An ingenious electronic gadget that allows the owner to transfer the entire entertainment content available at home all the television channels, as well as movies on CD or DVD to a desktop or laptop computer screen anywhere in the world has become one of the biggest sellers in the U.S. during the Christmas season. The product, listed by Time in a recent cover story as one of 2005's "Most amazing inventions," is actually the work of a small team of Indian engineers based in the Bangalore-based development unit of the U.S. Silicon Valley-based start-up, Sling Media.
The device, "Slingbox," is shaped like a large ingot of gold and when connected to the home TV, VCR/DVD player and Internet connection, it `place shifts' anything viewable on these devices including the 100s of cable TV channels to a Net-connected laptop or desktop PC on another continent if required.
In fact the software supplied with the $ 250 (Rs. 10,000) item, pops up a `virtual' version of the TV or VCR remote on the laptop screen and gives users the feel of using the same controls available at home.
The "Slingbox" was available since July this year, but it is the pre-Christmas shopping spree in the U.S. that has seen it capture the public imagination and become one of the most popular stocking fillers this week. One key reason is that unlike other such services, this does not require a subscription the capital cost is the total cost. Typically an owner who has installed the "Slingbox" at home can remotely access all the channels on domestic TV from a hotel room in another city or country.
More: http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/25/stories/2005122501571100.htm
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