At 01 May 2008 16:02:07 -0600 Roger 2008 wrote:

> But the issue is version 1.5 works with networks slightly below 100k so
why
> can't version 1.6 keep working with networks slightly below 100k?
>
> I wouldn't care if I had to slow down the video updates below 1 FPS to
> maintain the audio portion.
>
> All they need to do is allow a Video FPS selection of .5. where ".5" would
> mean 1 Frame every 2 seconds. How hard could that be?

Probably easy, but if I might play Devil's Advocate, I see two issues- first,
while you (or I) might find that acceptable, many wouldn't, and would
consider it "broken." Secondly, Sling might fear people would get the idea
that that was what the product typically looked/worked like if others saw
you using it in that way.

Remeber those ancient Zenith mechanical TV remotes that worked when the
buttons whacked metal rods (essentially tuning forks) that produced
ultrasonic tones? I once read an article written by the guy who invented
it. He explained that his team, told to produce a remote control for
Zenith TVs, created a variety of prototypes to show the head honchos,
including a primitive infrared remote (basically an infrared "flashlight"
you aimed at the four different corners of the set to perform the four
different functions- channel up/down and volume up/down.) Management
rejected all of the designs except the mechanical clicker because it was
the only one that didn't use batteries- they feared that consumers would
think their new expensive Zenith TV was broken the first time the remote
batteries died.

Similarly, I think Sling is probably "protecting" users from thinking the
product is crap, by blocking scenarios with subpar performance. While I
personally don't agree with that thinking, I do understand it.