mlb posts

Filed under: Software, Internet Tools, iPhone, iPod touch, App Review

At Bat ramps it up for the playoffs

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Oct 8th, 2009

Major League Baseball's At Bat for the iPhone and iPod Touch is one of my all-time favorites. I've sung its praises before, so I'll spare you the details. Just know that At Bat brings real-time stats, streaming audio and video of pro baseball games to your iPhone and iPod touch. Last month they added in-app purchases that let you grab a live game for $0.99US.

Now that the post season has begun, they've improved the app again. You can watch live post season games through the World Series with 7 camera angles to choose from. Or you can watch a split screen of four camera angles simultaneously. Admittedly, those four screens are tiny on an iPhone's screen but it's still fun. Switching from one angle to another is quick and simple.

At Bat costs $9.99 per season and is completely worth it. I use it every day to watch games, get stats, read stories, check standings and more. There's a free "lite" version as well [iTunes link], which provides real-time scores and schedules.

Tags: app review, app store, AppReview, AppStore, at bat, AtBat, iphone, ipod touch, IpodTouch, mlb

Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

MLB updates At Bat 2009 for iPhone, gives live streaming to MLB.TV users

by Mel Martin (RSS feed) on Jul 21st, 2009

If you're a baseball fan you already have it. If not, you're missing a lot, and now MLB has updated At Bat 2009 [App Store link] to include more video streaming for fans who already subscribe to MLB.TV. That means as of today, those subscribers can watch all the remaining games this season (subject to blackout restrictions) on their iPhone or iPod touch.

The app has also been tested for iPhone/touch compatibility with version 3.0 of the Apple software. Regulars users of the app who haven't subscribed to any of the special MLB packages still get one free live streaming video game a day to watch, as well as all the current features of the app, including streaming audio from every MLB game as it is played.

I really like the app; my only complaint is that my favorite team which is supposed to be at the top of the list gets shunted down when other teams are the featured live streaming game. I'm hoping that is fixed in this new version, but it is too early to test it.

At any rate, if you're a big fan of the boys of summer, just check the App Store and update. It's especially good if you subscribe to to MLB.TV or MLB.TV Premium.

Batter up!

Tags: At Bat 2009, baseball, iPhone, iPod touch, MLB, sports, streaming audio, streaming video

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Odds and ends, Apple, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

MLB is about to make a million dollars off an iPhone app

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Apr 28th, 2009

Lots of developers are saying that they can't sell their apps at $9.99 in the App Store, but Major League Baseball is apparently the exception -- the $9.99 At Bat app is not only gaining accolades from users, but it's selling like nachos at the ballpark, too: with 130,000 copies sold so far this year, MLB is about to break a million dollars in revenue, even after Apple takes its cut.

Pretty impressive for a pricey app. Of course, that's chump change when you consider exactly what MLB is dealing with -- the app integrates the Gameday Audio service, which sells for $14.99 on its own, and baseball's television and video content makes much, much more than a million dollars. The iPhone revenue, big as it is, is just a drop in the bucket for MLB, really.

But nevertheless, the MLB app stands out as proof that, even if you have to include exclusive live audio content from major sporting events around the country, it is possible to make an app that people will happily pay $9.99 for. Stands to reason that if developers can make their app at least as functional and useful as At Bat, they too can make a million dollars.

Tags: 999, app-store, at-bat-2009, customers, gameday-audio, major-league-baseball, mlb, revenue, reviews

Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, App Review

MLB At Bat 2009 struck out, but now back in the game with bug fixes

by Mel Martin (RSS feed) on Apr 11th, 2009

Baseball fans were quite excited to learn that this years MLB.com At Bat 2009 iPhone app [App Store link], selling for $9.99US, would include game day audio. We reviewed the app in March and it received good notices but there was no audio to test at that time. Since baseball season began, the App Store reviews have been filled with comments from angry users saying there are frequent crashes and the audio keeps dropping out. Many wanted their money back.

The good news is that yesterday the app was updated to version 1.01 and most reviews are now positive. The crashes have been pretty much fixed, and the audio streaming is working very well. There are some scattered complaints about the game day pages being a bit behind, but generally people are now very pleased.

In my tests of the first version, I had lots of crashes, and indeed, the audio streaming was spotty. The new version has been crash-less so far, and the audio has been smooth and starts up quickly. I've listened via WiFi and 3G with no issues -- although if you are trying to use the app from your local ballpark, as Steve points out, you'll be competing with thousands of other fans for scarce 3G bandwidth and you may not be able to use the audio features (or do other things involving the cell connection, like making and receiving calls).

The app itself is a bargain, since getting audio from any game all season long costs $14.99 via MLB on the web. For 5 bucks less you get it on your phone. If you can live without streaming audio you can get MLB.com At Bat 2009 Lite for free. Now, if my hometown team just wouldn't come in last again this year all would be well. I guess the iPhone can't fix that.

