Captain Gadget

Slingbox

The idea of television on the move has long been an aspiration of techies, but until now has been nothing more than that. The advent of 3g technology allows limited access to television on telephone handsets, but the picture size and tinny audio make this a far from pleasant experience. However, there is a product on the market now that will bridge the digital gap. Even better it allows the user to watch their own television regardless of where in the world they may be.

The Slingbox, although strangely named, is a revolution in television. The device itself is shaped like a large chocolate bar; it connects with a video source and an internet connection to send the video signal to any computer with broadband access. Indeed since it was first released the software has been updated to provide access from certain 3g mobile phones. Having eagerly unwrapped my new bar I was so disappointed to see how difficult setting it up was. After a good half hour, I had managed to get access to the signal on my desktop but had failed to get external broadband access. There are clearly router complications that even I could not resolve.

Despite this setback, I am certain that when working properly, the Slingbox will give me full access to my own Sky digibox. The setup gives the user remote control access to the video source, so even sitting in a hotel room in the United States, one can change channel etc, with ease.

The Slingbox may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I have to say as far as I am concerned it provides the best solution yet to getting television while on the move. My only worry is that the heat of the television may melt my new bar and then I will be rightly stuck!