Enter a player name to begin or load your saved progress.
The primary function of the Slingbox was to encode local video for transmission over the Internet to a remote device, a process known as placeshifting.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Slingbox was designed to encode local video for Internet transmission to a remote device, a function referred to as placeshifting, enabling remote access to home TV systems.
Slingbox was founded by Blake Krikorian, Jason Krikorian, and Steve Chen.
Answer: False
Explanation: The co-founders of Slingbox were Blake Krikorian, Jason Krikorian, and Bhupen Shah, not Steve Chen.
All Slingbox devices were discontinued in 2022, and their supporting servers were scheduled to close in 2024.
Answer: False
Explanation: All Slingbox devices were discontinued on November 9, 2020, and their supporting servers were scheduled to close on November 9, 2022.
Sling Media was the parent company of Slingbox.
Answer: True
Explanation: Sling Media is explicitly identified as the parent company of Slingbox.
Slingbox primarily operated within the digital photography industry.
Answer: False
Explanation: Slingbox's operations were centered within the streaming media industry, not digital photography.
The Slingbox was first developed in 2002 by two Californian brothers, Blake and Jason Krikorian.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Slingbox was indeed first developed in 2002 by Blake and Jason Krikorian, two brothers from California.
The Krikorian brothers were motivated to develop Slingbox because they wanted to watch their favorite Major League Baseball team's games while traveling.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Krikorian brothers' motivation stemmed from their desire to watch San Francisco Giants games while traveling, as these were not available through local broadcasts or free online streams.
The first edition of the Slingbox became available in the market in early 2000.
Answer: False
Explanation: The first edition of the Slingbox was introduced to the market in late 2005, not early 2000.
The open-source Slinger project is giving Slingbox hardware a second life after its discontinuation.
Answer: True
Explanation: The open-source Slinger project, written in Python, is actively working to extend the usability of Slingbox hardware following its official discontinuation.
What was the primary function of the Slingbox device?
Answer: To encode local video for transmission over the Internet to a remote device.
Explanation: The Slingbox was designed to encode local video for Internet transmission to a remote device, a function referred to as placeshifting, enabling remote access to home TV systems.
Who were the co-founders of Slingbox?
Answer: Blake Krikorian, Jason Krikorian, and Bhupen Shah
Explanation: The co-founders of Slingbox were Blake Krikorian, Jason Krikorian, and Bhupen Shah.
When were all Slingbox devices discontinued?
Answer: November 9, 2020
Explanation: All Slingbox devices were officially discontinued on November 9, 2020.
Which company was the parent of Slingbox?
Answer: Sling Media
Explanation: Sling Media is identified as the parent company of Slingbox.
In what industry did Slingbox primarily operate?
Answer: Streaming media
Explanation: Slingbox operated within the streaming media industry, which involves the delivery of multimedia content over the internet.
What year was the Slingbox first developed?
Answer: 2002
Explanation: The Slingbox was first developed in 2002 by Blake and Jason Krikorian.
What motivated the Krikorian brothers to develop the Slingbox?
Answer: They were unable to watch their favorite baseball team's games while traveling.
Explanation: The Krikorian brothers were motivated to develop the Slingbox because they were unable to watch their favorite Major League Baseball team's games while traveling.
When did the first edition of the Slingbox become available in the market?
Answer: Late 2005
Explanation: The first edition of the Slingbox was introduced to the market in late 2005.
What open-source project is giving Slingbox hardware a second life?
Answer: The Slinger project
Explanation: The open-source Slinger project is actively working to extend the usability of Slingbox hardware after its discontinuation.
Traditional Slingboxes embedded a video encoding chip designed for real-time encoding of video and audio streams.
Answer: True
Explanation: Traditional Slingbox units were indeed equipped with a specialized video encoding chip for real-time processing of video and audio streams.
Slingboxes encoded video and audio streams into the MPEG-2 format for Internet transmission.
Answer: False
Explanation: Slingboxes encoded video and audio streams into the SMPTE 421M / VC-1 format, not MPEG-2, for Internet transmission using the ASF streaming format.
