ESPN

iPhone App $2.99 Our Review By Carter Dotson on June 27th, 2011 Rating: :: HEY! LISTEN! ESPN Radio provides streaming access to a variety of local ESPN Radio affiliates as well as streaming of dozens of ESPN podcasts. Developer: Price: $2.99 Version Reviewed: 3.2.113 Device Reviewed On: iPod touch 4 iPhone Integration Rating: User Interface Rating: Re-use Value Rating: Overall Rating: ESPN Radio is an official ESPN app designed for listening to a variety of ESPN Radio content and stations. It provides access to dozens of ESPN Radio affiliates nationwide, playing ESPN talk radio content, local sports talk, and live sports broadcasts both local and national; I found a minor league baseball broadcast on one station while browsing. The app provides for access to a ton of ESPN content; to my surprise, even MLB games were available through the app, though local blackouts do apply. There is also a wide variety of prerecorded content available, from the latest broadcasts of both national radio shows, but also some local shows on ESPN Radio stations. As well, there’s the ability to stream podcasts from ESPN, from Bill Simmons’ BS Report to audio-only versions of shows Pardon the Interruption and Around the Horn. The app also supports iOS multitasking and headset controls, so leaving the app while still listening to a station or podcast is easy. The challenge is finding stations; the only displays are by a list of favorites or by location, which shows the closest stations. However, this tends to make the lists of stations that appear quite random. For example, finding the MLB on ESPN station took 3 presses of the “Find More Stations” button despite a game going on at the time of searching for it. The currently playing description on each station is occasionally inaccurate, or not exactly descriptive; yes, I presume that this ESPN Radio station is playing “ESPN Radio content” when I see it in the list of stations! While this is a paid app, ads still display, although they can be easily closed out. ESPN Radio provides a treasure trove of ESPN and sports content for only $2.99, although the interface makes discovering this content more difficult than it should be. For sports fans and especially fans of ESPN content, this app provides great mobile access to a wide variety of content. Review disclosure: note that the product reviewed on this page may have been provided Read More

Fox has the rights to the Super Bowl this Sunday, but every other media outlet in the free world will take full advantage of the game up until kickoff. Here, for instance, is an app launch from ESPN–not a new app, but a refresh of its Radio app at Apple’s iTunes store, featuring all sorts of personalization bells and whistles. Most impressive: Searchable audio that lets you sift through all of the network’s daily audio output to find mentions of your favorite teams, players, etc. So you can leave work, head to the gym and download, um, all of the day’s Clay Matthews news, without having to waste time Web surfing through the day. (Yes, you’re going to Web surf, anyway.) The Disney-owned sports network isn’t changing the app’s price, which will stay at $2.99. ESPN says it has sold “hundreds of thousands” of the apps since it launched in September 2009. 1-800-FLOWERS.com has signed on as the exclusive sponsor for the relaunch. Meanwhile, ESPN.com’s audio ventures seem to be doing well across the board: ESPNRadio.com reaches more than three million listeners per month, while multimedia star Bill Simmons’s podcast racked up 42 million downloads last year. (I’m responsible for a couple hundred, at least.) ESPN says a version for Google’s Android platform is on the way. Read More

by on 20. Oct, 2010 in Right now we’re in the middle of the MLB playoffs, almost halfway through football season, at the beginning of hockey season, and the NBA regular season is rapidly approaching. That’s what it’s essential for anyone with any sort of interest in sports to have a sports app.  But why have an app for every sport or for every team you follow, when you can have one app that covers everything? That’s why we’re providing you with a review of these four comprehensive sports apps. This app seems like a fantastic app with tons of great features and lots of news and statistics, and while this is true, it is not executed in the best manner. Sportacular provides the user with scores for over 20 sports and sporting events, standings, news, and the ability to create your own profile. All this information can be sorted by sport, and editing your profile allows you to customize your favorite teams, select game and team alerts for scoring plays, score changes, and more, select “picks” where you try to predict winners of games, and “check-ins”, which just help you represent your teams by “checking-in.” Here you can also select how often it updates scores, plays, etc., and choose the sports you want it to display. If all of that is not enough for you, Sportacular also allows you to view team info, news, rosters, and schedules for any team in any league. You can also create your own custom team and add players to it, and it will give you their season stats and stats from the last game, which is a great feature. Now all of this makes it seem like a great app, and while it is very good in my opinion, it does have its share of flaws. The interface is not the most intuitive, and the app is slow and may take a few seconds to load information, and sometimes is will tell you the network is slow or unusable, even when I know the internet is fine. Aside from these problems, which are not always a huge issue, this is a great sports app, and $1.99 for an ad free version isn’t a bad deal. For an app put out by a company that focuses on exclusively sports, you would think their app would be more functional. What it can do it does great, Read More

