and shut up!
Jailbreak you phone wont get you slingplayer to you phone.
And yes I'm not from the US, and my iPhone is legaly unlocked, so I realy hate that Apple is lissining to AT&T to restict stuff that is allowed to do contris where AT&T is not operating.
It's entirely conjecture that AT&T rejected this. It could easily be someone at Apple.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
You're a winner...
You're a winner...
This leads us to believe that the previous Rumor of AT&T developing a U-Verse application for the iPhone. And of course AT&T wouldn't competition from people like DirecTV via a SlingBox.
But I would turn down the slingplayer for the fact they are making people buy new set top boxes.
That's just me though...
Yes, another "We are the Center of the Universe" posting about ATT and Apple. Note to Seth, apple and ATT: There is an entire world out there! An entire world NOT called the USA. If ATT doesn't want sling - who cares. Give it to the rest of us.
And to Seth, et al who continue to write in this fashion: you could at least put in a line about the rest of the planet being excluded as well. How many of your readers are not located in the motherland huh? Why not alienate us all by ignoring us?
Yikes.
I actually live in Paris.
I'm so sorry for you
Doesn't AT&T have other phones on their network that use the SlingPlayer Mobile app? Palm? Blackberry?
It's the same 3G network. It appears that the problem isn't the ATT network, it's the use of the iPhone (exclusively) on the ATT network.
well i am paying for umlimited data and i better get unlimited data, hurray for mewseek and voipto3g apps.
Blah blah blah, it's all AT&T's fault. Couldn't be anything to do with Apple... Oh never, God forbid...
If the iPhone had been on Verizon,T Mobile, or Nexte, then i know that this wouldn't have happened, even though it would be competition their own mobile TV. I also believe that if apple were to make it so that the iphone could be used on any network, that apple would see way more sales. Heck, I'd like an iphone to work on the Verizon network so my parents can pay the phone bill. Another thing, I bet it takes just about as much bandwidth to transmit TV to your iphone as it would to run the MLB application, or the youtube application right?
Apple needs to break away from AT&T so that they can make more money....
FCUK ATT
"UPDATE: Sling says that they “have had no word from Apple.” Yay!"
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/04/15/slingplayer-for-iphone-rejecte...
So? Apple still made the decision, not AT&T.
If this technology wasn't already be used by other smart phones on at&t's network, I would not be as disappointed.
The Slingplayer mobile app is currently being enjoyed by windows, Blackberry and symbian all on at&t's network.
What is the iPhone to at&t, the one eyed peg leg retarded stepchild of mobile phones?