Tags: app store, AppStore, audio, baseball, bug fix, BugFix, iPhone, iPod touch, mlb, sports, streaming audio

Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

First Look: MLB.com At Bat 2009

by Steven Sande (RSS feed) on Mar 30th, 2009

Opening Day of the Major League Baseball 2009 season is just around the corner, and MLB.com At Bat 2009 (click opens iTunes) has been released. Beware -- this post contains bad baseball metaphors.

This year's app has all the tools. After you agree to a list of Terms and Conditions as lengthy as a major-league player contract, a list of all of the games currently in progress or scheduled for the day appears. Starting on April 6th, every game will have Gameday enabled, which lets you view stats and a pitch by pitch recap of what's happening. Tapping a player's name brings up a virtual baseball card, complete with career and season stats and a line score for the game in progress.

Also on April 6th, a new feature will touch all the bases -- live Gameday Audio from either the home or visiting team radio announcers streamed to your iPhone. As with last year's At Bat app, you'll be able to pull up video clips of games shortly after key plays occur.

Do you miss plays while buying a beer or standing in line for the men's room? No problem, since the app also has a live box score.

MLB.com At Bat 2009 hits a home run! You can get the entire season (including postseason play) for US$9.99. Note that you'd pay $14.99 for just the Gameday audio on MLB.com. There's also a rookie (lite) version available for free that doesn't include the streaming audio. Check out the gallery below.

Gallery: MLB.com At Bat 2009

Tags: app store, AppStore, baseball, iphone, ipod touch, IpodTouch, mlb, software

Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

MLB At Bat ready for 2009

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Mar 5th, 2009

My all-time favorite iPhone app, MLB's At Bat [App Store link], is all new for the 2009 baseball season. For the uninitiated, 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.

Late last year they added MLB Gameday for pitch-by-pitch updates, and the full '09 version (when it launches) will extend that with support for Gameday audio. You'll be able to listen to the home or away broadcast of any game. That's great.

For now, you can download At Bat Lite, which includes scores from pre-season games as well as news from throughout the league before opening day. As a baseball fan, I love At Bat. It's worth the $5US price tag many times over.

[Via Macworld]

Tags: app store, apps, AppStore, at bat, AtBat, iphone, ipod touch, IpodTouch, mlb, software

Filed under: iPhone, App Store

New iPhone Ad: Game Changer

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on Oct 14th, 2008

Apple released a new iPhone ad last night, and I know of at least one person that will like this one. They're continuing to show off the App Store, and just like last time, they are featuring an individual application. The MLB (At Bat) application is the lucky player for this edition.

The narrator says, "It can be a score checker, a live pitch updater, or video highlight player. But any way you cut it, it's officially a game changer."

The new commercial is called "Game Changer" and can be viewed from the iPhone ads website.

Thanks to Jack and others for the tip!

Tags: ads, App Store, AppStore, at bat, AtBat, Game Changer, GameChanger, iPhone, MLB

Filed under: Odds and ends, Internet Tools, Widget Watch

Widget Watch: MLB Schedule

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on May 14th, 2007

I am not TUAW's resident baseball fan, but since it is peanuts and crackerjack season I thought it only appropriate to feature the MLB Schedule widget. This widget gives you an at a glance look at your favorite team's schedule with a 5 day period. If the game has already played it shows you the score, otherwise you get the start time, the opponent, the location, and who is pitching.

MLB Schedule is a free download (and remember if you like to follow more than one ball club you can run multiple versions of the widget).

Tags: baseball, MLB, widget watch, WidgetWatch

Filed under: iTS, iTunes, Apple

MLB highlights coming to iTunes Store

by Mat Lu (RSS feed) on Mar 30th, 2007

With opening day right around the corner, Major League Baseball and Apple have announced a deal for game highlights to appear on the iTunes Store. Each day there will be a 25 minutes "MLB.com Daily Rewind" highlight show and each week two "'Games of the Week,' featuring full versions of the best games from the National and American Leagues." Each of these games will be $1.99 (compared to $3.95 per game through MLB's Digital Download Service) though there will also be a Season Pass of the "Game of the Week" for $19.99 and a Multi-Pass of the "Daily Rewind" for $7.99 per month.

MLB.TV is probably the best online sports offering, so real baseball fans will probably want to go there instead as it allows you to stream "every 2007 regular season out-of-market game" live plus a lot more. However, this iTunes deal looks interesting, and with MLB under fire for the exclusive DirecTV deal, more media choice is a good thing. We can hope this will be a success and cause MLB to expand their iTunes offering with more games, etc.

To whet your appetite for the season the iTunes Store is now offering a 2007 Season Preview for free download (iTunes Store link).

Tags: iTunes Store, ItunesStore, major league baseball, MajorLeagueBaseball, mlb

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