08-30-2012, 10:31 AM
It's the time of year when sports technology companies release their new products for the football fan. Three items I want to call your attention to:
- ESPN College Football. (Android, iPhone and iPad.) This is the updated version of last year's Bowl Bound. Last year's product was more focused on the bowls and the post season, while this year's is meant to support the entire season. It also has better personalization, more video support, better navigation (particularly on iPad), and is just a better experience. First reactions from users have been very positive. (Don't take my word for it; read the reviews in the app stores.) (And as most of you know, this is my day job. I wrote significant parts of the software for this product. I am an ESPN Mobile employee, so feel free to whine and bitch about the product's deficiencies and my inherent biases.) (I also updated the QR code in my avatar to point at the app store version of this product. You can take a photo of the QR code from your phone/tablet and it will take you to the app store to download the latest version.) There is also good Watch ESPN integration, so if the football game is being broadcast by one of the ESPN channels you will be able to link to a mobile video stream of the game (assuming your cable provider is on the approved list, but it's a reasonably comprehensive list - http://espn.go.com/watchespn/affList )
- Pac 12 Now. (Currently iPad only.) This looks like a good way to get video of lots of Pac 12 sporting events. Unfortunately, watching live video only works if you have Bright House, Cox or Time Warner as your video provider. Some of the canned videos also seem to have that restriction. (One nice note: I see that Coy Wire is one of the on-air personalities. Good for him.)
- ESPN Scorecenter (iPad only - iPhone update coming, but no announced release date yet.) This is the all-sports scores, news and highlights mobile application from ESPN. This is a major update and rewrite of the user experience for iPad. (I didn't work directly on this product, except on minor pieces.)
- ESPN College Football. (Android, iPhone and iPad.) This is the updated version of last year's Bowl Bound. Last year's product was more focused on the bowls and the post season, while this year's is meant to support the entire season. It also has better personalization, more video support, better navigation (particularly on iPad), and is just a better experience. First reactions from users have been very positive. (Don't take my word for it; read the reviews in the app stores.) (And as most of you know, this is my day job. I wrote significant parts of the software for this product. I am an ESPN Mobile employee, so feel free to whine and bitch about the product's deficiencies and my inherent biases.) (I also updated the QR code in my avatar to point at the app store version of this product. You can take a photo of the QR code from your phone/tablet and it will take you to the app store to download the latest version.) There is also good Watch ESPN integration, so if the football game is being broadcast by one of the ESPN channels you will be able to link to a mobile video stream of the game (assuming your cable provider is on the approved list, but it's a reasonably comprehensive list - http://espn.go.com/watchespn/affList )
- Pac 12 Now. (Currently iPad only.) This looks like a good way to get video of lots of Pac 12 sporting events. Unfortunately, watching live video only works if you have Bright House, Cox or Time Warner as your video provider. Some of the canned videos also seem to have that restriction. (One nice note: I see that Coy Wire is one of the on-air personalities. Good for him.)
- ESPN Scorecenter (iPad only - iPhone update coming, but no announced release date yet.) This is the all-sports scores, news and highlights mobile application from ESPN. This is a major update and rewrite of the user experience for iPad. (I didn't work directly on this product, except on minor pieces.)
"I have nothing to say and I am saying it."
--- John Cage