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38 'MLB' stories February 2012 - October 2014
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MasterCard kicks off Apple Pay advertising on TV with its latest World Series promotions

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 22 2014 - 7:45 am PT
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We haven’t seen any TV ads from Apple for Apple Pay since it launched earlier this week on Monday, but that doesn’t mean no one else is advertising the new mobile payment service on television. Apple Pay partner MasterCard has begun airing a new set of MLB World Series-focused ads aggressively promoting Apple Pay and the iPhone 6 in the process. As we noted earlier this week, both MLB stadiums for the World Series will be accepting Apple Pay at the concession stands for each baseball game meaning you got buy your peanuts and cracker jacks using just your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. Check out the ads below to spot Apple Pay in action at the baseball stands.
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Both MLB stadiums will accept Apple Pay at concession stands for 2014 World Series

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 20 2014 - 6:49 pm PT
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Forbes reports today that during the 2014 World Series (which starts tomorrow) two MLB stadiums will be accepting Apple Pay at concessions stands. Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium and San Francisco’s AT&T Park will be the first professional sports stadiums to accept Apple’s new payment process.

MLB hasn’t clarified when the rest of the league’s stadiums will begin accepting Apple Pay. The hardware has apparently only been installed at the World Series stadiums so far.

There are also plans to implement Apple Pay in the MLB At the Ballpark app to allow users to purchase tickets using Touch ID in a future update, though there’s no timeline for when that feature will be available just yet.


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MLB At Bat app will for the first time live stream every World Series game, select Postseason games

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Sep 26 2014 - 2:13 pm PT
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The MLB.com At Bat app was updated today alongside a couple notable announcements including the league’s plan to live stream every World Series game and select Postseason games to all of its MLB.TV Premium subscribers through the app. The 2014 World Series is set to kick off on October 21. 

The release notes add that the app will now also offer “Live Postseason coverage for every game through the 2014 World Series” and a Postseason.TV feature with “Live companion coverage featuring up to 10 alternate camera angles for the AL Wild Card, AL Division Series and AL Championship Series (TBS broadcasts only).”

The update MLB.com At Bat app is available in the App Store now for iPhone and iPad. Regular $129 for the full year, an MLB.TV Premium subscription is available to purchase now for $3.99 for the remainder of the season, World Series, and postseason. 

What’s New in Version 7.4.2

• For the first time we will be streaming live every World Series game and select other Postseason games to all authenticated MLB.TV Premium subscribers
• Live Postseason coverage for every game through the 2014 World Series
• Postseason.TV: Live companion coverage featuring up to 10 alternate camera angles for the AL Wild Card, AL Division Series and AL Championship Series (TBS broadcasts only)
• General performance improvements

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MapQuest navigation app updated with improved ETAs, baseball guides, airport maps and more

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Jul 8 2014 - 6:01 am PT
2 Comments

Navigation app MapQuest has been updated to version 4.4, offering more accurate ETAs thanks to better traffic data; an app-specific volume control that allows you to set the voice navigation volume independently of other apps; Ballpark Guides to MLB stadiums and airport maps; and GrubHub integration to allow you to order food from take-out restaurants before the app navigates you there to collect it.
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Apple defending its streaming technology used by MLB, ESPN, and others against patent dispute

Avatar for Zac Hall Jul 1 2014 - 12:33 pm PT
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Another day, another patent dispute. This time Apple is defending the use of its HTTP live-streaming service against Emblaze, Ltd., Bloomberg reports.

Specifically, the lawyer for Emblaze has accused Apple of pushing its video streaming technology on sports-related services like WatchESPN and MLB At Bat which support live streaming over apps for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and more.

Apple began working on its HTTP live-streaming service, or HLS, “no earlier than 2007,” demanding that services such as “At Bat” use the format to drive sales of iPhones and iPads — and inducing infringement of Emblaze’s patent, Pavane said.

“Apple’s HLS is nothing more than Emblaze’s patented solution under a different name,” he said.


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Apple adds MLB At Bat to list of CarPlay-supported apps

Avatar for Zac Hall Jun 24 2014 - 11:16 am PT
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(Screenshot from USA Today demo)

We already saw MLB.com At Bat make an appearance in USA Today’s demo of CarPlay during Apple’s WWDC developer conference earlier this month, and today Apple has updated its CarPlay microsite to include the baseball-dedicated app to its list of apps that support the feature. In the shot above and below you can see the icon for At Bat as well as a preview of the CarPlay specific user interface from USA Today’s demo. The app is expected to support streaming audio from baseball games for MLB.com At Bat subscribers.

