What's in the SlingCatcher Software update (November 2008)

There's a new version of SlingCatcher Software available.

What are you talking about? What's SlingCatcher Software? What does this new version do differently?

What's SlingCatcher Software?

SlingCatcher Software is the internal software, or "firmware," that makes the SlingCatcher itself work.

The SlingCatcher Software isn't the same as the SlingPlayer software application for your computer, or the Slingbox Software inside your Slingbox. SlingCatcher Software is installed inside your SlingCatcher. It's the special software that makes the SlingCatcher work.

It's used by the SlingCatcher to handle functions, like:

• controlling the video output from your SlingCatcher

• ensuring that you get the highest video quality

• ...and more

You'll only deal with the SlingCatcher Software on the rare occasions when it needs updating. But even then there's very little to do! SlingCatcher will notify you of the update... and then do the work for you. A message that it's time to upgrade your SlingCatcher Software is your cue. Just follow the onscreen steps when you see the message.

You can also download an update manually. Just go to Settings in SlingCatcher, and then scroll down to Software Update. Next, press OK on the remote control twice and you can choose to download any available updates. After that, just follow the onscreen instructions.

What does this update do differently?

This update fixes a number of problems and adds a few features. Here are the details:

SlingPlayer for TV

• Streaming rate should no longer drop when you’re using the SlingCatcher to remotely control your Slingbox.

• Resolves an issue where streaming rates could sometimes max out at 244 Kbps. See the related article listed below.

• Improves audio/video syncing with all Slingbox models, especially when network bandwidth is lower than optimal.

• You no longer will be unexpectedly logged out of your Sling Account.

• Customizing color buttons now behaves as expected (You can only assign one function to one color).

• My Remote and Slingbox menus (the ones that appear when you click on the OPT button on your remote control) now automatically close after 30 seconds of inactivity.

SlingCatcher

• SlingCatcher is now more compatible with more high-definition TVs that use HDMI connections.

My Media

• Forward and rewinding while you’re viewing clips is smoother. You can now do a slow fast forward and rewind. To use this feature, press PAUSE, and then press the FAST FORWARD or REWIND buttons.

• Duration information is now correctly detected for a wider variety of AVI files.

New

• The screensaver now activates while video is paused.

• If you have a large collection of music files, you no longer have to scan them all just to add a few movie clips. You can now disable scanning of audio files on USB drives. Just go to Settings > Audio > Scan Options. There, you can turn scanning of audio files on or off.