Series3 TiVo in the living room for recording hi-def television programs, check. Slingbox for streaming those programs over the internet and viewing on a PC, Mac, or Windows mobile device, check. Way to stream your video to another TV? Until now, only if you've got that TV hooked up to a computer.
But Dave Zatz has uncovered a new device from Sling Media, the SlingCatcher. This will be the first box from Sling that lets you receive broadcasts, rather than record them. That means if you've got a Slingbox hooked up to your home entertainment center in the living room, you can pick up a remote control in the bedroom or your grandma's house, point it at the SlingCatcher, and tune in to programming from your home system.
In some ways, this is like having a whole-house PVR. In some ways, it's even better. Only got one cable box/satellite receiver from your television service provider? Now you can access the same channels in any room in the house that has a SlingCatcher.
There's also a plan to launch a client for your PC that will stream media from your computer to the TV, making the SlingCatcher the latest in a long line of potential Apple iTV competitors.
The new box is expect to hit shelves later this year for about $200.
