Apple TV catches Game Pass service featuring live preseason football games on updated NFL app.

Apple TV users may notice a new coat of paint on the NFL app today. That’s because the set-top box’s NFL channel has received a major update that adds the new Game Pass feature for football fans. We first learned last month that the NFL’s Game Pass service was headed to Apple TV.

Game Pass on Apple TV currently offers up both live and on demand preseason football games both in full and condensed versions for subscribers, plus highlights from each game that anyone can view for free. Game Pass also boasts featuring every NFL game since 2012 in HD without commercials including the last Super Bowl. Beyond 2012, Game Pass includes footage dating back to 2009.

Subscribing to Game Pass through Apple TV costs $99.99 with a subscription running through July 31st of next year. Aside from being able to view preseason games out of market, Game Pass offers up “all 256 regular season games on-demand” across various platforms. While it still doesn’t offer up live gameplay for regular season games, a subscription does include access to gameday audio. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the new feature highlighted next week as Apple unveils an updated Apple TV box on September 9th.

NBC will let iOS users stream the Super Bowl with no cable account.

If you have an iOS device you’re going to be treated to a full day of Super Bowl XLIX coverage thanks to NBC’s new streaming promotion it’s appropriately calling “Super Stream Sunday.” NBC announced the plans today, which include the full live stream of the NFL’s season finale along with pre-game coverage that will start at noon EST on Sunday, February 1st and finally wrap up some 11 hours later.

All the content will be streamed via the NBC Sports Live Extra app, which has had a bit of a rough go on the App Store since its debut back in 2012. The app holds an overall App Store rating of just two stars with over 20,000 ratings. Most reviewers have taken issue with spotty compatibility on various devices and issues with the ability to log in under certain cable providers. Thankfully, the Super Stream Sunday content will not require you to have a cable provider account, so it’s a total free-for-all.

NFL Mobile updated for 2014 Season with new Fantasy Football features, NFL Now integration.

The NFL today updated its NFL Mobile app for the upcoming 2014-2015 football season. The app allows you to watch live games, receive up-to-the minute NFL game scores and follow the latest football action from your iPhone and iPad.

The latest update brings the app to version 11.1.0 includes the following new features:

• Integration of NFL Now national and personalized video feeds
• Live stream of “Fantasy Live” now available for all users
• Ability to share articles and VOD via Facebook and Twitter
• Additional social content added to News section
• Access to NFL Network Schedule
• Optimization to reduce app crashes

The NFL sweetened the deal for Verizon customers — offering free live video of local Sunday CBS and FOX games for MORE Everything AND Premium customers. Verizon MORE Everything customers also now have the option to upgrade to NFL RedZone content for $1.99 per month.

The NFL Mobile app is available for free from the iOS App Store and includes in-app purchases for a month-by-month subscription or premium Season Pass access. NFL fans looking for a more personalized experience with customized video streams and no Verizon Wireless integration should look at the NFL’s newest NFL Now app.

Fox to Stream Super Bowl Free to U.S. Viewers, NFC Playoff Games Streaming Behind Pay-TV Wall.

Fox Sports has announced that it will stream all its NFC playoff games and the Super Bowl online, though only the Super Bowl will be available to iOS users through the Fox Sports Go app. Fox’s playoff games do not appear to be available for streaming via the iOS app.

However, though the Super Bowl — along with CBS’ AFC playoff coverage — will be viewable by all viewers without requiring any authentication, Fox’s NFC playoff games will require authentication through one of several cable companies.

The network will carry the 49ers v. Packers wild card game on Sunday at 4:40PM EST, plus the NFC divisional games at Seattle and Carolina on January 11 and 12, plus the NFC Championship game on January 19.

The NFC playoff games will require authentication through certain cable services including Comcast, AT&T U-Verse, Cablevision and several others. The NFL is hugely popular in the United States, with NFL-related content accounting for 9 of the top 10 most-watched TV programs of 2013.

