Sling Media introduces new entry-level, Wi-Fi-enabled Slingbox M1

Sling Media Inc. on Tuesday announced the Slingbox M1, a new, cheaper version of its entry-level set-top box.

Like other Slingboxes, the M1 hooks up to users’ TVs and cable boxes to “sling” TV programming to users through the Internet so they can watch on their computers, tablets or smartphones.

The new $149.99 Slingbox M1 replaces the Slingbox 350, which was available for $179.99. Besides price, the biggest difference is the Slingbox M1’s ability to connect to the Internet using Wi-Fi -- the Slingbox 350 required an ethernet connection. The Slingbox M1 will go on sale online and in stores on Sunday.

Sling Media on Tuesday also rebranded its $299.99 Slingbox 500 high-end model as the SlingTV and said that it would update the device with new software in late August. The update will add an HTML5-based interface that will allow Sling Media to add more online content providers to the SlingTV, such as Netflix or YouTube, for example.

The only online services on the Slingbox 500, err... I mean, the SlingTV are Blockbuster On Demand and DishWorld. Sling Media has yet to announce which online services it plans to add after the update.

Talk set-top box to me on Twitter: @sal19