MLB At Bat
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SportsManias is custom team feeds and news, nothing else
SportsManias Sports News app, available for free on the iPad and iPhone 5 in iTunes, is an app that will polarize sports fans. It is just as useful as it is flawed. I downloaded it, and after it installed, I was greeted by an app that was easy to navigate. I was prompted to choose my favorite sports teams, which I did, then I was taken to its main interface, which consisted of four tabs (Articles, Tweets, Videos, Rumors). I found that I could navigate between news stories about my favorite teams, tweets from and concerning my favorite teams and players, highlight videos, and even rumors about possible transactions. I could find the scores for my teams, as well as upcoming games. It was nice at first. It prompted me to choose my favorite teams. I picked a MLB team (Milwaukee Brewers), an NFL team (San Francisco 49ers), an NBA team (Chicago Bulls), and an NHL team (Anaheim Ducks). The other options available are NCAA, and Soccer. After setting my favorite teams, I started looking through the news articles. What I found was that it was mostly clouded with 49ers news. I scrolled down, and found mostly repeat stories with the same headline from different sources. I had to wade past about 15 49ers stories to get to a Milwaukee Brewers story (I understand the NFL starts this week, but the Brewers are in the middle of a pennant race). I didn't see anything about the Bulls or Ducks, but it is the offseason, so there isn't much happening. I moved on to the Twitter feed, and found it was dominated by Carlos Gomez (an avid tweeter, and CF for Milwaukee). It was mostly pictures he had taken with fans...not much of interest. Overall, sifting through News, Tweets, Videos, and Rumors, I found little to whet my appetite in the way of information about my favorite teams. It was later in the evening when I was checking this out, and I wanted to check scores for other MLB games. I couldn't. There is no option to look at anything outside of the teams you pick. This app is useful, but it limits itself. I do think it's nice that the twitter feeds, the team based articles, and the video highlights, etc. are easily accessible in one place, and it's very easy to use, but I would rather stick with my familiar ESPN SportsCenter app, or even league specific apps (Such as MLB AtBat or NFL Mobile) to find up to the minute news, social media posts, scores, and roster updates. SportsManias Sports News is good for diehard fans who don't care about the world outside their team, but if you would like to stay informed about rivals, or attempt to keep up with your fantasy team, look elsewhere.
MLB at Bat for Windows Phone adds push notifications and pitch tracking
Opening day is here! ...sort of. This year's quest for a World Series ring kicks off Down Under today, with the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks squaring off at the Sydney Cricket Ground (yes, they're still playing baseball). Of course, everyone else is still playing Spring Training games until the weekend of March 31st. But Major League Baseball is making sure all of its mobile app ducks are in a row ahead of time. In particular its Windows Phone MLB at Bat app is getting a long overdue update for the 2014 season. Now you can get live pitch-by-pitch tracking for games and set up push notifications for scores and news. Those features have been available on iOS and Android for quite sometime now, so this is less a major step forward and more about feature parity. But still, we're sure those that fall in the middle of the baseball and windows phone fan venn diagram are extremely happy.
MLB.com At Bat app embraces iOS 7
Just in time for the postseason, MLB.com's At Bat app has scored an update for iOS 7. Along with compatibility with the new version of iOS, the refresh brings with it postseason stat sections, a news feed and series scoreboards. But most importantly, the update adds the ability to watch multiple live camera angles of upcoming showdowns including the AL and NL Wild Card games and Division Series, and the NL Championship series. [via 9to5Mac]
Out of the Park Baseball gets updated for the new season
Spring is here in the US. My Cubs are losing, and that must mean it's finally time for baseball season! MLB's official At Bat app is already out in the App Store if you want to listen to the real thing, but if you would rather have your pitching and hitting simulated, Out of the Park Baseball has you covered. The revered baseball sim's iOS version has already been updated with the 2013 roster, and the Mac version is set to get updated on April 15. Out of the Park Baseball is a great game for baseball fans, but of course it's all about the managing and simulation. If you want to actually play the game directly, it's probably not what you're looking for. For that, you'll have to wait. There are a few baseball games out on the App Store, but they're either not full action baseball games or they're not yet updated with the 2013 rosters. MLB 13: The Show has received solid reviews on the PS3, but considering that the game's made by Sony, there's not likely to be a version on the App Store anytime soon. So OotP may be the way to go for your baseball simulation, and then you can get your hitting and pitching practice in by actually going outside. Play ball!
MLB At Bat 2013 app warms up for spring training, starts pitching in BB10's bullpen
For some, the change of the season is marked not by calendars or climate changes, but by the beat of sports fandom. Rest easy, baseball fans: spring is finally here. Naturally, Major League Baseball is heralding in the weather by updating its MLB At Bat app for 2013 spring training, touting new features for Android and iOS users alike. The apps updated team pages, retooled navigation and classic games library are universally available to both Android and iOS users, but the iPhone will score an enhanced and searchable video library and an exclusive home screen customization feature. MLB promises to pipe in more functionality before the season opens, however -- including mobile access for BlackBerry 10 users. What hasn't changed? The price, of course: Android subscribers will need to pony up $20 for the year, while iOS retains its $3 monthly subscription plan. Of course, MLB.tv Premium subscribers get full access, gratis. Slide past the break for the official press release.
MLB At Bat 2012 app update brings new stats overlay, Ford SYNC integration and more
If you're a fan of the MLB At Bat 2012 app on iOS, a new update brings a few noteworthy treats. First of all, iPad users are gifted with a new overlay that puts live stats on top of the action, meaning you won't miss a swing of the bat. Also, Ford SYNC users can now hook it up via AppLink, and get scores, schedules and live audio on the move. There are a handful of other new features, such as social sharing of video highlights and a re-designed news headline (iPhone only). No word on whether Androiders will get the same treatment yet, but for those on the iOS team, strike out on the source link for the goods.
MLB at Bat 2012 app out for iDevices and Android, brings in-app monthly subscriptions to iOS
It's that time of year when the hot stove league gives way to spring training, and people start talking less about things like El Hombre's move to LA and more about batting averages and home runs. Thus, MLB has unleashed the MLB At Bat 2012 app to keep you up to date on your favorite squads and stars, and unlike previous iOS iterations, this time it's free. That gratis version gives users limited info (scores, standings, news, and team content), but those willing to drop $14.99 get full access for the year, which includes audio game casts, live game video look-ins and the game of the day. Additionally, there's a $2.99 monthly subscription option if you find forking over for the full season distasteful. Unlike the iOS version, Android users currently only have the $14.99 option, though the same interface is present in both apps to provide a consistent UX. Subscribers of MLB.tv get all of what At Bat 2012 has to offer for free, with Android users gaining access through the existing At Bat Lite app. Sound good? Head on down to the source and get your download on.
MLB At Bat 12 now available on the App Store
Another sign that baseball season is just around the corner -- MLB At Bat 12 is now available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad. The app is free, but that only gives you access to scores. If you want all of the goodies that make MLB At Bat the powerhouse app that it is, you need to do a in-app purchase -- one month for US$2.99 or $14.99 for the entire season. That gives you MLB Gameday, live radio, stats, a live "Game of the Day," live look-ins of games in progress, and in-game highlights. Since the app is now universal, that $14.99 buy-in works for both devices -- no more paying $30 for the privilege of having full access on both your iPhone and iPad. Want to get streaming video of every game? If you're a MLB.TV subscriber already, you get streaming video in the app for free. Now, if the wireless carriers could just make sure that fans could get decent coverage at ball games...
MLB simplifies iPhone, iPad app pricing for MLB TV subscribers
For baseball fans, there's no happier day than Super Bowl Sunday, since we know that means that in a few weeks catchers and pitchers will be reporting for early Spring Training. Well, the pitchers and catchers are warming up and now another sign of spring has appeared -- news about pricing of Major League Baseball's MLB At Bat 12 app for iPad and iPhone for MLB TV subscribers. If you subscribed to MLB TV in the past or plan on subscribing to a year full of baseball games, you're in luck -- MLB At Bat '12 will be available for free. That's a nice little bonus, since the MLB TV subscription plan costs US$124.99 for the 2,430 game baseball season ($119.99 if you subscribed last year). In the past, subscribers had to pay for the iPad and iPhone apps separately, which could add about $30 to the tab for baseball fans. The apps will be available on February 29, 2012 so that you're able to start watching streaming video of games on your iPad or iPhone as the Spring Training season begins. There's no word, however, on what content (if any) the free apps will provide for baseball fans who don't want to pay the MLB TV subscription fee.
MLB may implement subscription next season
Major League Baseball has embraced social media and mobile devices in a big way and it looks like this early adoption is paying off. The MLB At Bat app was downloaded 1.6 million times across all mobile platforms and is reportedly the highest grossing app in the iTunes App Store, according to a report from Fortune. To improve this popular offering, MLB may offer a new monthly subscription option that's available during the baseball season. Speaking with Fortune, MLB.com CEO Bob Bowman said they could add new features as a monthly subscription which would be available in-season and could be canceled when your favorite team is doing poorly. Unfortunately, Bowman failed to provide any details on what these new features will be and how much they will cost. This subscription is likely an idea that's in the early stages of planning. The current version of the At Bat app lets baseball fans experience the game from the comfort of their iPad and iPhone. Users can keep track of game stats in real-time, watch video replays of controversial calls and review game highlights. If you are at the game, you can check into a stadium, view tweets from other fans at the game and even order concession food that you can pick up without waiting in line. At US$14.99 in season, it's pricer than most App Store apps, but the sheer amount of real-time content available at your finger tips during the baseball season is well worth the expense.