MLB At Bat is the first app to join the CarPlay compatible apps announced earlier this year with major third party apps like Google Maps and Pandora Radio notably lacking support. As it stands currently, though, Apple is the gatekeeper for integrating CarPlay support as it decides which apps it wants the feature to support.


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MLB At Bat mobile apps adding Chromecast support today for Premium subscribers

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Apr 17 2014 - 8:15 am PT
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Google announced today on its Chrome blog that Major League Baseball is adding support for its $35 Chromecast streaming stick through the MLB At Bat app for Android and iOS. That means that users with the app and an MLB.TV Premium subscription will be able to stream live and on-demand video content from the app (or from a browser tab in Chrome through MLB’s site) to a Chromecast connected TV. You’ll also be able to use the phone or tablet you’re streaming from as a second-screen experience to “check scores, stats and news” while watching the game on the bigger screen:
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MLB At Bat app updated for 2014 season w/ new expanded instant replay feature

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Mar 31 2014 - 10:02 am PT
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This season will be the first that Major League Baseball uses a new expanded instant replay system that it first announced back in January. Now, the MLB At Bat app for iOS devices has been updated with support for the 2014 season and the new replay system. That means that users of the app will be able to view “every decisive instant replay video clip and review explanation,” the same footage the umpires review, through the app’s Gameday feature. 

A little more on the new replay system from the MLB’s announcement:
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MLB.com At Bat app updated ahead of 2014 season w/ iOS 7 redesign & new features

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Feb 25 2014 - 7:52 am PT
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The popular MLB.com At Bat app has been updated today for the 2014 season and Spring Training with a complete redesign alongside new features and content. The updated app’s UI has been given a complete overhaul and redesign for iOS 7 on both iPhone and iPad, and new content starts with over 200 Spring Training games available as live video or radio broadcasts.

MLB.com At Bat returns for the 2014 season with live Spring Training baseball from the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues. MLB.com At Bat is the official app of Major League Baseball.

The redesign offers a new inline video playback experience and the app now has “league-wide scoreboard functionality for single-tap expansion.” The app’s iTunes page also notes that an update before Opening Day will bring additional features and functionality.

The updated MLB.com At Bat app is available on the App Store now. The app requires a subscription available for purchase in the app for $20 for the entire 2014 season or $2.99 monthly. The content is available for free to MLB.TV Premium subscribers.

A full list of what’s new in the update app is below:

New for At Bat in 2014
• Complete app re-design to optimize your At Bat experience for iOS 7 (iPhone and iPad)
• Redesigned to deliver inline video playback
• New league-wide scoreboard functionality for single-tap expansion
• Access your MLB.TV Premium subscription to watch live video of more than 200 Spring Training games
• Listen to available radio broadcasts of Spring Training games
• Multi-platform live audio access for At Bat 14 subscribers (portable to Mac/PC with a valid MLB.com account)
•Universal support for At Bat 14 subscribers, accessible on iPhone, iPad and other supported smartphones and tablets
• Follow batter-by-batter action for every Spring Training game
• Breaking news, schedules and interactive rosters and player stats for every team
• Sortable batting, pitching and fielding statistics (iPad)
• Customize At Bat’s home screen to feature your designated favorite team (iPhone only)
• Video library archive, searchable by keyword
• Classic games video archive featuring dozens of baseball’s legendary games
• Closed captioning for live video

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Yahoo Screen iOS app adds AirPlay support, push notifications, and more

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 17 2013 - 11:23 am PT
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Yahoo Screen, the iOS app the company launched back in September as a TV remote-like experience for browsing content from Yahoo, gets updated today to version 1.0.2. With the update, users can now AirPlay content from the app to an Apple TV and receive push notifications for live content like “breaking news and concerts.”

The updated app also brings the usual bug fixes and performance enhancements.

Yahoo Screen is available on the App Store for free on iPhone and iPad and includes Yahoo content from Comedy Central, MLB, UFC, The Onion, Martha Stewart, and more.

What’s New in Version 1.0.2

* Now with AirPlay support! Send a video to your TV while still browsing others in the app.
* Push notifications for live and featured videos, such as breaking news and concerts.
* Bug fixes and performance improvements

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‘MLB.com At Bat’ iOS app updated for All-Star Week, adds new iPhone UI & enhanced video highlights

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jul 11 2013 - 5:39 am PT
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The MLB.com At Bat app, which allows subscribers to watch live games as well as access on-demand content and news, was updated today with new features and support for the upcoming All-Star Week in New York.

