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Samsung may turn to Under Armour to rival Apple's relationship with Nike
In a bid to expand wearable sales, Samsung is reportedly entertaining the idea of teaming up with US sports apparel maker Under Armour. According to Yonhap News, Lee Jae Yong, the son of chairman Lee Kun Hee and heir apparent of Samsung Electronics, met with Under Armour CEO Kelvin Plank earlier this month, reportedly to discuss ways to counter the burgeoning collaboration between Apple and Nike.
Yahoo brings its personalised Sports app for iOS and Android to the UK
There's no shortage of sport-related apps available on iOS and Android, but when a major online player outs one for the UK, it's certainly worth a look. Having served US audiences for a little while now, Yahoo Sports today came to the App Store and Google Play on this side of the Atlantic, launching alongside a new Android version of Yahoo's News Digest app. Sports offers personalised news, scores, goal alerts, results and team updates. Football, rugby, cricket, tennis, golf, F1 and all major US sports are represented, giving the BBC's updated sport apps a bit of healthy competition.
Sky will be the only UK provider to offer 'Game of Thrones' and other HBO shows until 2020
It's a big day for Sky as the outfit announces that it's keeping hold of its premium drama jewels for at least six more years. The broadcaster has extended its exclusive deal with HBO, with first-run rights to shows like Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire and Girls staying on the network until 2020. The pact also bolsters the co-production agreement signed at the time, so expect more co-funded dramas like Strike Back to appear on your screens in the near future. At the same time, Sky is celebrating the fact that it controls the UK's biggest connected-TV platform, with 4.4 million on-demand customers. As such, it's planning to revamp the Sky HD electronic program guide to give on-demand content equal standing with live TV, just like the picture above. Meanwhile, the broadcaster's sports arm, still smarting from the loss of the Champions League, has snagged the exclusive rights to plenty of other events, including England Cricket, the Lions tour of New Zealand and Super League matches until 2021.
Twitter scores NFL deal to showcase Sunday's finest instant replay material
Following a similar deal in May with the NBA, Twitter's Amplify program has landed an envy-inducing arrangement with the National Football League. As part of the new advertising partnership, the NFL will leverage Twitter to "package in-game highlights and other video content" inside sponsored tweets, which can be distributed via a marketer during games. Both Twitter and the NFL will take a slice of the profits, though neither side is talking specific terms. As of now, it sounds as if Verizon will be the "premiere sponsor," which grants it "exclusive sponsorship rights for Amplify ads during the Super Bowl next February." The upside? Easily tweetable instant replays. The downside? It might make you a shill. Them's the breaks!
BT Sports now available on Virgin TV: free for some, £15 per month for others
BT is swiftly becoming a sports broadcasting force in the UK after acquiring ESPN UK and Ireland in February, then launching two of its own channels at the beginning of August. It's now found a teammate in Virgin Media, and a newly inked, three-year deal will see BT Sport 1, 2, ESPN and their HD counterparts available through Sir Richard's cable TV service. From today, all those channels go free for subscribers of the TV XL package, or can be added to other tiers for £15 per month. Watching through Virgin's TV Anywhere app is currently not supported but will be "soon," letting you gasp, shout and throw obscenities at even more screens.
BBC Sport app comes to Kindle Fire, now lets you filter out Chelsea news
iOS users already had access to the BBC Sport app's customizable "quick links" feature, which provides more direct access to favorite sports, but an update has just taken the idea a bit further. Quick links now work across Android and the freshly-minted Kindle Fire version too, and they additionally allow you to filter news according to which football club(s) you want to follow and which bits of multi-million-pound transfer gossip you'd rather just ignore. Other, more general improvements include refreshed indexes for a total of 41 different sports and greater prominence given to major tournaments like Formula 1 and the Ashes. If you want to check out the app on a Kindle Fire or Fire HD, you'll need to be in the UK -- an international version is still in the works and will be "available soon." There's a hat-trick of relevant download links below.
BT buys ESPN UK and Ireland, waves goodbye to ESPN Classic
BT's got far more important things to do than fill in the gaps in its fiber broadband coverage, like blowing around £10 million ($15 million) on buying ESPN's UK and Ireland channels from Disney. BT is trying to compete with Sky on sporting rights, and needs a channel to broadcast 38 Premier League games a year for the next three years -- which cost the phone company £738 million ($1.1 billion). At the same time, ESPN is shuttering ESPN Classic, the satellite channel dedicated to showing classic sporting events free of charge. Broadly speaking, BT just knows how to brighten our Mondays.
BBC Sport app launches on Android phones, includes support for 7-inch tablets
If you're familiar with the iOS version, BBC's new sports app for Android might not pack that many surprises. But it does still house a substantial amount of sports news, with a focus on the UK's national game, football. There's a new section encompassing fixtures, results and updating live scores for each competition and league. There's also live text commentaries on major sports events, plus both clips and video streaming. The app, available today, is compatible with Android devices running version 2.2 or above and while the Beeb has worked to ensure it works on the recent wave of 7-inch tablets, it doesn't currently support larger sizes. Still, there's plenty of time for that to happen before the next World Cup. We've added in a shot of its testing device pile (look, a HTC ChaCha!) after the break.