The Super Bowl will kick off on Sunday February 2 at 6:30PM EST from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Fox Sports Go is a free download through the App Store. [Direct Link]

Source: Mac Rumors.

Best NFL apps for iOS.

NFL playoffs are upon us, and football fans are likely getting pretty excited. There are a ton of ways to follow the action on your iPhone or iPad, and we’ve rounded up some of the best iOS apps for making sure you don’t miss a thing.

Even if you’re not a big sports guy, we’ve included some top-notch football games here that just about anybody can enjoy.

Alright, ready for kick-off?

NFL Kicker

NFL Kicker is the light and simple field goal kick game by the same guys that made flick soccer. Though the gameplay is fairly casual, the gesture-based controls are finely honed and give a really satisfying feel. Adjusting for wind is the biggest challenge, but multiple challenge modes provide plenty of variety, including a target zone challenge, time challenge, and a coffin corner pick. You earn coins which can be spent on upgrading your stadium with bigger lights and more seating, though you can skip all the hard work with in-app purchases.

NFL Kicker is bound to keep you occupied when not checking the latest scores.

• Free: Download Now

NFL Mobile

NFL Mobile is the official NFL app which includes news, video clips, and live streaming for premium subscribers on Verizon or Bell. NFL also has its own fantasy football league which you can play in from the app. If you’re interested in a specific team, you can set alerts so you get notifications whenever breaking news hits.

NFL Mobile offers fast, polished football news right from the source.

• Free: Download Now

NFL Pro 2014

NFL Pro 2014 is a full-fledged, licensed football game that captures the football feel for those times when you’re all caught up with the real games. Players build and train their own team, recruit new talent, set the playbook, and upgrade their stadium. Premium currency is used to get new plays, though you also earn it occasionally by levelling up.

For those that want to have full control over their football experience, NFL Pro 2014 has plenty to offer.

• Free: Download Now

theScore

If you’re looking to catch up on news after the game, theScore is widely regarded as the best app out there. You can follow specific teams, get home screen widgets for the latest information at a glance, and notifications when things get crazy with your favorite teams. The best part is, you can keep tabs on any other sports you might happen to be into.

If keeping up to date on football news is your top priority, get theScore.

• Free: Download Now

Yahoo! Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football is a massively popular phenomenon among really hardcore fans, and Yahoo! has an outstanding app for managing your team. You can keep tabs on player news, plan your next matchup or draft, and talk smack on the message boards. Scores are updated in real-time, which is perfect if you need to make some last-minute calls.

Fantasy football fans needn’t look any further than Yahoo! to get their fix.

• Free: Download Now

 

Source: iMore.

NFL Updates iOS App with Visual Redesign, Live Streaming Options Still Limited.

The NFL has updated its iOS app for the 2013 NFL season with a visual redesign that includes easy access to news, video highlights, and scores, as well as premium upgrade features that are available to Verizon customers that allow access to live streaming to NFL games, NFL Network, and NFL RedZone.

As the brand new, redesigned and rebuilt official app of the NFL, NFL Mobile is built to bring football right to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch! Breaking News, Video Highlights, Live Game Scores, Custom Team News, follow your Fantasy Football Team, and more!

Verizon customers can upgrade to Premium Features for access to NFL RedZone on Sunday afternoons, and watch LIVE NFL games on Thursday, Sunday and Monday nights during the preseason and regular season. Premium Features also provides access to NFL Network 24/7.

The full-game streaming is still limited to Verizon iPhone customers and only includes three games per week. Live streaming on the iPad will be governed by separate content access deals authenticated through pay TV services.

The 2013 NFL regular season opens Thursday, September 5 with the Baltimore Ravens playing the Broncos in Denver.

NFL Mobile is a free download for the iPhone and iPad. [Direct Link]

Source: Mac Rumors.

Five apps that’ll help you follow the 2013 NFL Draft.

