Slingbox Upgrade - Did it surprise you?

If you are an owner of a Slingbox, have you been following the latest on the new beta upgrade? Sling has released a beta version of the company's new software which has encrypted the content. On the surface, it may seem OK but is it?

Natali T. Del Conte from PC magazine wrote an article entitled "Slingbox Encryption Upgrade Infuriates Customers, Developer ". I was absolutely blown away after I read it and bothered enough to stop any consideration of getting the device. Not that I really wanted one but recently a few friends that have purchased it have given me enough "food for thought" to start considering it especially for its mobile capabilities. Well after reading this article, there is NO chance I'll do it now....unless Sling Media decides to make good to Applian Technologies.

It was this quote that really caught my attention:

"First, you make them change the name and now you screw them (and everyone else) again by encrypting the stream," said one user. "Not many people would have bought into your product if you told them you were planning on encryption. But looks like that was your plan all along. How else could you have sold hundreds of thousands of these? Shame on you..."

Applian is just going to wait and see, hoping that Sling will do the right thing ... I hope they do too!

You can read Natali's article here