TV on a Treo - Treo Forums

FlaBat · 06-10-2006, 05:52 PM

I know Sprint has Sprint TV, but what other TV options are there on a Treo?

While I have not seen Sprint TV in action I understand that it is really just streaming limited TV segments and not live TV from a cable or satellite feed. One Sprint rep told me it was jumpy and did not always work so great.

I know that SlingMedia www.slingmedia.com makes the SlingBox with SlingPlayer for Windows and for Windows Mobile so anybody with an IE browser can watch their own TV at home from anywhere in the world. The problem is the SlingMedia reportedly has no plans to make SlingPlayer for Palm or the Treo’s Blazer Browser.

The question is has anybody here thought of an organized campaign (letters/e-mail) to get SlingMedia to change their mind? I e-mailed them using the Contact info from their site days ago and have yet to hear back from them. Since I worked for a distributor that sells SlingBox (and Unlocked Treos) I thought I might get a reply, but not yet.

Any thought on this?

kdallen · 06-10-2006, 10:16 PM

Have you checked out MobiTV? I had it on my 650 for awhile. It was pretty nice as long as I was in an area with a good signal...if not, a lot of buffering, especially on certain channels. I'd imagine it would be pretty good with EvDO.

FlaBat · 06-11-2006, 06:37 PM

The advantage to SlingMedia is there is no monthly subscription and you could get your local news channels anywhere in the world because your controlling your own TV.

I’ll look into MobiTV though. Do you know how it compares to Sprint TV?

kdallen · 06-11-2006, 06:53 PM

SlingMedia sounds sorta interesting. I may need to look into it. Here's a discussion from TC about MobiTV vs. SprintTV.

FlaBat · 06-11-2006, 10:06 PM

Thanks for the link, they both sort of look the same. Mobi seemed to have more than the Sprint Ultimate package.

Still paying for Unlimited Data Service and then adding a TV package would cost more in the long run than SlingMedia.

FlaBat · 06-14-2006, 09:16 PM

Sprint TV is powered by MobiTV and are almost the same package. I think MobiTV may have a few channels that are not on Sprint TV. I have not done a detailed comparison to be sure.

What I do know is that Sprint TV is not bad, however even though I’m currently at the “Ultimate” level there are a lot of channels that ask for more money when I access them. This to me is wrong, I should be able to get everything and I can’t. I called Sprint Tech Support and was told they were aware of the problem and that it was on newer phones/accounts or something.

The “live” channels are OK. There is some pixelation as it buffers but the screen is watchable and for the most part clear. Maybe it’s me, but it seems the commercials come in clearer sometimes. I’ve only had my 700p for a day so I’m still in the playing stage. I may not keep the Ultimate package and lower it to the minimum one with only a couple channels after my 30-Day “Free” evaluation period is up.

jmjii · 06-20-2006, 06:14 AM

I "feel your pain." There is another thread here on ET about this issue. Check it out! Pretty interesting and just read it. Why pay "the man" (Sprint) for the Ultimate Package when it is cheaper to use MobiTV? That is the bottom line. All channels are available with no extra fees to "the man." MobiTV's $10/mo. sounds much less expensive than the Ultimate Package plus paying for the additional channels. Would add a link if I only knew how. I am very limited in my forum knowledge as this is the only one I subscribe to other than MSDN and their Knowledge Database which I rarely access. Just don't have the time.

Respectfully

FlaBat · 06-20-2006, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjii

Why pay "the man" (Sprint) for the Ultimate Package when it is cheaper to use MobiTV? That is the bottom line. All channels are available with no extra fees to "the man." MobiTV's $10/mo. sounds much less expensive than the Ultimate Package plus paying for the additional channels.

Sprint Agents don't like that question, they squirm when you ask. They don't have a good answer and they are "not allowed" to give the right answer.

If I decide to keep the TV part, I'm getting MobiTV.

jmjii · 06-20-2006, 09:10 PM

As stated previously, when the 700p arives to replace the 650 (which is on life support at this point), Sprint said they will have to "tweek my plan" and this was one they definately are trying to push on me. Thanks for the heads up. I'm not just spread thinly but too cheap and definately "don't get along with the man."