MLB At Bat 11 apps for iPhone, iPad now available
With the wintry weather that seems to be hitting a lot of the U.S. today, most people probably aren't thinking about the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season. There are two sure signs of spring today -- the MLB players started playing Spring Training exhibition games today, and the MLB At Bat 11 apps for iPhone/iPod touch and iPad are now available for sale in the App Store. At this point you'll be able to watch about 150 Spring Training games through a free preview of MLB.TV, and listen to available radio broadcasts of Spring Training games. Like the 2010 version of the app, you can get a close-up batter's view of every at-bat, breaking news, schedules, rosters, and players stats. The description of the app notes that additional features and functionality will be released for Opening Day on March 31. Major League Baseball apparently didn't listen to user complaints from last year, however. The iPad and iPhone apps are still separate apps, and each costs $14.99. On top of that insult, the league advertises in articles found in the app. Once the MLB season begins, you'll be able to watch one free televised game per day and listen to as many games on Internet radio as you'd like, but there's no way to purchase a package to watch all games for a specific team in the app or beam the games to an Apple TV via AirPlay. Early reviews on the App Store are saying that the performance of the MLB At Bat 11 app does seem to have improved over last year's iteration, which was notable for slow loading of articles and videos.
Case study: Griping about signal quality can produce results
For most iPhone owners, it seems like AT&T is deaf to our complaints about signal quality. It appears, however, that griping loudly and repeatedly to the company does have an effect. I live in the suburbs south of Denver and my signal quality is pretty good. However, whenever my wife and I have gone to Colorado Rockies baseball games in the last few years (we're season ticket holders), we've had awful service at the ballpark. Although the signal strength indicator would show five bars, it was impossible to do much of anything with our iPhones or iPads. Even trying to send out text messages would fail, and attempts to use the MLB At-Bat app in the ballpark were laughable to the point that I didn't purchase the app for the 2010 season. What was even more frustrating is that AT&T is a ballpark advertiser at Coors Field, so you think they'd want their service to be excellent.
Foul Ball? MLB inserts ads into At Bat 2010 for iPad
As soon as I tapped my way into MLB At Bat for the Mariners game last night, I couldn't help but notice an ad on the splash page, and other ads on screen on the Game Day desktop. Until now this innovative iPad app had been ad free, and at U.S. $14.99 a year, that made sense. Major League Baseball isn't exactly going to the poor house, with 6.6 billion dollars in revenues last year. MLB has the right to insert ads in the app, but it seems like a small breach of faith to users.There's more. If you already had the MLB iPhone app, you pay again for the iPad version. And so it goes. A nickel here, a dime there. We've heard this song before. Premium apps that start ad-free, and then sneak in the ads once they build up a following. Another example is the CNN app, which is $1.99, and includes ads. Some people resent paying for the ads, others don't care. What's your take? Do the ads on At Bat bother you, or are they no big deal? Do you want the option to buy a premium app with no ads? [Thanks to Dave and other readers who noticed this]
Disney CEO calls iPad "a game changer"
While discussing the iPad with the Associated Press on Tuesday, Disney CEO Bob Iger hinted at his company's plans for the iPad, and called it "a game changer." He gave brief examples of ideas they're throwing around for the iPad, including ESPN ScoreCenter and an interactive app for the ABC drama "Lost." ESPN ScoreCenter is currently an iPhone and iPod touch app that provides real-time scores and updates from the world of sports. Iger says that the iPad gives them an opportunity to "...really make the scores come to life." I think of the demo of Major League Baseball's At Bat for the iPad and see how the ESPN app could do the same -- provide gorgeous, full-screen video and stats plus chat and trash talk with other fans during the game of your choice. Multiple camera angles, locker room interviews, fantasy leagues, and so on, could all enhance the fun of watching the big game. Likewise, a Lost app could provide a similar experience. "When you think about ABC," Iger said, "you think about a program like Lost and not just being able to watch the program, but all the other things that viewers like to do with that program." As a leisure content device, the iPad could be a killer with the right apps in place. Iger went on to say, "We think [the iPad] could be a game changer in terms of enabling us to create essentially new forms of content." No, it's not the same as watching your favorite show on that big, shiny HD TV, but the iPad might further synthesize the TV and computer into a single device. [Via MacDailyNews]
MLB At Bat for iPhone
We've been running running a few App Store roundups covering applications announced for the iPhone App Store, but as TUAW's resident seamhead I can't help but call one out for special attention. It was demoed at the WWDC keynote and now Macworld has a close look at the upcoming MLB At Bat application. It will be available at launch and provide near real time "wireless score access and in-game highlights for every game on the MLB schedule" for only $4.99 for the rest of the season. Apparently the video highlights will be available in two versions: one high-bandwidth version for wifi and a lower bandwidth version for EDGE (they haven't said which version the 3G iPhone will load). For the future they're looking into bringing the Gameday service to the iPhone which opens the possibility of Gameday Audio. For the real baseball fanatics out there this would be an absolutely killer app, especially for those of us away from our home team's broadcast area. Imagine being able to listen to any game on your iPhone from anywhere; that's close to baseball nirvana. And though things are looking rather bad at the moment: Go 'Stos!
