ESPN Launches Rebranded SportsCenter App with League 'Clubhouses', Enhanced Game Pages

[MacRumors]

ESPN has rebranded its ScoreCenter app as ESPN SportsCenter, bringing a visual redesign, a new favorites tab for keeping track of designated teams, and a "Clubhouses" feature that acts as central hub for content from various sports leagues. The redesigned app also includes an inbox for personalized sports content, a search function, and enhanced game pages with one-tap access to GameCast live scoring information.

What's New in Version 4.0.0
- ScoreCenter is now SportsCenter
- Speed: Faster than Calvin Johnson going deep
- Favorites: Your team news and scores in an instant
- Clubhouses: Content central for every team and league under the sun
- ESPN Now: Your one-stop-shop for real-time scores and social updates
- Inbox: A dedicated home for personalized content from news to alerts to scores
- Enhanced Game Pages: New native sharing and one-click GameCast access
- Search: Easily navigate to teams, leagues, and sports to view content or add to favorites

The last major update to ESPN's popularlive scoring app came in December 2012, optimizing it for the iPhone 5 and offering live scoring alerts. ESPN SportsCenter is a free app for iOS devices and can be downloaded through the App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: ESPN Launches Rebranded SportsCenter App with League 'Clubhouses', Enhanced Game Pages

 

[macduke]

Make everything white!

WHITE!!!

 

[tomtendo]

I downloaded this app today and as soon as it was completed the app froze my phone. I did a hard reset and it preceded to boot back up. However, instead of an Apple logo all of a sudden I was getting an ESPN logo next to a communist flag.

Anyone else?

 

[IvanX]

It's still pathetic that they do not allow addition of favourites without having to register or log in with Facebook. Yahoo Sports allows this, so no reason to go back to ESPN.

 

[tomtendo]

It's still pathetic that they do not allow addition of favourites without having to register or log in with Facebook. Yahoo Sports allows this, so no reason to go back to ESPN.

Very good point.

 

[parseckadet]

I see they're still continuing the ridiculous policy of requiring you to create an account for basic functionality such as remembering favorite teams and score updates, neither of which required an account a couple of years ago. And now they want my location too? For what purpose? ESPN has been treating it's viewers/users as nothing more than dollar signs for as long as I can remember, and I'm tired of it.

 

[adam044]

It's still pathetic that they do not allow addition of favourites without having to register or log in with Facebook. Yahoo Sports allows this, so no reason to go back to ESPN.

You don't need Facebook at all.

----------

I see they're still continuing the ridiculous policy of requiring you to create an account for basic functionality such as remembering favorite teams and score updates, neither of which required an account a couple of years ago. And now they want my location too? For what purpose? ESPN has been treating it's viewers/users as nothing more than dollar signs for as long as I can remember, and I'm tired of it.

It's to find local teams, bleacher report team stream also does it. Just don't allow it and put your tin hat on.

 

[Lord Hamsa]

So, I'm to take it that they finally realized that the last major update was a UI disaster? It was bad enough to drive me to Yahoo!, but I didn't feel like their notifications provided enough detail, so I'll be happy to switch back if the app is navigable again.

 

[Vctr]

It's still pathetic that they do not allow addition of favourites without having to register or log in with Facebook. Yahoo Sports allows this, so no reason to go back to ESPN.

I have favorites without logging in with Facebook. Unless you're saying you are opposed to registering for an ESPN account ... In which case, why would you be? How would they track who your favorite teams are if you switch to a different device?

 

[zman2100]

This looks pretty nice, but the fact that it doesn't support swipe gestures for moving back is disappointing. So many apps support swiping back now that it feels like a missing feature in apps that don't, especially ones that have been redesigned recently. It also still has the ugly iOS 6 keyboard, although there are very few places in the app that use a keyboard.

 

[dannyyankou]

This looks pretty nice, but the fact that it doesn't support swipe gestures for moving back is disappointing. So many apps support swiping back now that it feels like a missing feature in apps that don't, especially ones that have been redesigned recently. It also still has the ugly iOS 6 keyboard, although there are very few places in the app that use a keyboard.

It wasn't written for iOS 7 for some reason. It also uses the old keyboard.

 

[adam044]

No iPad version.... Why

 

[parseckadet]

I have favorites without logging in with Facebook. Unless you're saying you are opposed to registering for an ESPN account ... In which case, why would you be? How would they track who your favorite teams are if you switch to a different device?

What I have a problem with is providing my email address to a company that is likely to spam me to no end for a feature that other apps are able to provide without the need for creating an account. Hell, even ESPN didn't require it until a year or two ago. It just leaves a sour taste in my mouth, and makes be wonder if they should be trusted. That seed of doubt then causes me to wonder why they need my location.

And look, the Yahoo Sports app offers the same functionality without some log in. I've got no problem providing that app with my location, because I know that they're using it to provide a real benefit to me, not just because some advertising exec out there thinks having my location and email address is something he can sell.

 

[boshii]

What I have a problem with is providing my email address to a company that is likely to spam me to no end for a feature that other apps are able to provide without the need for creating an account. Hell, even ESPN didn't require it until a year or two ago. It just leaves a sour taste in my mouth, and makes be wonder if they should be trusted. That seed of doubt then causes me to wonder why they need my location.

