Skip to main content

Sling Media loosens up on details for the new Slingbox 500 & 350

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Less than 10 days after someone spotted Sling Media’s unannounced Slingboxes  on a shelf at a BestBuy store come official details from Sling, which opted to remain tight-lipped about the new products until now. Let’s take a look at what’s new for the Slingbox 500 and 350.

First, it’s nice to see that we have images of the actual products, instead of shots of boxes on a shelf. Both look great, and the 500’s sleek, angular aesthetic is particularly cool. The real update here, though, is that the 500 will offer SlingProjector capability, allowing you to stream content from your mobile device to your television. Originally, Slingbox offered only what it called placeshifting technology, which allowed users to stream live and recorded television to their mobile PC’s, smartphones and tablets. This is a modest update, but one that brings the new boxes in-line with the times. As mentioned last week, the 500 also offers built-in WiFi. 

Furthermore, we now know that both models will be able to stream in full 1080p HD, which was expected, but, until now, unconfirmed. Slingbox is also rolling out new SlingPlayer software, which will retail for $15 initially, a price point the company says reflects a 50 percent discount as a special launch offer.

Overall the two new boxes seem more like updates to an existing formula –nothing too new here. But if you’re already a Slingbox fan, this impromptu release is a welcome one.

Both the Slingbox 500 and the Slingbox 350 will be available on October 14th. The 500 will retail for $300 and the 350 will retail for $180.

Adam Poltrack
Adam is an A/V News Writer for Digital Trends, and is responsible for bringing you the latest advances in A/V…
How many devices can you watch Sling TV on at once?
Sling TV on an iPhone.

One of the coolest things about live-streaming video is that you’re almost never limited to just a single feed on a single device. But if you’re trying to figure out how many devices you can watch Sling TV on at once, the answer is “it depends.”

Sling TV is unlike its competitors in that it has a couple of base plans from which to choose—Sling Orange and Sling Blue. They have fewer channels (separately and combined) than you’d find on other options, but they also cost less. You then couple them with add-ons (called “Extras” in Sling world) to fill out your plan. And the number of devices on which you can simultaneously watch Sling TV depends on how you put your scheme together.

Read more
We tested them all — these are the best Sonos soundbars in 2024
Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar.

If you're shopping for a soundbar, you've probably stumbled upon Sonos. The company is responsible for many of the best soundbars of 2024, thanks to a combination of rich audio, time-tested reliability, and (fairly) reasonable prices. Sonos soundbars are great for home theaters, but they're just as capable of serving as a dedicated sound system for your favorite music, making them a hot commodity among all types of shoppers.

But which Sonos soundbar is the best? Many specs are shared across all devices in its lineup, which can make it difficult to figure out which is best for your needs. Should you opt for the expensive Sonos Arc? Or would you be better served by the affordable Sonos Ray? And what about the mid-range Beam – is it good enough to serve as the anchor of your home theater?

Read more
What is Sling Freestream?
Sling TV Freestream logo.

If you were to ask about the biggest trend in streaming video of late, chances are it’d be something called FAST. That’s short for free, ad-supported television. It’s everywhere. And if you’re looking to watch something without having to pay yet another monthly fee, it’s got you covered.

Sling TV has its own FAST service, called Sling Freestream. As the name implies, it’s free. In fact, you don’t even have to have a Sling TV account to watch.

Read more