Posted 10/04/2010 at 12:36pm | by Andrew Hayward Each new iPhone has offered fresh and fantastical ways to improve your daily life, but the epic tag-team of the iPhone 4 and iOS 4 deliver the greatest set of tools and features to date. With the introduction of FaceTime video calls, multitasking, and the high resolution Retina display, the iPhone 4 has moved even further away from being just a powerful phone and web-surfing device. Now more than ever, the iPhone is a true lifestyle-enhancing accessory. Between the built-in features and the hundreds of thousands of options in the App Store, not to mention a few key accessories, the iPhone 4 can be figuratively formed and changed to fit your daily needs, whether you’re planning your daily commute, knocking out items on your to-do list, or simply looking to try a new restaurant. With this wide-ranging versatility in mind, we’ve come up with 40 ways in which the iPhone 4 can improve--or help you break free from--your daily routine, whether you’re at home or work, or out enjoying the world around you. Wake up with the iPhone and your day will be "phenomenal. Magical." Standalone alarm clocks are a thing of the past! You can use the built-in Clock app on your iPhone to set multiple alarms and customize them to your needs and preferences. You can choose the sound (including any custom ringtone) and label the alarm, as well as decide whether you’ll be able to tap the screen for snooze and if the alarm should repeat on the same day each week. Nobody likes waking up, but at least you can do it on your own terms. Depending on where you call home, each new day can bring a meteorological surprise, so stepping outside without a quick check of the impending weather can yield painful results. The iPhone has a simple, built-in Weather app that offers localized results, but for a more in-depth forecast, you can grab The Weather Channel app (free, pictured), WeatherBug (free), or one of several regional-focused options. Don’t leave home without it! If you rely on public transit to get to and from work each weekday, you know the uncertain wait for trains and buses can be soul-draining. No more! Many transit systems have apps that offer time estimates on buses and/or trains, like Buster ($0.99, pictured) for Chicago or MuniApp 2 ($0.99) and BART Live Read More

ESPN considers themselves to be “The Worldwide Leader in Sport.”  In an effort to further assert that reign, last year the network launched local versions of their website.  Each of these local markets were catered to, with special in-depth coverage that was specific to their geography.  As you can well imagine, this concept was a [...] ESPN considers themselves to be “The Worldwide Leader in Sport.”  In an effort to further assert that reign, last year the network launched local versions of their website.  Each of these local markets were catered to, with special in-depth coverage that was specific to their geography.  As you can well imagine, this concept was a smash hit, inspiring 5.7 million unique pageviews in the last month alone. Seeing the opportunity to further enhance this coverage, ESPN has decided to supplement the sites with their own free iPhone apps, choosing to focus on the Dallas, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York markets. So what can you expect from these tools?  The ESPN MediaZone has the full breakdown: This is an amazing idea that I really wish someone could have thought of sooner.  However, a great idea is only as good as its execution.  Fortunately the good folks over at ESPN have provided us with a basic video overview of how each regional app will operate. There are many facets to this application that I am curious about.  First of, what is the deal with not giving Detroit a local version? Hell, we have a representation in all of the major sport leagues and numerous minor/development league franchises.  Sure, the city may be a burnt out husk of what Chicago is, but we still love our teams… okay, well the Red Wings at least. Secondly, will there be any ability to add in streaming of local sports, possibly at a cost to the user?  I know of many sports fans that would gladly pay a little extra each month for the ability to view their team of choice from the comfort of a wireless hotspot.  Plus, for those that have been separated from the city of their birth, such as military personnel, it could be viewed as a very welcome taste of home. I look forward to see how successful these apps can be, and just hope they wise up and start targeting Detroit soon! Read More