And look, the Yahoo Sports app offers the same functionality without some log in. I've got no problem providing that app with my location, because I know that they're using it to provide a real benefit to me, not just because some advertising exec out there thinks having my location and email address is something he can sell.

I've had an ESPN account for years and have never been spammed with anything. If you happen to get an email from them, just unsubscribe or mark it as junk.

They ask for your location when you're picking favorite teams so they can show you the teams closest to you since majority of people like their home teams.

Having the account makes it easier for me because I don't have to redo my settings on my idevices since all my favorites and settings are tied to my account.

 

[Brownsiey]

I've had an ESPN account for years and have never been spammed with anything. If you happen to get an email from them, just unsubscribe or mark it as junk.

They ask for your location when you're picking favorite teams so they can show you the teams closest to you since majority of people like their home teams.

Having the account makes it easier for me because I don't have to redo my settings on my idevices since all my favorites and settings are tied to my account.

this. i never receive emails from them, and refusing the espn app access to my location tracking did not affect my use. my only complaint with the app is they removed the ability to view all of my favorite teams past, current, and upcoming games from one convenient tab.

 

[neier]

I have favorites without logging in with Facebook. Unless you're saying you are opposed to registering for an ESPN account ... In which case, why would you be? How would they track who your favorite teams are if you switch to a different device?

Yeah, it's not as if Apple has provided any way for developers to save data like that to the iCloud.

 

[RMT25]

Looks pretty good. Text kinda light tho.

 

[C DM]

Ah, conspiracy theories galore over nothing. Internet FTW!

 

[IvanX]

You don't need Facebook at all.

I didn't say you do. I said it is one of available options. I used "or" in my sentence.

I have favorites without logging in with Facebook. Unless you're saying you are opposed to registering for an ESPN account ... In which case, why would you be? How would they track who your favorite teams are if you switch to a different device?

Why should I have to register for an ESPN account? I don't want to. I also don't want to give them access to my Facebook. I don't want them to track who my favourite teams are. I have an iPhone and an iPad and I am quite happy to add them manually on each device. It worked perfectly fine with a pre-3.0 release. Starting with 3.0, existing favourites were migrated over, but you could not modify them without an account.

Having the account makes it easier for me because I don't have to redo my settings on my idevices since all my favorites and settings are tied to my account.

That's fine for you and a lot of other people (probably) and I see the convenience and ease of use value. But I am sure that there is a plethora of folks, myself included, who are not too inconvenienced by setting up their favourites manually as a trade off for not having to create an account or log in via Facebook. Give people choice and let them decide for themselves, it's not rocket science.

Yahoo Sports allows saving of favourites without an account, so I have set up camp firmly in their half of the field. You can bet your last penny that as soon as they make it mandatory, I will up sticks and look for alternatives.

 

[TouchMint.com]

It's still pathetic that they do not allow addition of favourites without having to register or log in with Facebook. Yahoo Sports allows this, so no reason to go back to ESPN.

Exactly!!!!

It didnt always used to be that way but I deleted the app once they started that.

 

[John.B]

Thanks for the Yahoo Sports app recommendation. Downloaded it just now. A little fiddly to set up at first -- no, I don't want notifications, no, I don't want to provide my location -- but it looks like it has the functionality I want without requiring a Facebook login or providing them an email address (though that is optional for those who might want it to sync settings across devices).

ESPN's app development team could learn a thing or two from the Yahoo app. I figured Yahoo was on life support, but they really seem to be upping their game lately.

 

[C DM]

The irony of being "conflicted" over using some simple essentially irrelevant login (that really only requires a made up username, password, and really any junky email) for a well known service provider, and yet posting about it on a more obscure and even recently hacked site--due to various reasons, including some poor security practices--that requires the same kind of information (that was clearly provided by the posters who are posting about it all) in order to be able to post anything.

 

[nburwell]

While I use the Yahoo sports app, I download this on a whim yesterday. While I prefer the UI over Yahoo, I did not get one single push notification last night when I was watching the Blackhawks game. The Yahoo app sent notifications perfectly fine, but nothing from ESPN. I checked and double checked the settings to make sure push notifications were turned on (they were). I have since deleted the app. I'll stick with Yahoo for now.

 

[C DM]

While I use the Yahoo sports app, I download this on a whim yesterday. While I prefer the UI over Yahoo, I did not get one single push notification last night when I was watching the Blackhawks game. The Yahoo app sent notifications perfectly fine, but nothing from ESPN. I checked and double checked the settings to make sure push notifications were turned on (they were). I have since deleted the app. I'll stick with Yahoo for now.

Strange, I got the usual alerts I always get last night for one of the teams I follow and have alerts set for (which had a game last night).

 

[John.B]

The irony of being "conflicted" over using some simple essentially irrelevant login (that really only requires a made up username, password, and really any junky email) for a well known service provider, and yet posting about it on a more obscure and even recently hacked site--due to various reasons, including some poor security practices--that requires the same kind of information (that was clearly provided by the posters who are posting about it all) in order to be able to post anything.

Did it occur to you that maybe recent experience with an "obscure and even recently hacked site" might make people less inclined to want to provide an email address in the first place? Who wants to go to the trouble? First name, last name, birthdate... Really, ESPN???

Oh, and how about those full-screen Kay Jewelers ads as you scroll through the UI.