Later Slingboxes supported Apple's HTTP Live Streaming, requiring the H.265 video codec.
Answer: False
Explanation: While later Slingboxes did support Apple's HTTP Live Streaming, this functionality required the H.264 video codec, not H.265.
Slingboxes up until the Fourth Generation utilized a ViXS chipset.
Answer: False
Explanation: Slingboxes up until the Fourth Generation utilized a Texas Instruments chipset, whereas current generation models were built around a ViXS chipset.
Current generation Slingboxes and OEM products were built around a ViXS chipset.
Answer: True
Explanation: Current generation Slingboxes and OEM products were indeed architected around a ViXS chipset.
Slingboxes controlled the hosting video device through a direct HDMI connection.
Answer: False
Explanation: Slingboxes controlled the hosting video device, such as a set-top box, using an IR blaster, not a direct HDMI connection.
Older Slingboxes had built-in IR blasters, while current generation models required an external dongle.
Answer: False
Explanation: The opposite is true: older Slingboxes required an IR blaster dongle, whereas current generation models featured built-in IR blasters.
All Slingboxes included an Ethernet port for wired network connectivity.
Answer: True
Explanation: Every Slingbox model was equipped with an Ethernet port to facilitate wired network connectivity.
The Slingbox 500 was the first model to feature built-in Wi-Fi connectivity.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Slingbox 500 was indeed the first model to integrate built-in Wi-Fi capabilities.
What type of chip did traditional Slingboxes embed for video encoding?
Answer: A video encoding chip
Explanation: Traditional Slingbox units were equipped with a specialized video encoding chip for real-time processing of video and audio streams.
Into what video compression standard did Slingboxes encode video and audio streams for Internet transmission?
Answer: SMPTE 421M / VC-1
Explanation: Slingboxes encoded video and audio streams into the SMPTE 421M / VC-1 format for Internet transmission.
Which video codec was required for later Slingboxes that supported Apple's HTTP Live Streaming?
Answer: H.264
Explanation: Later Slingboxes supporting Apple's HTTP Live Streaming required the H.264 video codec.
Which company's chipset was used in Slingboxes up until the Fourth Generation?
Answer: Texas Instruments
Explanation: Slingboxes up until the Fourth Generation utilized a Texas Instruments chipset.
How did Slingboxes control the hosting video device, such as a set-top box?
Answer: Using an IR blaster.
Explanation: Slingboxes controlled the hosting video device, such as a set-top box, using an IR blaster.
What was a key difference in IR blaster implementation between older and current generation Slingboxes?
Answer: Older Slingboxes required an IR blaster dongle, while current ones had built-in IR blasters.
Explanation: Older Slingboxes required an IR blaster dongle, whereas current generation models featured built-in IR blasters.
What type of network port did all Slingboxes include?
Answer: Ethernet port
Explanation: All Slingbox models were equipped with an Ethernet port for wired network connectivity.
Which Slingbox model was the first to feature built-in Wi-Fi connectivity?
Answer: Slingbox 500
Explanation: The Slingbox 500 was the first model to integrate built-in Wi-Fi capabilities.
Users could view Slingbox content on a PC or mobile device directly through a web browser without any client application.
Answer: False
Explanation: Accessing Slingbox content on a PC or mobile device required a dedicated client application, not merely a web browser.
Sling initially offered desktop applications for Windows and Macintosh, which were later replaced by the Slingbox Watch website.
Answer: True
Explanation: Sling's initial desktop applications for Windows and Macintosh were indeed deprecated and superseded by the Slingbox Watch website.
The Slingbox Watch website was based on a Flash-based browser plug-in.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Slingbox Watch website utilized an NPAPI-based browser plug-in, not specifically a Flash-based one, for its functionality.
The Slingbox Watch website allowed users to view and control their set-top box and manage connected Slingboxes, but lacked an integrated electronic program guide.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Slingbox Watch website did include an integrated electronic program guide, though its availability was restricted to the US and Canada.
Accessing the Slingbox Watch website required a registered Sling account.
