» IPHONE

Iphone 3.0 Software Update Brings Great News for MLB Fans

HG — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:17:29 +0000

As Apple prepares to roll out the Iphone 3Gs they’re upgrading their software to 3.0 and finally adding a long promised feature for baseball fans: All MLB games streaming live on the Iphone.

From The Business Insider:

Previously, you could listen to live radio broadcasts and watch live game illustrations, with in-game video highlights. Now, you’ll be able to watch the whole game, both over wi-fi and the iPhone’s 3G connection. Assuming it works, this is an awesome development for any baseball fan.

This will go live as part of the “3.0″ version of its $10 At Bat 2009 app, which means you will need to upgrade to Apple’s iPhone 3.0 software first. Apple is rolling that out today.

I’m a Blackberry guy ’cause I’m over 25 years old, but slapping down 10 bucks to for a season’s worth of games on your Iphone or Ipod Touch is the shit. A lot of credit has to go to MLB. Baseball has embraced and used the new media the best out of all the professional sports leagues in the country. Making entire games available via the Iphone is another great move.

MLB To Start Streaming Live Baseball Video To Your iPhone Tomorrow (AAPL) [The Business Insider]

No NFL App For The iPhone Anytime Soon

HG — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:42:54 +0000

• Sprint Nextel blocking the way of an NFL iPhone app

All of the NFL fans that are hoping for an iPhone app similar to the MLB At Bat app will have to wait until 2010 or later.

The reason being that Sprint has the NFL mobile game on lock through the end of next year, and they’re paying a fat chunk for the rights.

From Alleyinsider.com:

Not happening, says an NFL rep. Sprint Nextel (S) pays the league $50 million a year to be its exclusive wireless sponsor/content partner, a deal that runs through 2009. And Sprint’s rival AT&T (T) has an exclusive on Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone, reportedly through 2010. Which suggests the iPhone app store is off limits for the NFL at least through 2009, and perhaps beyond.

Major League Baseball sold about 140,000 copies of MLB At Bat, its iPhone app. Assuming they all sold for $5 each, MLB made almost $500,000 after Apple’s 30% cut. An impressive amount for a first shot at a new mobile platform. But not quite $50 million a year.

Owners of the iPhone can use the NFL’s mobile website or Plusmo’s NFL widget but neither compare to the video highlights and other features of the iPhone’s MLB app. There’s no guarantee that an NFL app will ever be available considering the amount of money Sprint’s willing to throw down.

Apple Teams Up With Major League Baseball For New iPhone

HG — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:04:01 +0000

The new Apple iPhone comes with features such as 3G speed, maps with GPS, and corporate email, but the best addition is served up by Major League Baseball. The iPhone 3G will be released July 11, and will give baseball fans data from every game and highlights moments after they happen.

That’s right. Minutes after Boston and Tampa Bay have a major fight on the field and everybody laughs it off as boys being boys, you’ll be able to watch the bruhaha on the iPhone.

Adam Ritter, Vice President of Major League Baseball Advanced Media, lays out what the new iPhone can do for baseball fans. (via MLB.com):

“It’s a good example of the popularity of baseball. MLB At Bat will constantly update all the data of each game. You not only get to see all the data, but a couple of minutes after that, you get to see the play that put your team ahead or that great defensive play.

It’s going to be very exciting as a fan. You’re going to get video and highlights in an application and see your favorite Major League players. You start with the quality of the content, and then consider the device itself, the screen resolution, the fact that it’s twice as fast and will connect on wi-fi — it just looks beautiful.”

Baseball highlights and a price of $199 (8GB) or $299 (16GB)? I’m sold. And with the prices that low, I won’t be pissed off when they drop by $100 a few months after release.

iPhone, Apple, 3G, MLB, highlights