I have a confession to make that might put my Fanboy status in jeopardy. I wasn’t part of the iPhone click until the iPhone 3G veiled its beautiful body to us. It’s a humbling revelation that I feel necessary to share. I have only been able to enjoy the iPhone with the App Store available. Having done my share of downloading and reviewing, (72 apps on my iPhone 4 today), I often wonder if I have maximized the potential that the App Store can cultivate. It took me quite a while to break down and purchase paid applications. Probably too long. When I started adding iTunes credit to my account, it was if I was the conductor of entirely different ship. A much nicer ship. I first hit apps which reflected the interests related to my lifestyle. Engadget, ESPN Radio, Echofon, Words with Friends, Tiger Woods, and those similar were the first to gain spots on my device. Then I gathered productivity enhancing apps like Docs 2 GO, Rowmote Pro, iStudiez, etc… Eventually I dabbled in games that already exist in “real life”, then branched out to highly rated selections. I will admit I’m not much of a gamer, though I do enjoy a challenge as much as the next guy, (like eating 4 saltines in 60 seconds, minus water). After a couple of years of wonderful, (and sometimes expensive) experiences, I noticed that the zealous downloading had subsided a bit. Don’t get me wrong, the App Store is the single most important piece of the iPhone puzzle in my opinion. The ability to allow and include anybody with the ability and knowledge to develop, is a beautiful thing. My expectations are high, thus the reason behind the words you read. Does this leveling off of sorts include you? I believe Apple has headed in the right direction with adding featured genres and categories now each week. I can honestly say it helps with both navigation, as well as keeping my wandering brain matter excited; believe me, this in itself can be a full-time job. Posting “Apps of the week” is another good utilization on Apple’s part, though I might suggest adding a category-based App of the Week couldn’t hurt. All in all for the size of and population that App Store is, my concerns are very few. Let’s not forget that most every credible source states that Apple’s App Store Read More

Editor’s note: The following guest post is by Krishna Subramanian, co-founder of mobile ad exchange Mobclix. Mobile search is still one of the big unclaimed prizes on the mobile web. Everyone from Google and Yahoo to Apple is going after it, but Microsoft’s Bing may stealthily become the king of the castle by aggressively promoting Bing through mobile apps. Let’s look at each player’s mobile search strategy. During the Apple keynote in April, Steve Jobs announced the new iPhone 4.0, iAd and a few other features even he didn’t seem too excited about. Out of the many mediocre features, Mr. Jobs happened to squeeze in a declaration that, “ On mobile, search hasn’t happened. People aren’t searching on their phones.” During the keynote at WWDC this month, Mr. Jobs declared that iPhone 4 users would have the opportunity to select their search engine from among Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Out of the three, Bing got a special endorsement from Mr. Jobs. Is Mr. Jobs trying to blindside the other players in this space by making them think he is not concerned about search? I’m sure all of the search traffic he is sending to Google is driving him nuts. Meanwhile, Google has happily—and quite beautifully—optimized their search results page on the iPhone to make it extremely convenient for local searches by incorporating phone numbers, maps and more within the Safari window. Remember the days you would dial 411 or, even more recently, send an SMS to GOOG for information about local businesses or venues while you are on-the-go? Does anyone do that anymore? I’m sure people love paying $1.75 to find out the name of the local pizza shop. By the time you dial 411 and struggle through the automated voice menu, you could have pulled up addresses, phone numbers and reviews to the five nearest pizza places and be one click away from an interactive map. Apple brought the traffic to mobile search, but why not make money off it? Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft all see the value of controlling search across mobile devices—not just the iPhone. Similar to the web, these three goliaths want to be the starting point for every consumer query. All three have launched iPhone specific apps with slightly different flavors as they try to first win the hearts of the iPhone user. Yahoo! is all over the place in the App Store. It has two Read More