Answer: True
Explanation: A registered Sling account was indeed a prerequisite for accessing the Slingbox Watch website.
The Dish Anywhere website is based on a completely different technology than the Slingbox Watch website.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Dish Anywhere website is based on the identical underlying technology as the Slingbox Watch website.
The Slingplayer for Desktop application returned in July 2014 with the launch of the Slingbox M1 and SlingTV products.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Slingplayer for Desktop application was reinstated in July 2014, coinciding with the introduction of the Slingbox M1 and SlingTV products.
What was required for users to view content from a Slingbox on a PC or mobile device?
Answer: A client application installed on the device.
Explanation: Accessing content from a Slingbox necessitated the installation of a dedicated client application on the user's personal computer or mobile device.
What replaced Sling's initial desktop applications for Windows and Macintosh?
Answer: The Slingbox Watch website.
Explanation: Sling's initial desktop applications for Windows and Macintosh were deprecated and superseded by the Slingbox Watch website.
What technology was the Slingbox Watch website based on?
Answer: An NPAPI-based browser plug-in
Explanation: The Slingbox Watch website operated via an NPAPI-based browser plug-in.
Which of the following features was offered by the Slingbox Watch website?
Answer: An integrated electronic program guide (in US and Canada).
Explanation: The Slingbox Watch website included an integrated electronic program guide, available in the US and Canada.
What was necessary to access the Slingbox Watch website?
Answer: A registered Sling account.
Explanation: Access to the Slingbox Watch website mandated a registered Sling account.
Which other website is based on the same technology used for the Slingbox Watch website?
Answer: Dish Anywhere website
Explanation: The Dish Anywhere website employs the identical underlying technology as the Slingbox Watch website.
When did the Slingplayer for Desktop application make its return?
Answer: July 2014
Explanation: The Slingplayer for Desktop application was reinstated in July 2014.
Sling utilized a Google Cloud Platform-based infrastructure to support its services.
Answer: False
Explanation: Sling's operational framework leveraged an Amazon Web Services (AWS)-based cloud infrastructure, not Google Cloud Platform.
Sling's cloud infrastructure sourced data from social networks and specialty services like Thuuz for sports to guide user recommendations.
Answer: True
Explanation: Sling's cloud infrastructure did indeed aggregate data from social networks and specialized services like Thuuz to inform user recommendations.
Sling's infrastructure provided analytical capability to report on aggregate television watching behavior.
Answer: True
Explanation: Sling's infrastructure was designed to offer analytical capabilities, specifically for reporting on aggregate television viewing behaviors.
Sling released infographics and a Nielsen-like weekly report of top shows based on its aggregate television watching data.
Answer: True
Explanation: Sling did publish infographics and a weekly report, similar to Nielsen ratings, derived from its aggregate television viewing data.
What cloud infrastructure did Sling utilize to support its services?
Answer: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Explanation: Sling's operational framework leveraged an Amazon Web Services (AWS)-based cloud infrastructure.
What types of data did Sling's cloud infrastructure source to guide user recommendations?
Answer: Data from social networks like Facebook and Twitter, and specialty services like Thuuz.
Explanation: Sling's cloud infrastructure aggregated data from social networks like Facebook and Twitter, and specialized services like Thuuz for sports, to inform user recommendations.
Beyond streaming, what analytical capability did Sling's infrastructure provide?
Answer: Reporting on aggregate television watching behavior.
Explanation: Sling's infrastructure offered analytical capabilities, specifically for reporting on aggregate television viewing behaviors.
Customers could view Slingbox content on mobile devices by purchasing a dedicated SlingPlayer app.
Answer: True
Explanation: Access to Slingbox content on mobile devices was facilitated through the purchase of a dedicated SlingPlayer application.
The SlingPlayer app supported mobile platforms such as iOS, Android, and Windows Phone.
Answer: False
Explanation: The SlingPlayer app supported iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, and Microsoft Windows 8.1 tablets, but Windows Phone is not listed as a supported platform.
Blackberry, Palm OS, and Symbian were previously supported mobile platforms for SlingPlayer.
