Comments on: News about MLB.com At Bat ’12

By: Dave M.

Dave M. — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:45:21 +0000

Yes, in fact I have streamed a game from the iPad to a Windows computer very easily. It was the Audio stream. You need a freeware program on the Windows computer that will accept AirPlay streams.

For Windows, check out this page:
http://compixels.com/8974/enable-airplay-on-windows-pc-to-wirelessly-stream-audio-video-from-ios-devices

For Macs, check out this page:
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/36263/airplayer

I haven’t found a utility that will stream video to the computer, yet.

By: Dasbull

Dasbull — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:53:37 +0000

Does anyone know if ou purchase MLB atbat12 if you can also stream it on your computer or do you have to purchase adio separately through MLB.com? Thank you

By: Dave M.

Dave M. — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:03:15 +0000

Yep, if you look at the linked post I made yesterday (added to this post as an UPDATE at the top of the article), I found a PDF that described how the in-app purchases would work and roughly how the app would handle the subscriptions. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I beat the Macworld article by a day. They were probably embargo’ed not to post the article until today so I suppose I had an advantage there.

Still, the Macworld article is well written. Way more so than mine since I’m not a writer.

Thanks for the dialog! It’s nice to get some feedback now and then.

By: JT

JT — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 01:44:04 +0000

Exactly. Big improvement over last year. No need to go find a new app as your articles states.

Also, MacWorld just released an article confirming this is how the app will work.

By: Dave M.

Dave M. — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 01:35:11 +0000

Usually, in-app purchases are linked to the AppleID purchasing. So both my wife and I use the same AppleID to get apps in the App Store. When I use the in-app purchase to unlock the Gameday audio/highlights, etc… it will work on all the devices attached to that AppleID.

So, in theory, we only have to pay once for all three devices (my wife’s iPhone, my iPhone and iPad.).

By: Dave M.

Dave M. — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 01:23:18 +0000

It’s very possible that when you enter your MLB.TV Premium subscription, it unlocks all the other features of the app and not having to pay the extra $15 for those features. That would make sense.

I was writing from the point of view of someone who isn’t going to subscribe to the MLB.TV Premium subscription. I never do since my team would be blacked out for over 80 games. My wife is an Indians fan, but doesn’t really need to “watch” the games. Plus, you can watch a condensed version if you don’t mind waiting until after the game is over.

The app being released tomorrow will be free. From inside the app, you have a choice of either using the “Lite” version, paid version ($2.99/$14.99) for the Gameday and highlights package, or pay the $24.99 monthly subscription for the MLB.TV Premium package which probably includes the ($2.99/$14.99) package. I am guessing that the $125 full season MLB.TV package need to be purchased on MLB.com’s website. I could be wrong, but the PDF document didn’t really seem to have that option documented.

It could be that the document was an early draft and later drafts handle the $125 in-app purchase.

Overall, we’ll find out tomorrow (or possibly tonight 10pm CST).

By: JT

JT — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 01:15:34 +0000

You may be looking at this the wrong way. Instead of the cost being 10X more, it may be half as much. The app will be a free download, as you mention. If you can subscribe to GameDay audio for a similar amount this year, but the subscription is linked to a login/account instead of the app, you’ll only need to pay once for both iPhone and iPad.

We’ll see tomorrow I suppose, but I have a hard time believing MLB would sacrifice the primary feature of the most popular sports app.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:43:25 +0000

Hey Dave ! I have the same worries. I used to use the app just for the audio feeds. However I saw on other websites that the mlb at bat 12 is FREE with the MLB.TV PREMIUM subscription. Which means there has to be another version ( paid) for non subscribers. They only difference should be : the app is free if you get the premium package. if not..its like before.. Or at least that’s how i see it ! I guess we’ll see tomorrow.. the 29th cheers

By: Dave M.

Dave M. — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:13:39 +0000

Yes, the app is going to be free. But how much of the app will be usable if you don’t have the $125 subscription? That’s the big question on my mind at least. I haven’t found any info on what MLB is going to do to the app if you don’t subscribe.

Are you still going to be able to watch the up to the second live play by play coverage that the app used to do when you were just paying the $15 for the app?

I never used the audio or video streams in the MLB.com app. I just opened up my team’s game and watched play by play on that little baseball diamond that they show.

If that functionality is still there in the free app even without either subscription. I’m going to be a very happy camper!

By: david

david — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:21:14 +0000

Word is the app is free. You can get an in app purchase of the audio stream for around what you paid last year, or the video version for $125. In the end, you will be spending much less.