Mysterious DirecTV iPhone app appears, imaginations run wild

You can already control your VUDU queue, home automation system and Netflix account with your iPhone, so really, why not your DirecTV set-top-box? As recent commercials have shown, the satcaster is pretty big on remote scheduling, and while this mysterious DirecTV iPhone app doesn't yet have a public purpose, it doesn't take much thought to conjure up a good guess. Word on the street is that this limited beta hasn't officially opened up for testers yet, but the image above shows otherwise. A staggeringly great Q4, an iPhone app on the horizon -- man, life's good at DirecTV. [Warning: Free subscription required for read link]

[Thanks, Anonymous]

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 12th 2009 12:14PM]

Maybe, but I can control by DishNetwork DVR via the web in a iPhone optimized site, and will soon get the video too. Sorry, I've got sour grapes about DirectTV, and I'm hoping EchoStar's acquisition of Sling Media gives them a sour stomach.

[loganjw Posted Feb 12th 2009 11:56AM]

How do you do that? Do you mean "control" your DVR by setting it to record shows via a browser? I'm scouring DishNetwork.com and can't seem to find how to do that.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 12th 2009 12:16PM]

@Jeremy, it's an invite beta through sling.com, called SlingGuide. It took me a couple weeks to get an invite, YMMV. I provides a browser UI, and an iPhone UI, to my Vip722 that is much nicer and more powerful than the TV UI. Still some bugs, but nice.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 12th 2009 12:19PM]

My bad... here's the link, not at sling.com: http://www.slingmedia.com/go/slingguide

Sorry for the misdirect.

[loganjw Posted Feb 12th 2009 12:24PM]

Oh man this looks awesome! Thanks for sharing! Hopefully, I'll get my invite soon.

[kcmurphy88 Posted Feb 12th 2009 11:40AM]

Seems like "Life's good with an iPhone" is closer to the mark.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 12th 2009 1:07PM]

Doesn't Tivo already do this? What's the big deal?


John G.

[gerwen Posted Feb 13th 2009 7:11AM]

It's not a big deal..... if you have a tivo.

But if you have a DirectTV DVR, it sure is.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 12th 2009 1:20PM]

I can't wait to see it!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 12th 2009 1:21PM]

Wow I can't wait to see it! When is it coming out?

[wyldtek Posted Feb 12th 2009 1:22PM]

I have a Slingbox. I have complete control of my DirecTV box from my phone.

[Zachary Posted Feb 12th 2009 4:26PM]

I'd prefer updates that don't delete all the content on my hard drive before getting any kind of iphone/ipod touch app.

[James T Posted Feb 12th 2009 7:17PM]

Pretty sure it's a remote scheduling app and about time.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 13th 2009 2:42AM]

Hello TWC are you paying attention!!!, bring iPhone application for your Customer or Else!

[shetaan819 Posted Feb 15th 2009 10:43AM]

After receiving the email for the beta, there is a link to a sign up page which cuts off and simply ends with the sentence -

"When you have access to your Dish Remote Control press Continue and "

In order to move beyond the page , do the following :

copy and paste the following URL into your browser -
http://dish.sling.com/index.php?email=[e-mail]

for example, and you'll be able to move forward with the process.

[neomoon Posted Feb 16th 2009 3:32PM]

Any info on getting in on the iPhone beta of this DTV app?

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 17th 2009 1:18AM]

I can already use DIRECTV's DVR Scheduler on my iPhone through the browser. Sure this isn't something unnecessary?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2009 12:39AM]

The DirecTV iphone App has been out forever. When it first came out there were free PPV downloads listed under aatest. They seemed to be testing different resolutions as the names were followed by 1080i etc. Its still a buggy annoying App because it seems to only know about PPV stations.