EVE Evolved: Is EVE becoming a spectator sport?
This week saw another landmark event in EVE Online grab the gaming community's attention as over 3,000 players from dozens of alliances battled it out in the lowsec system of Asakai on the Caldari border. The battle reached 2,800 concurrent players at peak, falling just short of 2011's record-breaking siege of LXQ2-T which hit 3,110 simultaneous combatants at its peak. There were livestreams, tons of after-action reports, and the story of this immense battle started by one man clicking the wrong button really captured our imaginations. EVE is one of those rare cases in which a lot of people find the media that surrounds the game more fun than the game itself. News of big in-game events like scams, heists, and huge battles spreads across the internet like wildfire, even among people who hate the game or have never tried it. When news of the Asakai battle emerged, someone on Reddit suggested that people should play EVE for only a few months to get some background and then quit and just read the stories. I've seen a lot of similar comments over the years saying that EVE is more fun to watch and read about than play, and it makes me wonder if the game is becoming a bit of a spectator sport. In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at why stories like the Battle of Asakai are so pervasive and explain why I think EVE should embrace its role as a spectator sport.
BBC launches BBC Sport app
Following on the heels of their incredible Olympics 2012 app (no longer available), the BBC yesterday released their first dedicated BBC sports app. BBC Sport came about after the Corporation's success with its dedicated Olympics app and the fact that it noticed that up to 40 percent of its BBC Sport website traffic came from mobile devices. The new app appears to be a UK sport lover's dream. According to a blog post by Head of Interactive, BBC Sport, Ben Gallop, the app features: Top stories and breaking news from a range of sports, including live text commentaries from all the big events. In-depth football coverage, including: a new live scores section; a page for every match in England and Scotland; tables, fixtures and results searchable by any day of the season; plus the latest football transfer gossip. Live audio streams of BBC Sport coverage on our two radio stations: 5 live and 5 live Sports Extra. Customisable navigation, with the ability to add your favourite sport to the quick-links (soon you'll be able to do the same for football teams). The ability to share pages in the app with your friends, through email, Facebook and Twitter, which we know is increasingly important for people in a connected world. And, coming soon, live and on-demand video -- in time for another busy year of coverage for BBC Sport on TV. The BBC has been on a roll lately with its mobile apps. In the past several months it has added many new features to its iPlayer app and debuted a totally new iPlayer Radio app and a companion app to one of its most popular TV shows. BBC Sport is a free download from the UK App Store.
BBC Sport app launches for iOS in the UK, Android version promised 'soon'
Just in the nick of time for the F1 season starting in March, not to mention this year's other imminent sporting pleasures, an all-new BBC Sport has landed at the App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Its creators promise it'll deliver the latest scores, stats, news and analysis, all mixed in with commentary from Radio 5 Live and on-demand video highlights to help bring events to life. If you're in the UK, check it out for free at the source link. An Android version is also in the works, but as to whether it'll get here in time for the Six Nations rugby next month is anyone's guess.
Ask Engadget: best earbuds for fitness use?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Brandon, who needs some earbuds that won't leave his head when he's on the treadmill. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I've been having issues at the gym with my headphones coming out of my ears. As of now, I'm using a basic pair of Sony sport headphones, but is there a pair of moderately priced ear-buds that do the trick of actually staying in your ear while running?" Last time we asked, you were divided between those who prized robustness (and a low price) and audiophiles who couldn't bear to listen to inferior gear. If you're in the former camp: Philips SHH8006/28 over-ears JVC Marshmallows If you're in the latter camp: Sennhesier's range of Adidas-branded sports-headsets got a few mentions But overwhelmingly, people went gaga for Klipsch's S4s. Still, that was then and this is now, so let's turn the question over to you once more to see if we can smash our heads together and get some knowledge to fall out.
Reebok-CCM partnering on impact-sensing flexible sports cap, hopes to improve real-time injury analysis
While the whack of two helmets might be an unavoidable part of some high intensity sports, knowing a little more about what's going on during those impacts can mean the difference between a time out, and time in hospital. Reebok-CCM Hockey and electronics firm MC10 have just announced that they are developing a wearable cap that will register the strength and severity of head impacts during games. The project is actually aimed at all sports and age-groups, and uses high-performance electronics reshaped into an ultra-thin, breathable, flexible system that technology partner, MC10, expects to also be much more affordable. The cap will allow quick analysis through the use of different colored readouts, illustrating the strength of impact. The product won't be commercially available until next year however, but we're already thinking of potential worthy collaborations.
Nike+ FuelBand, SportWatch GPS add some new colors for the holidays
The good news is that Nike is adding some new colors to its Nike+ connected FuelBand and SportWatch GPS lines so your wristwear can more closely match your kicks all winter. While the original translucent limited edition Nike+ FuelBand Ice won't be returning, at the end of October it will be available in new White Ice and Black Ice colors, with distribution expanded to more Nike stores in the US, Canada and UK. If you prefer GPS, precise timing and a multiplatform Nike+ Running app to LEDs, the TomTom-powered Nike+ SportWatch GPS is rolling out a new white/silver colorway. The bad news? If you were waiting for other updates, like a FuelBand with GPS, SportWatch that can pump out some MP3s while you run, FuelBand app for Android or really anything other than cosmetic changes, you're out of luck. We wouldn't let that get in the way of a workout however, check below for more details on each or return to customizing some NikeiD Lebron Xs -- your choice.
