Long time Slingbox owners who can think back to the early days of SlingPlayer probably remember a stark white application with a play button, a basic remote, and a picture. SlingPlayer has come a long ways since its “beta looking” days; the feature set has dramatically improved with each iteration, bugs have been fixed, and the level of polish makes SlingPlayer a pure joy to use. With one portable friendly application, the TV you know and love is only a mouse click away.

Back in March I focused on the device, putting together my top 10 picks of what devices SlingPlayer should go to next. Today I’m looking at the SlingPlayer application itself, and while it’s enormously feature packed compared to those early days, I feel there’s always room for improvement. The only question remains… what features should be included next, and which one's are the most important?

Like before, there’s no definitive answer. Everyone has different needs and desires, and no doubt several of you will disagree with features I’ve so longed desired, or the order in which I’ve ranked them. That’s okay! Got a differing opinion? Tell me what you think is most important.

So if I was crowned king, and got to choose the next 10 improvements integrated into the SlingPlayer software, these are the ten I would choose in ranking order. Keep in mind, I’m focused solely on SlingPlayer for computers (the PC and Mac versions are pretty much the same for the most part, or at least will be at some point or another). Perhaps the next list will be focused on SlingPlayer Mobile.

Number 1 - Remote Control Learning

Yep, I think remote control learning should absolutely be the number one feature that makes it to SlingPlayer next. Why? Because all the other features in the world don’t matter if your set top box, video player, or DVR can’t be controlled. Don’t get me wrong here; I personally think Sling Media has done a pretty good job of providing IR support for tons of devices. However, I’m more of a realist than an optimist. They could NEVER support every single device that a consumer might want to hook up to a Slingbox.

Let's also not forget service providers have the liberty to tweak remotes and functions for their boxes. So even if the box we have is supported, we may not have access to every function (i.e. the A, B, and C buttons on Motorola Comcast remotes). Giving Slingbox owners the ability to teach IR commands and create new remote profiles ensures that controlling a device is never the problem.

Number 2 - Exporting/Importing Remote Profiles

Assuming we get #1, we need to make this easier for the folks who don’t know what IR stands for, let alone how to setup a custom remote for their device. Besides, why make everyone who has an unsupported device make a new remote? SlingCommunity is ready and prepared to be a hub for custom SlingPlayer remotes, providing a place for Slingers to share self-made remotes profiles for unsupported devices with everyone else. Imagine how it works:

- New Slinger sets up Slingbox
- New Slinger doesn’t find compatible code for their device
- New Slinger goes to SlingCommunity (the place for Slingers to be *smile*)
- New Slinger finds the remote created by fellow experienced Slinger
- New Slinger downloads remote, and imports it into SlingPlayer
- New Slinger is HAPPY.

I think it’s a no-brainer. Oh, and while we’re wishing, how about letting users create new skins for these custom remote profiles? Pretty please…

Number 3 - In Network Multi-Casting

I know out of network multi-casting is a controversial subject, and probably out as a feature… at least until networks are cool with the idea (in other words, a while). However, in network multi-casting (streaming from one Slingbox to two clients in the SAME network) would be a very useful feature from time to time.

Say you’re throwing a super bowl party, and you don’t want a guest to miss a second of the game no matter where they are. With a few strategically placed laptops, a Pocket PC, and a Slingbox, you could have the game on several screens at once. Having to use the restroom is no excuse for missing a moment of the action.

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