By Robert Corra on June 11th, 2010 The 2010 FIFA World Cup promises to be the best ever. Get into all of the soccer action like never before with these recommended apps... It’s been 4 long years since Italy gloriously hoisted the FIFA World Cup and proclaimed themselves the kings of soccer (football, futbol, calcio, etc.). There’s a deep field of 32 teams who will be vying for the 2010 crown and, while you can never count out old stalwarts like Brazil, Italy, and Germany, many countries have a legitimate shot at the trophy and their place in soccer immortality. What’s different this time around? Well, this is the first World Cup to take place in the continent of Africa. Many of the players and coaches have changed throughout the years. But, as far as my fellow iPhone enthusiasts are concerned, the biggest difference is that this is the first World Cup to take place since Apple’s miracle device was born. There are several cool apps for just about everything these days, and the World Cup is no exception. Here are 4+ apps that every soccer fan should have on their iPhones over the next month of soccer nirvana… FIFA World CupIf you want a game that has all the pomp and circumstance of the tournament, EA’s FIFA World Cup does a good job of incorporating all those elements. As the only officially licensed game, FIFA World Cup lets you choose from 105 different countries on the quest to qualify for the competition and capture the trophy. There’s also a Captain Your Country Mode, where you become a virtual pro on your favorite team and try to guide them to victory. FIFA World Cup may not be the greatest game of soccer that you’ll play, but it has all of the official stadiums and requisite fanfare of the world’s greatest sporting event, including some amusingly blocky-looking fans. Soccer enthusiasts may also want to try X2 Soccer 2010 for perhaps a better simulation of the game, and Soccer Superstars for a more arcade-like approach. Neither have the spectacle of the World Cup license, but they are amongst the best soccer games in the app store at this time. Keep an eye out for Pro Evolution Soccer as well, as the legendary series will soon be making its debut on the iPhone. FREE! Released: 2010-04-30 :: Category: Games :: Action ESPN 2010 FIFA Read More

For continuous World Cup coverage, check out Mashable’s 2010 World Cup Hub, which will be updated throughout the games. Call it whatever you like — football, soccer, the game with the black and white checkered ball that you kick around the field. Pick a name and get ready for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Every four years football fans go wild and neighborhood bars are packed to the brim in broad daylight with devoted viewers. While the BBC and ITV apps that promise to stream the games and video highlights have yet to be released, there are still some great, free iPhone apps to satisfy your World Cup appetite. We know you’ve been counting the days until the non-stop football action. This app counts down the excitement by the days, minutes, hours and seconds until it all begins on June 11th. The app also has an interactive photo slideshow with a series of cool pictures of South Africa. You can click on the photos to learn more about each scene. There are even interesting video and audio options, like a spectacular overview of the countryside and some local music and dance moves. It’s a great way to learn about the country hosting the games, especially if you are planning to attend in person. This app has just about everything you need to prepare for the tournament. With a full schedule, you’ll never miss your team in action. The app allows you to select your favorite team or teams so you can easily keep track of all the news surrounding them. It also has full biographies and stats for each player for all 32 teams, so you’ll know exactly who is playing the game. Super-fans will appreciate the app for its extensive history of the tournament, which dates back to 1930, and includes an overview, trivia and controversies for each year. Sign in with your myESPN account to post comments about your team or participate in the “Fantasy Bracket Predictor,” where you can attempt to forecast the outcome of each World Cup match. This app gives you the latest news about all things football/soccer from BBC Sports, Yahoo! Euro Sports, and ESPN. News is updated in real-time and you can bookmark your favorite articles or e-mail them to your friends. The app also lets users browse offline. Once you’ve updated the latest news, you can read all the downloaded Read More

With just about three weeks to go before the first kick-off in South Africa this FIFA World Cup, football fever is catching on and people are gearing up to cheer their favorite teams. For the love of the game, I’m sure that football enthusiasts wouldn’t want to be left out of the loop. The last World Cup didn’t have the iPhone around, but this time make sure that you follow the tournament right on your device itself. Here is a list of five apps that should be a handy companion this June: ESPN 2010 FIFA World Cup (ESPN) – This app is pretty much all you need to keep a pulse on all that happens on and off the field. From news and analysis to profiles and schedules, ESPN has got the World Cup covered for us. World Soccer Anthems (Mercl LLC) – Where else can we get the national anthems of the 32 participating nations in one collection? World Soccer Anthems features the anthems in the respective countries’ languages and also in English. So go ahead, sing along with the rest of the world this World Cup. - As the app is named, this is a great way to follow what’s happening in South Africa this World Cup. It keeps us updated on the latest scores and schedule. What makes it a must-have app is the search feature that makes accessing information so much easier. World Cup Predictions (Andrews & Zybeck) – For those of us who will be laying bets on the teams or simply want to know who will probably win, I’m sure that we can do with a little helping hand. Along comes World Cup Predictions with a special formula to give us the best odds. World Cup Schedule (Mahango) – I like the whole look of this app. World Cup Schedule gives us more information than just the schedule, and should stand us in good stead throughout the tournament with updates. Read More