It’s a big day for football fans who are gearing up for the 2013 NFL draft. The first round picks start tonight, Thursday, April 25, at 8:00 pm ET, followed by the second and third round on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Use one or all of these iOS apps below to bone up on the draft picks as well as follow the NFL draft live for the next few days.

Draftpedia  iPhone; Free

Draftpedia offers comprehensive draft information for the NFL and NBA that extends back to 1970 for the NFL and 1969 for the NBA. It’s a wealth of sports draft information right at your fingertips.

2013 Draft HQ – Pro Football  iOS Universal; US$2.99

2013 Draft HQ – Pro Football is your one-stop shop for information about the draft. Follow news on the top players and read their stats from when they were in college. There’s also mock drafts and forums so you can participate in the draft instead of just read about it.

CBS Sports App  iPhone; Free

The CBS Sports app will offer streaming coverage of CBSSports.com’s Draft Show Live on the iPhone. The CBS app will also feature mock drafts, player profiles and a live draft picker with round-by-round picks.

NFL Mobile  iOS Universal; Free

The NFL Mobile app will provide live video coverage of the NFL draft as well as other draft features like draft alerts and draft trackers, which allow you to follow your favorite prospects and teams. *Some features may require a subscription and may be limited to Verizon or Verizon Wireless customers.

NFL 2013  iOS Universal; Free

The NFL 2013 app also offers live coverage of the draft and includes Draft Xtra, a second-screen experience that you can monitor while you watch the draft on TV or over the internet at NFL.com/LIVE. There’s also news, analysis and mock drafts. *Some features may require a COX, Cablevision or FiOS NFL Network subscription.

Source: TUAW.

55 EA Games for iOS dropped to $0.99.

In what could be the coolest sale of the century, EA has dropped the price on a massive 55 of its games for iOS.

For a limited time only, 55 titles, including massive hits FIFA 13, Mirror’s Edge, Need for Speed and Monopoly will retail for less than $1, don’t expect this sale to last for long. The move is EA’s fourth annual “Sweet Deals” initiative, which is sure to empty the bank accounts of many many iOS users.

• Tetris for iPad — $2.99 → $0.99
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2 — $2.99 → $0.99
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2 for iPad — $9.99 → $0.99
• Battleship for iPad — $4.99 → $0.99
• Bop It! for iPad — $2.99 → $0.99
• Command & Conquer Red Alert for iPad — $4.99 → $0.99
• Coconut Dodge for iPad — $1.99 → $0.99
• Dead Space — $6.99 → $0.99
• Dead Space for iPad — $9.99 → $0.99
• Dragon’s Lair 2: Time Warp — $2.99 → $0.99
• Draw Jump HD — $2.99 → $0.99
• Fight Night Champion — $4.99 → $0.99
• FIFA Soccer 13 — $4.99 → $0.99
• Madden NFL 12 — $4.99 → $0.99
• Madden NFL 12 for iPad — $6.99 → $0.99
• Monopoly for iPad — $9.99 → $0.99
• Monopoly Here & Now: The World Edition for iPad — $9.99 → $0.99
• Monopoly Millionaire — $2.99 → $0.99
• Monopoly Millionaire for iPad — $4.99 → $0.99
• Max and the Magic Marker for iPad — $2.99 → $0.99
• Mirror’s Edge for iPad — $9.99 → $0.99
• NBA Jam for iPad — $4.99 → $0.99
• Need for Speed Undercover — $2.99 → $0.99
• Need for Speed Most Wanted — $4.99 → $0.99
• Need for Speed Hot Pursuit — $2.99 → $0.99
• Need for Speed Hot Pursuit for iPad — $4.99 → $0.99
• Pictureka for iPad — $4.99 → $0.99
• RISK — $2.99 → $0.99
• RISK for iPad — $6.99 → $0.99
• Reckless Racing HD — $4.99 → $0.99
• Scrabble HD for iPad — $9.99 → $0.99
• Shift 2 Unleashed — $2.99 → $0.99
• Shift 2 Unleashed for iPad — $4.99 → $0.99
• Snood for iPad — $4.99 → $0.99
• SimCity Deluxe for iPad — $8.99 → $0.99
• The Game of Life for iPad — $6.99 → $0.99
• The Sims 3 — $6.99 → $0.99
• The Sims 3 Ambitions — $4.99 → $0.99
• The Sims 3 World Adventures — $2.99 → $0.99
• The Sims Medieval — $2.99 → $0.99
• The Sims Medieval for iPad — $4.99 → $0.99
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 for iPad — $4.99 → $0.99
• Trivial Pursuit Master Edition for iPad — $4.99 → $0.99
• Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 for iPad — $4.99 → $0.99
• World Series of Yahtzee — $2.99 → $0.99
• Yahtzee HD — $4.99 → $0.99