In addition to being able to access All-Star Week content such as the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, the updated app also adds customized push notifications for the MLB News channel and “in-progress video highlights within the Gameday Plays interface.”

iPhone users are also getting a brand new UI with a revamped news section & sortable statistics, as well as the ability to have “Gameday data synched with live audio broadcasts.”

MLB is currently offering a subscription for the discounted price of $9.99 for the remainder of the 2013 season.

What’s New in Version 6.2.0

• Follow All-Star Week live from New York, including the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game
• Added the MLB News channel for customized push notifications
• Watch in-progress video highlights within the Gameday Plays interface
• Updated user interfaces (iPhone only)
• Available Gameday data synched with live audio broadcasts (iPhone only)
• Highlights now include full description of each clip
• Overall maintenance improvements

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Apple strikes content deal with CW Network for ad-supported Apple TV app

Avatar for Mark Gurman May 16 2013 - 3:35 pm PT
1 Comment

CW’s Xbox app

During a presentation with advertisers, CW Network president Mark Pedowitz announced that the network would be expanding its content offerings to new multimedia devices. This strategy will include a spot as an app on the Apple TV set-top-box’s home screen.

The network confirmed this to MacRumors:

It’s a dedicated CW app that will work like our Xbox and mobile and tablet apps – no cable authentication required, full episodes of our shows available next day after air, ad-supported.

Notably, as noted in the above quote, the CW content will be ad-supported.

CW currently streams its content to software on Microsoft Windows devices such as the Xbox. Apple recently added Hulu Plus and sports content to the Apple TV, and the current generation Apple set-top-box has sported YouTube and Netflix integration since launch.

Apple is also rumored to be nearing a content deal for Apple TV with HBO.

CW currently hosts various TV episodes in addition to some original content. The network lists its show offerings on its website. 


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CEO of MLB Advance Media floored by Passbook adoption, 12 percent of eTicket buyers already choosing the service

Avatar for Jake Smith Oct 9 2012 - 2:46 pm PT
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As the new Passbook feature available on iOS 6 starts to settle in the hands of more users, the sales of printed tickets may start to go down. MarketWatch reported this afternoon that Major League Baseball wants to phase out printed tickets all together and move to apps like Passbook to deliver tickets instead. The MLB tested this type of digital ticket sale with four teams during the last two weeks of the season. From the sound of it, results are better than expected.

Bob Bowman, CEO of MLB Advance Media, told MarketWatch that 1,500 e-ticket buyers, or 12 percent, bought their tickets using Passbook. He was shocked: “That adoption rate really floored us – there is no question our fans want digital tickets.” This has to be just what Apple wants.

Passbook offers benefits that paper tickets do not. Sure, there is nothing like having the paper ticket as a collectors item, but the benefits of a digital version may seem worth it to some. Bowman explained, “Fans can use the tickets, forward them to a friend, resell them, or even donate them to charity – and they never get lost or left at home.” Fans can also purchase a paper ticket, leave it at home, and use their ticket via Passbook instead.
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MLB at Bat ’12 available for free on App Store Feb. 29 with $119 subscription

Avatar for Jake Smith Feb 17 2012 - 2:04 pm PT
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Pitchers and Catchers are set to report over the next few days and MLB is getting its 2012 App ready

Baseball fans will be happy to hear that Major League Baseball is again bringing the MLB at Bat app back to the App Store so they can enjoy every game throughout the season on their iOS device. In previous years, the MLB at Bat app on the App Store made available audio of the games and in-game statistics. A premium package could open video for all games. This year, MLB is changing the way they bring you games.

Luckily for this season, MLB confirmed with EverythingiCafe that MLB at Bat ’12 would be available for free on the App Store for both the iPhone and iPad— as long as you pay for the one time subscription. The app will stream both audio and video and bring in-game stats.

MLB at Bat ’12 will be available Feb. 29 for free. However, if you want to use the app, you will have to pay a once-a-year $119 subscription as a returning customer or $125 as a new customer. Those who subscribe can view 150 Spring Training games and all 2,430 regular season games, though some are subject black outs. You can now sign up for the MLB.TV season on the MLB website. The first game will stream March 3.


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