The Slingbox as it is today is certainly a cool and nifty idea, but I believe there is more than "just" serving of personal TV feeds.

I would like to see a Slingbox that is capable of acting as a server and a client. In very simple terms, providing SlingPlayer functionality in an external box that is easy-to-use yet powerful enough to grow in the future. Either trough a separate product or as a (next-gen?) Slingbox add-on feature. The latter provides the advantage of building on the existing user base of Slingbox users. The box should also provide an TV antenna in/out setup with user-selectable output channel similar to what VCRs are doing - in addition to standard A/V outputs. Plus an actual remote control. And on-screen display.

The simple personal setup would be in-home media distribution over a wired or wirless network. Perhaps limited to point-to-point operation involing two Slingboxes.

Combine such a Slingbox with a broadcast software solution on the server side and the ability of the boxes to find "SlingCast" services

(=servers) on the Internet, and one can imagine a lot of things... the personal edition of SlingBroadcast would allow slingcasting, the visual version of podcasting, but straight to the TV in your home (something that would be interesting using today's product, if finding and sharing IDs of other "non-residence" streams are not restricted).

The professional version of the software would enable medium- to large-scale broadcasting of Slingbox feeds to the masses. Especially when it offers a secure and thought-thru subscription system option. Now we are talking about bringing real Internet TV to the home. Or video on demand. The box and the server software could even go beyond just supporting the Sling-based codecs.

The idea of broadcast streams certainly isn't new, but a capable platform in a box form factor offering plug-and-play simplicity and the option of hooking it up to exisiting A/V equipment is key. While the PC-based player piece is important, limiting the system to a PC-only approach will never allow maximizing the potential of this technology - and the business opportunity for Sling Media.