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Checklist: couch potato apps for the big game (p2)

Comment: 0 October 6th, 2011 by: admin

Following the first part, below are a few more mobile apps to help you create as perfect a viewing experience of the big game as possible.

iFooty Plus

If for some unfortunate, irritating reason you are forcibly dragged away from the telly before or during the big game, this is the app that could salvage your afternoon (as much as possible).

This mobile app by Jeremy Debate is a way for you to remain updated on the game you are missing (you sad bloke).  It gives you a list of all the most recent games, along with everything from minute-by-minute updates to video highlights of the magical moments you let slip by (you sad bloke).

Other features include a complete team lineup, and even a chat feature that lets you jump into conversations with fellow supporters also using the app.

But perhaps the best feature is the push notification that alerts you of every goal made during the game, from kickoff to the final whistle.  You might not get to see the actual live video but you’ll at least be as updated as if you were watching the live coverage.

If for some reason you are also torn away from your mobile, just head for the match results section for the final scores of the most recent matches.

iFooty Plus supports all five English football leagues,  the other major European Premier Leagues, North America’s Major League Soccer, and other leagues from South America and Asia.  It also covers international competitions and exhibition games.

If the £2 splurging is too rich for your blood, a free, ad-supported version is also available, but it comes without the push notification.

Devices: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Price: £1.99
Size: 4.9MB
Download

ESPN Goals

For smartphone users looking for an app for football updates, ESPN Goals is a good option.

This application is an essential tool for the bloke who needs to know what he’s missed from the moment he foolishly moved away from the front of the telly, to when regulation time ended.

For ESPN Goals’ free version, the basic features include live news updates, the latest match scores, and various videos. However, who can spare some extra cash per month (£1.50 to be exact, will have access to the app’s complete video service.

The service brings to the mobile phone via ESPN Goals videos during and after the match, as well as a number of customised video clips.  These videos include the match highlights, match previews (available 12-24 hours before the match schedule), and even a weekend fixture roundup.

Missed the match’s entire first half?  The app features clips available as soon as halftime begins.  It also offers clips from the second half, all available about 15 minutes after the final whistle.

Missed a huge goal that everyone is talking about?  The app also features virtually all goals made in the Barclays Premier League.

Admittedly a push notification of every in-game highlight moment would have been a massive addition to this app, but for it works well enough in its purpose of updating the clueless football fan clamouring to know what he missed.

And the near-live goal videos would make up for boring text notifications, if UEFA restrictions didn’t bar the service from supporting games scheduled every Saturday 3 PM (UTC) onwards.

The app services work best when in areas with strong wireless Internet connection.  Also, the user’s location may affect the app’s usability.

ESPN Goals supports phone running on Android, Symbian, Blackberry, Windows, and iOS software (depending on the version).

Devices: Android, Nokia smartphones, iPhone, Blackberry, Windows,
Price: Free/£1.50 per month
Size: varies by phone model
Download
Android
Blackberry
iOS
Symbian
Windows mobile

PMS Buddy

This is the final step (and in some cases most important item) in the checklist for disaster-proofing every bloke’s viewing experience.

As every man is well aware of, all the preparation and the excitement that build up the closer the big game gets could all be driven to the ground by one strong, uncompromising force: the furious girlfriend (or wife).

The woman who, for a certain amount of time every month, kidnaps your significant other and replaces her with a short-tempered, irritable person ready to scream at the slightest mistake – like watching a football game when you should be attending to her.

PMS Buddy will not solve this problem (nothing can), but it can help you prepare for it by alerting you of the next oncoming ambush of hormones.  By analysing information such as her cycle length and the date of her most recent cycle (good luck getting that info, mate), the app gives you an estimated date of the start of the PMS period.

It will also feature a PMS meter that can help you keep track of the intensity of her ‘spell’ – a good item to predict whether watching the game means nothing more than a bit of sweet talking, or popping over to a pub or your mate’s house instead.

The app works in coordination with PMSbuddy.com, which also sends email reminders about the estimated date.

Sexism aside, football game or not, PMS Buddy can also help you determine how to react to the raised voices and the near-mental mood swings, and perhaps even help cut down on the arguments.

Because at day’s end, we all just want to get along.  Especially if the game is on.

Devices: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Price: £0.69
Size: 0.4MB
Download

 

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