( CNN ) -- The way we watch TV is changing . People want to decide when , where and on what screen they watch their favorite shows . One of the simplest tools for viewing your shows from any device is the Slingbox , which is releasing two new models of its popular TV-streaming tool . The Slingbox is a device that streams content from cable and satellite providers to mobile devices and computer , allowing you to watch whatever is playing on your TV or recorded on your DVR far from your home . Instead of having to plant yourself in front of the living room television to watch a new episode of `` Breaking Bad , '' you can watch a live or DVR stream of it from another room , state or country using a smartphone , tablet or computer . The two new Slingbox models add in some key features that were absent from the previous model , the Slingbox Pro HD . The smaller $ 180 Slingbox 350 can stream videos up to 1080p and has simplified the set-up process . The $ 300 Slingbox 500 also streams1080p HD content and has a variety of connection options , including HDMI , component and composite for linking to your other devices and television set . The 500 adds a rough first go of a promising new feature called SlingProjector which makes it possible to stream content , such as photos , from your mobile devices or computers back to the TV . The old trapezoid design has been overhauled . The Slingbox 350 is a small and light box covered in pattern of small diamond shapes . The larger Slingbox 500 has a slick undulating rectangle body , that while pretty to look at , makes it difficult to stack other boxes on top of it . For the many people playing device Jenga in their entertainment centers , that means the 500 will always have to be perched on top of the Xbox , DVR , DVD player or Wii . The company is also updating the companion software , SlingPlayer , and temporarily dropping its price from $ 30 to $ 15 for iOS , Android and Windows Phone apps . The Slingbox 350 and 500 go on sale this Sunday . The announcement is n't a complete surprise . The devices were spotted earlier this month on the shelves of a Best Buy by Dave Zatz . And it 's been four years since the last Slingbox hardware release ; that 's eons in gadget years . In that time , Slingbox was bought by satellite company EchoStar . Slingbox is a makeshift solution to cable 's slow move onto the Internet and mobile devices . There are a host of business reasons these companies do n't stream all their content on demand to any device with an Internet connection . For example , content is still expensive to produce and advertisers pay less for online placement than they do for television airtime . It 's estimated that by the end of 2012 , 3.58 million people in the United States will have opted out of cable for alternative services such as Netflix , Hulu and Amazon Prime according to the Convergence Consulting Group . These consumers , called cord cutters , will only account for 3.6 % of subscribers . Not enough to leave behind a profitable-but-aging business model just yet . Cord cutters cobble together an alternative to cable using a combination of services and sometimes illegal streaming sites . It can be hard work that requires time and a larger amount of technical know-how than many cable subscribers are likely to have . Many shows are available for streaming , but the market is heavily fragmented . Some shows are available for free online but delayed , others through subscription services . You can buy episodes through stores like iTunes or download official apps for the channels you like . Some of the solutions only work if you have cable , like the HBO Go app that requires you also have a cable subscription . The Slingbox is a pat solution for people willing to pay for cable or satellite subscriptions , who want to watch shows on other devices ( a trend called `` place shifting '' ) . It does have its limitations . Only one person can control the TV at a time , so if you 're trying to stream `` True Blood '' from a hotel in New York while your husband and kids are watching `` SpongeBob '' at home in California , their channel will change . However , it is still one of the better options in a market of imperfect solutions . Until cable companies and content creators embrace Ã la carte television , tools like Slingbox are a necessary stopgap for a lot of people .
Slingbox lets you watch what 's playing on your TV from a mobile device or tablet . The two new Slingbox devices are the first from the company in five years . Both offer video streaming and the Slingbox 500 adds USB and WiFi .