Answer: True
Explanation: Blackberry, Palm OS, and Symbian are indeed listed as mobile platforms that were previously supported by SlingPlayer.
The initial launch price for SlingPlayer apps was $19.99.
Answer: False
Explanation: The initial launch price for SlingPlayer applications was $29.99, not $19.99.
The price of SlingPlayer apps was reduced to $14.99 in October 2012, coinciding with the launch of the Slingbox 350 and 500 models.
Answer: True
Explanation: The price of SlingPlayer applications was indeed reduced to $14.99 in October 2012, aligning with the release of the Slingbox 350 and 500 models.
Slingplayer Mobile for iPhone was first demonstrated at CES 2009 and became available in the Apple App Store in March 2009.
Answer: False
Explanation: Slingplayer Mobile for iPhone was first demonstrated at Macworld Expo 2009 in January and became available in the Apple App Store on May 12, 2009.
Initially, the Slingplayer App on iPhone was restricted to Wi-Fi connections only for streaming content at Apple's request.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Slingplayer App for iPhone was indeed initially restricted to Wi-Fi connections for streaming, a decision made at Apple's request.
AT&T never allowed the Slingplayer App to stream over its cellular network, maintaining the Wi-Fi-only restriction.
Answer: False
Explanation: AT&T eventually relented, allowing the Slingplayer App to stream over its cellular network, thereby removing the Wi-Fi-only restriction.
Sling Media needed to modify the iPhone SlingPlayer app to allow cellular streaming after AT&T relented.
Answer: False
Explanation: Sling Media did not need to modify the iPhone SlingPlayer app for cellular streaming, as it already possessed quality scaling capabilities for different connection types.
The Slingplayer Mobile app for iPad, released in November 2010, offered a higher resolution stream compared to devices with smaller screens.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Slingplayer Mobile app for iPad, launched in November 2010, was indeed noted for offering a higher resolution stream than its counterparts on smaller mobile devices.
An update to the iPad Slingplayer app in November 2013 added second screen capabilities.
Answer: True
Explanation: The iPad Slingplayer app received an update in November 2013 that introduced second screen capabilities.
How could customers view Slingbox content on their mobile devices?
Answer: By purchasing a dedicated SlingPlayer app.
Explanation: Users were able to access Slingbox content on their mobile devices through the acquisition of a dedicated SlingPlayer application.
Which of the following mobile platforms was NOT supported by the SlingPlayer app?
Answer: Windows Phone
Explanation: The SlingPlayer application supported iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, and Microsoft Windows 8.1 tablets, but Windows Phone is not listed as a supported platform.
What was the initial launch price for SlingPlayer apps?
Answer: $29.99
Explanation: Upon its initial release, the SlingPlayer application was priced at $29.99.
When was the price of SlingPlayer apps reduced to $14.99?
Answer: October 2012
Explanation: The pricing for SlingPlayer applications was adjusted to $14.99 in October 2012.
At which event was Slingplayer Mobile for iPhone first demonstrated?
Answer: Macworld Expo 2009
Explanation: Slingplayer Mobile for iPhone was initially showcased at Macworld Expo 2009 in January.
What was the initial restriction for the Slingplayer App on iPhone regarding connectivity?
Answer: It was restricted to Wi-Fi connections only.
Explanation: The Slingplayer application for iPhone was initially constrained to Wi-Fi connectivity for content streaming.
How did the connectivity restriction for the iPhone Slingplayer App change later?
Answer: AT&T later allowed streaming over its cellular network.
Explanation: AT&T eventually relented, permitting the Slingplayer application to stream content over its cellular network.
What was a key feature of the Slingplayer Mobile app for iPad released in November 2010?
Answer: It offered a higher resolution stream compared to devices with smaller screens.
Explanation: The Slingplayer Mobile application for iPad, launched in November 2010, was notable for its capacity to deliver a higher resolution stream compared to smaller-screen devices.
What new capabilities were added to the iPad Slingplayer app in November 2013?
Answer: Second screen capabilities.
Explanation: A November 2013 update to the iPad Slingplayer application introduced second screen capabilities.