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ICYMI: Basketball is about to get even more stats-heavy
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: The National Basketball Association signed a seven-year agreement to use a computer-vision, artificial intelligence system that analyzes on-court action in ways average viewers couldn't spot as they watch.
The 12 best tech gifts for sports fanatics
Chances are there's at least one die-hard sports fan in your life. And look, even if your idea of game-time small talk is "Hey, how about that local sportsball team" you can still get them the perfect gift. Whether they're big NBA addicts, avid runners or trying to perfect that spiral and become an NFL quarterback, we've got you covered. And you don't even have to betray your tech-geek roots to do it. There's plenty of ways to get your game on while simultaneously getting your geek on. High-end TVs deliver football in 4K glory while wearables like the TomTom Adventurer let you turn that epic hike into epic reams of data. Check out the gallery below to see our 12 techie gift recommendations for sports fans and athletes. For our full list of recommendations in all categories, don't forget to stop by our main Holiday Gift Guide hub.
Dish helps you follow out-of-town NBA teams
It's tough being a San Antonio Spurs fan living in New York City, since I can only watch games shown on national TV. With NBA Team Pass, though, that's not a problem. And starting today, Dish is making it available to its subscribers for $119 per season, becoming the first pay-TV provider to do so. Up until now, Team Pass was only available as an online streaming service, but you should note that out-of-market blackout restrictions still apply with Dish's offering.
The NBA's live Twitter shows debut this week
As promised, the NBA and Turner have launched their two original shows on Twitter... and they might scratch your itch if you can't get enough basketball in your life. The first, The Starters, streams live every Tuesday at 11AM Eastern and delivers passionate commentary from the crew that hosts NBA TV and official podcasts. The Warmup, meanwhile, is a more interactive affair: the half-hour show from Ben Lyons and Ro Parrish integrates Twitter chats into each episode (Thursdays at 7:30PM Eastern), and it merges b-ball with "lifestyle, music and pop culture." It's more of an entertainment show that just happens to have basketball as a hook, then.
NBA gives you a better view of games on your phone
Just because you can watch live sports on your phone doesn't mean you'll enjoy it -- the footage is usually optimized for TV, which sometimes means staring at players the size of ants. You won't have to squint if you're an NBA League Pass customer during the 2016-2017 season, though. The basketball streaming service is trotting out a Mobile View option that gives you a close-up shot in its Android and iOS apps. You can switch back to a traditional view when you want an overview, but this promises to help in those moments when you want to identify the ball carrier or get a good look at that impending dunk.
NBA will livestream weekly games in VR this season
As far as professional sports leagues go, the NBA may be the most tech-forward of the bunch. Last year, it teamed up with NextVR to stream the first game of its 2015-2016 season in virtual reality. Today, both parties are taking that partnership one step further. NBA Digital and NextVR have announced that, starting this season (which tips off October 25th), they will be livestreaming one game per week to Gear VR headsets. It is the first deal of its kind, according to NextVR, something that bodes well for virtual reality as an entertainment medium.
Indiana Pacers use AI to help you get hot dogs faster
Among the hassles you deal with at sports events, waiting in line is one of the most annoying. What if you miss the start of play because you had to satisfy a hot dog craving? The Indiana Pacers want to alleviate that headache. They're partnering with tech startup WaitTime to shorten waits through artificial intelligence. The newly-launched system takes photos of arena lines at a rate of 10 times per second, and interprets that data to gauge not just queuing times, but also order completion times and the number of people who've given up. The Pacers display the wait times on screens and a mobile app to show you where wait times are short -- you'll know that a given washroom is empty, or whether it'd be quicker to grab nachos instead of a burger.
VR documentary puts you inside the 2016 NBA Finals
The National Basketball Association began experimenting with virtual reality last year, when it used the medium to stream the first game of its 2015 season. Now, the league has teamed up with Oculus on a VR documentary about last year's championship matchup, between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. Titled Follow my Lead: The Story of the 2016 NBA Finals, this 360-degree video experience aims to take you where traditional TV can't, giving you a first-person look at the action on and off the court.
Progress from 'NBA 2K17' demo carries over to the full game
Game demos are awesome, but they're usually the intro section of any given game. More than that, once you actually have the retail version, you're stuck working through the same portion of the game over again before getting to the meat of the experience. Playing early is a double-edged sword. NBA 2K17 is doing something different come September 9th, though. With "The Prelude," you'll have early access to the basketball game's career mode and will be able to play college games, interact with coaches during the mini-narrative and affect how you'll start MyCareer when the game arrives.
