The fantastic At Bat is on sale

When the App Store opened, I went nuts and downloaded a slew of apps. Two weeks later, I listed the 8 I decided to keep, including Major League Baseball's (MLB) At Bat [App Store link]. This week, At Bat has dropped in price from $4.99US to $2.99US.

It's on sale because it will "expire" when the current season ends (Go, Sox!), meaning you'll have to purchase a new version for 2009. Still, if you're a fan and into the post-season, I encourage you to buy it. It's my hands-down favorite iPhone application.

While using At Bat, I realized how an application's features and benefits affect its longevity. Specifically, the features attract your attention, while the benefits grab you for good.

Here's an example. At Bat provides nearly real-time statistics for ongoing games, including scoring, current batter and pitcher, stats, the count at the plate ... even video clips from a game that's in progress.

You can identify your favorite team to keep their score highlighted, and enjoy an integrated version of MLB Gameday, which provides pitch-by-pitch information and so much more. All of this is presented in an attractive, readable UI.

Those are the features.

The benefit is a feeling of connectedness, even participation, and that's why At Bat is a keeper. As a die-hard baseball fan, I want to watch every game. I know the stats, the players, the standings; who's playing well, who's on injured reserve and who's in a slump. It's tremendously fun to watch a baseball game on a summer evening and get lost in the drama of it all.

However, life interferes (can you say "toddlers"?) and I sometimes miss a game. Yet, those live stats and video clips alleviate the feeling of missing the game, and that's worth a lot more than $2.99 to me.

The same can be said of other applications. Twitterrific [App Store link] puts 1,000 friends in your pocket (leave your adolescent joke in the comments, please). At any time, I can share a funny picture, observation or idea with my buddies, and get a reply just as easily. Those are the features. The benefit is the comfort of friendship.

The benefit of FileMagnet [App Store link] is peace of mind. Yes, I've got that PDF for the meeting. Yes, I've got the photo I have to show my boss. Phew.

Others that I've eliminated went in the other direction - all feature. Cro-Mag Rally's [App Store link] accelerometer-based steering got boring after 10 minutes.

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Source: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftwa…

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Analysis / Opinion Software iPhone App Store iPod touch

When the App Store opened, I went nuts and downloaded a slew of apps. Two weeks later, I listed the 8 I decided to keep, including Major...

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NewWaveDave

GO RAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

October 08 2008 at 11:48 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

BdeRWest

I know NHL doesn't have a comprehensive digital system like Gameday in place, and it would be harder to provide a digital experience for a hockey game, but honestly, I _need_ an NHL app. I'll even offer to name it for you code monkeys: On Shift. Or Center Ice or Face Off. I don't care, just make one.

October 08 2008 at 8:22 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

umijin

If it showed LIVE video of the games, then it would be revolutionary. Not worth the money for an expired ticket at the end of the season.

October 07 2008 at 10:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Max

is it compatible with providers outside of the USA?

October 07 2008 at 9:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jose

Awesome App. Never left my front page. This has kept me going working nights. LOL. Go Dodgers!!!

October 07 2008 at 7:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

I've never paid for anything from the App Store (I have an unlocked, jailbroken, warranty-less iPhone, why should I spend even more money?), but this is one application that I'll definitely buy in 2009 if it's under $10. It's not worth the couple dollars for two and a half more weeks TOPS of use.

That being said, I keep up now with ESPN's Gamecast for iPhone webapp, and look up video after the fact. It's not a huge deal, but i'm sure it's nice to have the video with it.

Go Brewe- oh wait, Go Rays!

October 07 2008 at 6:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

4 replies to JK's comment

elby

I think they make it pretty clear that it will expire at the end of the season. Also, I think that it will be more than $5 next year. That pricing was introuduced when the season was half over. Expect to pay $9.99+ next year.

Go Rockies!!

Oh, wait. We had our one glory season. We need new ownership.

Tiny rant.

October 07 2008 at 5:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Stephen Lang

When is there going to be a similar NFL app? My 5 bucks is waiting...

I know there are alternatives, but I want something similar in quality to MLB At Bat.

October 07 2008 at 5:26 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Macsoda.com

GO SOX!!!!!!!!

October 07 2008 at 5:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Shooter9696

Listen guys, I work in Sports TV and sometimes involved in digital rights for content.

Of ALL of the companies/leagues I've worked with... MLB does it best.

"Draconian"... No way. They've got the best digital experience PERIOD. Nascar is the next closest.

I expect the app to be $9.99 for the whole season next year. I don't KNOW if that's what it will cost... But you need to remember creating this content costs MONEY to create.

This is one of my most used and favorite apps as a fan. You can watch a game pitch by pitch. It's AWESOME.

Just because it's digital doesn't mean it's free. Think about it.

October 07 2008 at 5:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply