SlingPlayer app delivers early Christmas joy to Windows 8.1 users

Santa Claus may not be due to slide down the chimney for another 12 days, but the elves at Slingbox are bringing a little holiday cheer to PC and tablet users on the Windows platform.

Sling Media has announced the release of SlingPlayer for Windows 8, a native media player app first announced last month and now available for PC users running Microsoft's operating system.

Available globally from the Windows 8 Store, the SlingPlayer app offers a unified experience across all Windows 8 devices, including laptop or desktop computers, convertibles and tablets.

Although Intel-powered Windows 8.1 devices could previously access Sling's web-based player, the Windows 8 app delivers support for ARM-based Windows RT devices like Surface 2 and the Nokia Lumia 2520.

Sling it, touch it

SlingPlayer for Windows 8 works equally well with a mouse or fingers, thanks to the touch-enabled user interface that offers universal support for all gadgets.

The app also includes an intuitive gallery view in keeping with the look and feel of other Windows 8 apps for easy discovery and navigation of live or recorded programs.

Should you need another incentive to upgrade to Windows 8.1, the SlingPlayer native app is as good as any, since it requires the latest version.

SlingPlayer for Windows 8 offers a free 24-hour test drive and is priced comparable to other versions at $14.99 (about £9.20, AU$16.72); a separate version is also available for Windows Phone 8 devices.

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SlingPlayer flings itself to Roku, Windows 8.1 app coming next month

SlingPlayer users worried that the company's acquisition by Dish parent EchoStar might be stunting its growth will be happy to hear that the latest app updates actually expand its horizons.

Sling Media announced availability of SlingPlayer 3.0 for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, along with the release of a dedicated Roku channel for streaming live or recorded television to even more places.

SlingPlayer 3.0 introduces a bevy of new ways to discover and view TV content from anywhere, with a redesigned user interface, split-screen navigation and richer social media engagement.

If just watching remote content wasn't enough, the SlingPlayer mobile app can now be used as a second screen companion by casting Slingbox content to a television, while the iPad can be used as both first and second screens at the same time.

New channels

Slingbox customers will also now have a couple of additional ways to view their content, with a free SlingPlayer channel for Roku 2 and higher, and an all-new app for Windows 8.1 on the way.

The Roku channel is also compatible with the Roku Streaming Stick, and Sling Media plans to add support for Roku HD and Roku LT models later in November.

Slingbox content can be sent from your TV to another using the Roku player, while the SlingPlayer mobile app can be used as a full remote control for changing channels or accessing the guide or DVR.

The dedicated SlingPlayer for Windows 8.1 app will debut in December with full compatibility for tablets including Surface 2 as well as desktop or laptop PCs and convertible devices.

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