I imagine that if you bought all the titles named, you could probably save yourself around 100$, possibly more. This sale is a phenomenal event, so be sure to head on over to the App Store and grab yourself a bargain now!

Source: TodaysiPhone.

iPad at Work: Helping the NFL Diagnose Head Injuries.

 

Over the last couple of years the iPad has made a big impact in the NFL – being adopted by numerous teams to use as their playbook, and for scouting and a variety of other purposes.

Now the iPad will have a new, and perhaps most important, use in helping teams quickly diagnose head injuries – as Apple Insider reports:

The NFL will be providing each team with an iPad application designed to help teams diagnose whether one of their players has suffered concussion almost immediately following impact, ESPN reported on Saturday. … Prior to the start of the season, and at different intervals throughout the season, the system will be used on players to perform a number of tests in order to establish a baseline score. In the event of a possible concussion, team doctors will use the app to evaluate players, and the app will compare their post-hit results against their established baselines. A large discrepancy could indicate that the player has suffered a concussion, and the protocols for such an injury would go into effect.

Concussions and head injuries in the NFL have become a very hot topic in recent years, and rightfully so. It’s great to see iPads being used for this purpose and to see the NFL using technology in their efforts to better protect players.

Once again, not a bad bit of work for the ‘only for consumption’ tablet. 🙂

Source: iPad Insight.

Best iPad Apps For Live Sports.

Sitting down with friends to watch the most anticipated games can be difficult, especially when you’re always on a tight shift. So get ready to watch your favorite teams live in-action with this top selection of best Live Sports iPad apps.

# 1 – ScoreCenter for iPad Price: Free For: iPad This application from ESPN delivers great live sports coverage as well as video highlights and post-game analysis of your favorite teams across the globe. From breaking news stories to live scoring alerts this application covers it all. You can also get to personalize the scoreboards, tune in to live integrated sportscasts, and link up to ESPN sports center for more information. The app is created with built-in calendar navigation with an easy gateway access to earlier matches. The ScoreCenter for iPad also provides the latest updates and can be readily hared among friends.

# 2 – NBC Sports Live Extra App Price: Free For: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch Sports Live Extra allows users the chance to stream more than 400 games live for free. This innovative application comes with an online coverage schedule, alert notifications, and a vast array of games in HD quality that gives you the latest sports coverage like no other. Other notable highlights are its ability to stream marquee NBC Sports events live, it allows scheduling event reminders, and offers a preview of upcoming matches. It should be pointed out, however, that NBC sports is only available in North American territories.    

# 3 – WatchESPN Price: Free For: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch This application is by far the best application for your iPad as it grants you access to other ESPN channels suited to your daily sporting streaming needs. This channel grants access to the top gaming events of the season with its round-the-clock coverage of the NBA playoffs, golfing championships, grand slam events, and hundreds more matches that are aired on local ESPN channels. This app also covers post-game analysis and insightful video highlights that are easy to navigate and share with friends. It comes with direct links to Sports Center, Sports Nation, and other ESPN original shows.

Source: Apppicker.