So, no Slingbox for Linux, but how about a VM for the WINE install?
The Slingbox is a device that takes a TV signal and placeshifts it over the internet to a computer running the Slingbox Player.
For some reason Slingmedia has no Linux version and, bafflingly, is silent on the prospect of one. (Though I did see it acknowledged on SlingMedia’s Where Should SlingPlayer Go Next The Top 10 Unsupported Platforms)
The following is an extended version of posting I made to their forums.
Anyone fancy bundling up Andrew Butkus’ Singbox on WINE solution as operating system vmware (or maybe xen) image?
This will reduce the steps needed for someone to install to just one, and get the WINE (Windows software emulation on Linux) setup usable and quickly testable.
It’d then need listing under http://vmware.com/appliances/
Quoting: http://www.news.com/Virtualization-homes-in-on-desktops/2100-7339_3-6208181.html
VMware Workstation is geared for power users such as administrators who want to test software patches before distributing them across a company, said Jerry Chen, senior director of enterprise desktop software at VMware. Chen himself uses it to run three separate virtual machines: one for work, one for home and one for his Slingbox video player.
That said, http://www.slingcommunity.com/forum/thread/10288/Verizon-Wireless-Cellphone-Access/#3333 has an unverified claim that slingplayer and VMware can’t co-exist.
And http://www.game-over.com/reviews.php?id=571&page=features says:
We also tried installing SlingPlayer on a remotely accessible virtual machine with VMware but the virtual machine lacked the requisite graphics card to even get to the screen where you can change network settings.
Jerry Chen from VMware does not say whether he is running it under Linux or Windows. If Andrew Butkus’ solution bundled up as a xen or vmware image works it would provide access to those many of us who have dropped Windows in favour of Linux.
If I can’t get my Slingbox to work on Linux I’ll investigate using MythTV to work remotely. The whole point of paying Slingmedia is to gain easy access to remote TV content. Having to jump through hoops like this defies the allure of the product’s promise of an appliance for placeshifting TV.
