Rudmaniac and dblamp, I am curious as to why you don't want or need the feature. Is it that you are worried about spying or is it a problem to have to log in?
I am just curious about your reasons.

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As we have stated multiple times, once you connect and set things up once on your computer, you do not need to necessarily log in again. But the login is so automatic and painless that you don't even notice it.

Why don't people like logins and accounts? I don't know. These same people probably have a Yahoo Account, a GMail account, a SlingCommunity Account and so on. There's some fear I know that Sling is going to some how take all their viewing habits. I don't think Sling collects anything about viewing.

The accounts are somewhat critical to updating features. Once you log in, the software immediately checks for new software for both the client and the box. It knows what firmware you need in advance since your boxes are all in your account and sends that down to you. Once Clip and Sling comes into play, the accounts will play an even bigger role in this.

Finally, we don't know what the UI will look like for the SlingCatcher, but I've got a feeling that entering a user name and password via a TV based remote control is a LOT easier than trying to remember a large hexadecimal string and entering that string correctly. Wouldn't be an issue on the LAN, but what if your Slingbox is in one place and your Catcher in another. PITA to enter that big finder ID, IMHO. Again, since it's not released this is pure speculation but you've got to somehow get the Slingbox info to the Catcher.

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The account sign in seems to work ok, it's just an added step which I don't need because my slingboxes are all on set top boxes which already have guide information. It seems like a good idea for people who use the finder ids but I have a domain and don't require that feature. It would be nice if they had the option to do direct connection instead of forcing you to log in.

forcing you to log in?

you don't need to set-up an account or log in ....Whats wrong with all of you?

just skip that part when installing if you dont want it!!!!!!!!!!!

You can if you are not logged in and connect and save the slingbox on your local LAN, Not WAN. Once saved you are good to go on the WAN without logging in.

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metalunna said:

My machines at work cant connect to the Sling Accounts. I get a big window that says, "You Must Have an Internet Connection...."

Slinging with a SlingCatcher, a ProHD, a Pro, a Solo, an AV, and a Slingbox Classic. 3 Replay TV units, a Roku Photobridge and a Roku M2000 Soundbridge, an AppleTV, a Vudu, and digital cable. www.na9d.net

According to the HELP I am running 2.0.0.465.
This is after downloading the newest file and running it on a clean machine, that has never had Sling on it before.

I added the Proxy info and tested the connection and it is OK.

Is there a way I can manually add boxes to a local directory?

I ask because, on my laptop when at work:

1. I click on the Slingplayer.exe. I then get a box that says "SlingPlayer cannot connect to sling services so some features may be limited.You can still use slingplayer within your home network".

2. I click OK and the Slingplayer App Loads up. It then automatically loads up my Slingbox and begins the stream.

3. I can load up the Sling Directory and see my box listed there and Edit its properties.

I believe it works because I ran the setup while on my home network. OK Fine..I can live without the Guide.

As for my desktop at work, I get the same dialogs from step 1 and 2, but because the desktop has never been on my home network, it dosent know about my Slingbox. Makes sense right?

So it seems like the slingplayer is having difficulty reaching out to the SlingServices site to retrieve my SlingBox info. Now, when I try to manually add my box (using the slingfinder ID and such) the ADD button in the Sling Directory is Greyed out.

Does anyone know of a way to circumvent this by editing a file or registry setting to add my slinbox info to the desktop?

I agree with Rudmaniac. I don't like that I have to be logged in ... in order to get to the Slingboxes. I realize if you log into your LAN first, the devices remain detected. However, I have a similar 'work' problem.

I have two Slingboxes and there are times when I want to share my Sling connections with a few friends. I want to tell them to install the software and click 'add' and add my Slingboxes via my hostname/port # ... and give them the guest password. The problem is that they can't see my Slingboxes without me signing into the SlingPlayer on their computer.

Reason 1) I'm not always in the same vicinity as my friends. Some are in different states.

Reason 2) I don't want to give out my Sling Account information. I thought that was the point to using a 'guest' password, so that you could share your Sling'd TV without giving someone the ability to make changes to your Slingboxes.

With the 'login' feature locked down, there's no way to share TV. :-/ I don't like that. Please make that ability as optional and allow users to 'add' Slingbox connections without being logged in.

I read your post. The problem is that my friends have never logged into my account and I don't want to give out my Sling account password.

Some of their computers are in a different state, over 3,000 miles away and will never be able to bring their computers to my house and connect to my LAN.

I want to tell them to just 'add' my Slingbox with just using my hostname/port #... and it can't be done. Not anymore. Not with the new SlingPlayer.

Ohhhhhhhh.... I thought you had to own a Slingbox in order to create/have a Sling Account.

Well... I just created another account and tested on my laptop on my EVDO/Rev-A card. It worked! You're a genius! I logged into the account on the laptop and it told me there weren't any Slingboxes detected and the 'Add' button was enabled! I was able to add a Slingbox via IP/Hostname and it worked on the first try. :)

Ok, so I take it back... the login feature can stay. =p I'll just have everyone create their own accounts. :)

FYI to the SlingMedia folks ... you might want to make some kind of statement when someone installs the new player for the first time, that tells them they don't have to use the 'host' account in order to view the 'host' Slingbox(s). I honestly had no idea that was an option and I'm sure I'm not the only one who thought that.