NBA announces two original shows that will stream on Twitter (updated)
Earlier this month, a Recode report indicated that Twitter was in talks with the NBA and Turner to bring more sports video to the social platform. Today, the league announced the deal what will bring two "live original programs," or TV-style shows, to Twitter, video content that will be exclusive to the social network. Details are scarce for now, but the first will be a weekly pre-game show while all the NBA is saying about the second "to-be-determined show" is that you'll only be able to watch it on Twitter. If you were hoping for live game action, you'll certainly be disappointed... for now.
Twitter in talks to add NBA and MLS streams to its sports coverage
After putting its livestream tools to the test with Wimbledon coverage this week, Twitter is said to be looking to carry more sports action. Recode reports the social network is in talks with the NBA, MLS and Turner networks to show "content related to live sports and events." While the negotiations are said to involve digital streaming rights, it's unclear at this point if the streams would include actual game footage like Twitter's NFL deal or if it will be the pre- and post-game analysis like we saw from Wimbledon.
Recommended Reading: The Golden State Warriors' tech training
Golden State Warriors use tech to their on-court advantage Terry Collins, CNET The Golden State Warriors set an NBA single-season record this year with 73 wins and are currently facing the Cleveland Cavaliers for the championship. Part of the reason for that success can likely be attributed the team's use of tech to track player performance and physical activity. CNET has the story on all the gadgetry and how the Warriors are using it to ensure they continue their winning ways.
Twitter's first 360-degree videos will come from the NBA finals
The likes of Facebook and YouTube have been doing 360-degree videos for some time now. During the NBA Finals that begin tonight, Twitter will also offer the more immersive views for the first time. The social network will post pre- and post-game content, but don't expect to see any in-game highlights. Samsung is sponsoring the videos, which will be shot with its Gear 360 camera.
The NBA's fitness app gives you training tips from the pros
The options for fitness apps are seemingly endless these days, and now the National Basketball Association (NBA) is adding yet another. Thanks to a hand from Under Armour, the pro basketball league now has it's own exercise and training app: NBA Fit. The NBA says the mobile software combines Under Armour's Connected Fitness platform with fitness tips and videos from players in the league and the WNBA. There's also pointers from strength and conditioning coaches.
The Milwaukee Bucks fell prey to a phishing email scam
Just because you're part of a major league sports team doesn't mean you're immune to internet fraudsters. The Milwaukee Bucks have confirmed that they fell victim to a phishing scam that compromised the basketball team's financial data. After receiving an email impersonating team president Peter Feigin, an employee sent out 2015 tax year data for all of the Bucks' employees, including players. Yes, that means that the salaries and social security numbers of some NBA athletes are in sinister hands.
NBA wants to help fans create basketball videos for YouTube
Some sports leagues clamp down on the use of game footage on YouTube and social channels while others embrace it. The NBA falls into that latter category and with the help of BroadbandTV, the league wants to give fans what they need to keep the videos coming. NBA Playmakers is the official title of the new initiative, a community for folks who are making basketball-themed content that ranges from shoes to trick shots and more. As part of the project, video makers will get access to the league's video footage, starting with this season's playoffs which are currently in progress.
Recommended Reading: Snowden on the untapped power of the press
Snowden Interview: Why the Media Isn't Doing its Job Emily Bell, Columbia Journalism Review NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden sat down with the Columbia Journalism Review (virtually, of course) to discuss the power of the press, using social media to fight terrorists and the concept of a global counter-terrorism task force with universal jurisdiction.
NBA 2K celebrates Steph Curry's MVP with a 99 rating
Today Stephen Curry collected NBA's Most Valuable Player award for the second year in a row, and also became the first unanimous MVP in NBA history. To celebrate that achievement (and his epic return from a knee injury to score 40 points in a playoff win last night) NBA 2K will issue an update to its game on Thursday maxing out his overall rating at 99. It's part of a promotion along with his shoe sponsor Under Armour and naturally the MVP colorway of his Curry Two will be available in-game. The 99 rating will be in place for 30 hours at 6PM ET (matching Curry's jersey number) and for a little bit, should make it easier for the videogame to replicate the real-life player's abilities.
TuneIn strikes deal with NBA to stream live audio from games
As part of the ongoing efforts to expand its premium radio services, TuneIn has announced a partnership with the National Basketball Association. This new multi-year deal will let TuneIn stream live audio from NBA games to subscribers, including those from the preseason, regular season, playoffs, the finals and All-Star weekend. Last October, TuneIn also struck similar agreements with MLB, NHL and the NFL, so the addition of the NBA only makes the paid app more appealing to sports fans.
'NBA 2K' is having trouble capturing Steph Curry's greatness
When it comes to sports games, virtual players tend to be capable of feats no real person could accomplish. And then there's Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry. The reigning NBA MVP dazzles with new moves nearly every time he steps on the court, and Curry's real-life skills are giving the folks behind the NBA 2K fits. In an interview this week, the title's gameplay director Mike Wang admitted the studio is having trouble capturing the star's on-court antics.
