locationfree

Maximum PC reports that Sony plans to kill its $30 license fee for LocationFree client software. Much like the popular Slingbox, Sony's LocationFree TV platform consists of a hardware base station that you plug into your TV or other A/V device, and software that runs on your Mac, PC, or Windows Mobile device.

When you buy a base station, Sony currently throws in one client license. But if you want to stream your TV signal over the internet to multiple devices, you'll have to shell out $30 for a license.

That's about the same price Sling Media charges for SlingPlayer Mobile. But SlingPlayer for Mac or PC is free, so if Sony plans to stay in the market, it only makes sense for the company to offer up similar service for about the same price (or cheaper).

Although we have yet to meet anyone that actually uses Sony's LocationFree media extenders (as opposed to say, a Slingbox), Sony is continuing to update the product.

The LocationFree Home HD is the first in the line to include support for HDTV with resolutions up to 1080i. The LF-W1HD achieves high def video transmission over 802.11a/b/g wireless networks by using MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression technology.

You'll be able to pick up a transmitter and receiver in Japan this December for about ¥50,000 or a bit over $400 US. No word on if and when we'll be seeing this puppy stateside. Or if anyone will notice.

[via Engadget]

With all the talk about Slingbox and Hava, you may have forgotten that Sony was one of the pioneers of the place-shifting revolution (if you can call it a revolution).

Sony's LocationFree boxes, which let you stream content from your TV, PVR, DVD player or other A/V components to any internet-connected PC, Windows Mobile device, or Playstation Portable. But in recent years, Sony's LocationFree line has been operating in the shadow of the more popular Slingbox.

Sony plans to launch the latest member of the LocationFree family under the VAIO name. Not that the move alone is likely to raise much awareness about the product. But Sony also plans to pre-install LocationFree software on VAIO noetobooks. In other words, buy a PC, notice that it has place-shifting software, and maybe you'll go out and buy the hardware to enable it. Maybe.