Review: ScoreCenter XL

Overview

ScoreCenter XL brings ESPN Sportscenter to the iPad building upon everything in the simplistic free iPhone version. The app loads with the top newsworthy game scores in the left column with the game detail in the main column. You can customize which sports you want to follow, as well as the specific teams in those sports.

Features

The app features pretty much every sport you could think of. No matter which game you choose gives you game details including box score and play by play. Shortly after a game completes the video highlight package aired on Sportscenter will be part of the game detail screen. Also included are ESPN.com articles as well as special video sections from Sportscenter including top plays and six pack of questions.

The Good

The app gives you the best of Sportscenter without having to see and hear the terrible announcers (just some, you know which ones!). You don't have to sit through events you could care less about, and there are no commercials. Just the sports news you want right at your fingertips anytime you want it. If you want to find out about your team right now, just click on the game of interest and find out the game highlights, box score, and play by play in a streamlined interface. The best part is that you can watch the video highlight package that would play on Sportscenter, but you only have to watch the one you're interested in. It's just so much better to watch the two minute highlight of your teams rather than having to wait around like in the actual show. It wouldn't be Sportscenter without the news ticker at the bottom, and it's included in the app updating live in the background at the bottom. Also included is their top 10 for each night which is a always a fun video to watch. Articles from ESPN.com in their entirety are included as well as other videos of special chat sessions with their supposed experts. The app is your one stop source for everything sports all for only a one time fee of $5. A recent update also improved the crashing problems, so I never experienced one crash or slow down while using the app on 1.0.1. All video can be watched in the article or full screen, and there is just an overwhelming amount of sports content in a beautiful interface.

The Bad

The app requires an internet connection to access it, and won't load without it. It would be great if it could download some data for offline viewing in case you wanted to read some articles, or access game recaps when you have time, but not a connection. You may want to access the morning after the games, and want to read up about them, but the app doesn't load anything.

The Verdict

Scorecenter XL brings the best of Sportscenter to the iPad in one streamlined package. After using the app this replaces ever watching Sportscenter again, and gives you all the sports info you could ever want in one app. The app has so many great features that work so well including the individual game details, a la carte video highlights, bottom score ticker, and articles from ESPN.com. This is the best sports app you can buy on the iPad, and a must buy for sports fans at $4.99. I'm assuming that you chose to read this review because you like sports, if not it doesn't matter how great an app is.

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