SensoGlove revamp brings automatic pressure check, stops us from strangling our golf swing
Hand rookie golfers a driver and they'll frequently make the classic mistake of gripping the club as though their lives depend on it. A seasoned veteran knows that a little give and take might be needed, which is why Sensosolutions just updated its long-serving SensoGlove to better encourage a balanced hold. The new automatic sensitivity toggle will offer a recommended grip through the LCD based on how tightly the club has been held in the past; throttle the 9 iron often and you'll be asked to loosen up. Longer battery life is also in the cards versus the older model, although we're reaching out to determine how many more holes the glove will handle in one charge. No matter how you slice (or hook) it, the newer SensoGlove is shipping for $89 in versions for both hands and multiple sizes.
Sky Sports for iPad update brings second screen to UEFA Champions League, Ryder Cup
When you're rooting for your team, one screen is never enough. Sky Sports knows this, and knows it quite well it seems. Hence why the UK Satellite giant is rolling out more of it via its iPad app. Now, as promised, the UEFA Champions League and 2012 Ryder Cup get in on the action. As you would imagine, the update lets users dive into a bunch of stats, game info, live tweets and even allows watching multiple games split-screen stylee. The updated app is available now, in plenty of time for the build up, leaving you free to stock up on snacks and refreshments.
Pac-12 Conference streams come to iPad, fuel that Big Game rivalry on the road
Cal and Stanford fans away from home no longer have to huddle around their laptops if they want to learn who's one-upping who. The Pac-12 Conference has just launched an iPad app for its authenticated Pac-12 Now service: as long as you're with a TV provider that carries the college sports division's games (sorry for now, DirecTV customers), you can tune into 850 live matches spread across a myriad of sports. As you'd hope, going the digital route allows for some on-demand viewing, a dedicated program guide and the social sharing you'll want to rope friends into watching. Only Bright House, Cox and Time Warner Cable subscribers can use the iPad viewer at first, although support should come to BendBroadband, Comcast, Frontier and Suddenlink this fall, right alongside Android- and iPhone-sized apps. Hopefully, they arrive in time for a little ego padding around the Big Game in October.
116 years of Olympic medalists compared
If you've paid any attention at all to the Olympics over your lifetime one thing may stand out to you -- every four years, records seem to crumble. We're getting faster and stronger, not because of evolution, but thanks to science. High speed video has us refining our form, nutritionists are finding the most efficient diet and coaches are timing training schedules for peak performance. Just how much of an impact has this had on athletic achievement? Well, the New York Times decided to plot every medalist from the last 116 years of Olympic games in the 100-meter sprint, the 100-meter freestyle and the long jump. Though records aren't actually shattered every year, there's a clear trend of improvement (with the exception of the long jump). In fact, this year's last place sprinter in the final round would have edged out 1896's gold medalist by more than half a second -- and he was battling a groin injury. Hit up the source links to see 116 years of medal winners compared, and the more coverage link to see how athletes are squeezing every last bit of performance from their bodies as we approach the limits of human capability.
Nike and O2 team up to offer Priority Sports hub: Nike+ running Android app becomes O2 exclusive
Get your fill of freebies and discounts from O2's exclusive Priority Moments service? Then you might be interested in where the UK carrier's headed next -- the running track. Nike's decided to team-up with the operator and, with its Nike+ tech, offer a new app hub that ties into the UK's very hectic summer of sport. Priority Sports was announced today in Nike Town, London, replete with the likes of marathon world record-holder Paula Radcliffe ready to talk up the new service which lands in August. The app will offer up videos, fitness advice and even more Nike-centric editorial content. Accessible on iPhone and Android, there will be priority access to new Nike products -- including the odd exclusive trainer -- and free entry to exclusive events tied into the scheme. Perhaps more importantly, the Nike+ GPS running app for Android (alongside companion services) will launch exclusively on O2 in the UK, starting today. The app will remain O2-only until the end of the year. Meanwhile, Priority Sports will launch next month and will include training sessions alongside Nike-sponsored athletes. The whole app also throws in embedded social network connectivity to Facebook. The app hasn't gone live just yet on Google Play, but should go live later today.
Spanish researchers to train FIFA referees on calling plays with stereoscopic 3D, won't help catch dives
Spain might be on Cloud Nine after clinching victory in UEFA's Euro 2012, but a team at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid isn't resting easy. To help referees know when they should blow the whistle, researchers have recorded 500 simulated offside soccer (yes, football) plays in stereoscopic 3D to give refs a more immersive sense of what it's like to make the call on the pitch. The hope is to have FIFA more quickly and accurately stopping play without having to spend too much actual time on the grass. We don't yet know how many referees if any will be trained on the system by the 2014 World Cup, or if it will spread to other leagues -- what we do know is that no amount of extra immersion is needed to catch a theatrically fake injury.
