Posted by Pitchero.com |
15th January 2013 |
45 Comments
Pitchero Launches iPhone App
Free iPhone App for all Pitchero club websites.
15
Jan
45
Great news!
Following months of development Pitchero is thrilled to announce the launch of the new iPhone App – and the beginning of a whole new mobile era here at Pitchero.
The app is 100% free with NO hidden subscriptions and can be used by every member of your club from players to parents, coaches to club officials and supporters.
To learn more and download the app click here.
You will need a Pitchero account, but this can be created during the launch process.
** The Android version will follow later in the year.**
What does the app do?
The aim of the app is to keep your members connected to your club wherever they are.
To do this, the app combines content from your website with extra features and functionality using native app technology.
The main features of the app are:
The app allows members to filter content by team and content type, and just like the website, the app allows a user to follow as many clubs as they want to create a network of clubs.
This great feature means you can access the latest news from every club in your league or keep a sneaky eye on a local rival!
How can I promote the app to my club members?
Over the next few weeks Pitchero will run automated advertising throughout your club website promoting the app to your members.
If a member tries to access your club website via an iPhone they will be directed to download the app.
We have also added a news item to your club website explaining the benefits to your members, this includes links to the iTunes store where the app can be downloaded.
What developments can we expect in the future?
The Pitchero app has been a major project. To make it easier we have broken the process down into phases.
Phase 1 – live today:
Streams content from your club website and allows players to confirm their availability and team selection.
Phase 2:
Provides tools for Webmasters and Team Admins. This will include updating fixtures and results and creating a team selection all via the app.
Provide a LIVE streaming feature, allowing Team Admins to record live match updates and player statistics all via the app.
We are working really hard to push the remaining features live and they will be made available via a free update from the app store.
Crucially, we want to give each club the perfect app to manage their members, organise players and record team statistics as they happen.
What about Android?
Currently twice as many iPhone’s access Pitchero compared with Android phones. It therefore made sense to develop an iPhone app first.
We understand many members own Android devices and the proportion accessing Pitchero will increase over the next few months. Consequently the development of an Android app has already begun. A launch date for this has not yet been fixed.
What about tablets?
The iPhone App works great on the iPad and we are developing an iPad specific app for later in the year.
What about other devices?
At the moment we are focusing all of our efforts on Apple and Android devices. We have not ruled out other devices but Apple and Android are the priorities.
============================================================
As always we welcome your feedback, please add your comments below.
To emphasise:
============================================================
For help using the iPhone App or to request a feature update, click here.
============================================================
BREAKING NEWS
Pitchero app currently the second most popular free sports app in the app store!
============================================================
Bug Update
Since Tuesday the app has been downloaded over 10,000 times - awesome!
But, as some users have found, there is a small bug affecting iPhones with older software which is causing the app to crash when accessing the 'More' section.
We have built a fix for the bug - but this will not be live until early next week.
If you are finding the app crashing, please update your iPhone software to the latest version.
============================================================
To learn more and download the app click here.
Following months of development Pitchero is thrilled to announce the launch of the new iPhone App – and the beginning of a whole new mobile era here at Pitchero.
The app is 100% free with NO hidden subscriptions and can be used by every member of your club from players to parents, coaches to club officials and supporters.
To learn more and download the app click here.
You will need a Pitchero account, but this can be created during the launch process.
** The Android version will follow later in the year.**
What does the app do?
The aim of the app is to keep your members connected to your club wherever they are.
To do this, the app combines content from your website with extra features and functionality using native app technology.
The main features of the app are:
- Club and team news
- Fixtures and results
- League tables
- Match reports
- Videos and photos
- Player availability
- Team selection
- Inbox
The app allows members to filter content by team and content type, and just like the website, the app allows a user to follow as many clubs as they want to create a network of clubs.
This great feature means you can access the latest news from every club in your league or keep a sneaky eye on a local rival!
How can I promote the app to my club members?
Over the next few weeks Pitchero will run automated advertising throughout your club website promoting the app to your members.
If a member tries to access your club website via an iPhone they will be directed to download the app.
We have also added a news item to your club website explaining the benefits to your members, this includes links to the iTunes store where the app can be downloaded.
What developments can we expect in the future?
The Pitchero app has been a major project. To make it easier we have broken the process down into phases.
Phase 1 – live today:
Streams content from your club website and allows players to confirm their availability and team selection.
Phase 2:
Provides tools for Webmasters and Team Admins. This will include updating fixtures and results and creating a team selection all via the app.
Provide a LIVE streaming feature, allowing Team Admins to record live match updates and player statistics all via the app.
We are working really hard to push the remaining features live and they will be made available via a free update from the app store.
Crucially, we want to give each club the perfect app to manage their members, organise players and record team statistics as they happen.
What about Android?
Currently twice as many iPhone’s access Pitchero compared with Android phones. It therefore made sense to develop an iPhone app first.
We understand many members own Android devices and the proportion accessing Pitchero will increase over the next few months. Consequently the development of an Android app has already begun. A launch date for this has not yet been fixed.
What about tablets?
The iPhone App works great on the iPad and we are developing an iPad specific app for later in the year.
What about other devices?
At the moment we are focusing all of our efforts on Apple and Android devices. We have not ruled out other devices but Apple and Android are the priorities.
============================================================
As always we welcome your feedback, please add your comments below.
To emphasise:
- Currently, twice as many iPhone's access Pitchero compared to Android phones.
- But don't worry, the Android app is on its way.
- Webmaster and Team Admin features will follow soon via a free update.
- Apple and Android are our priorities.
============================================================
For help using the iPhone App or to request a feature update, click here.
============================================================
BREAKING NEWS
Pitchero app currently the second most popular free sports app in the app store!
============================================================
Bug Update
Since Tuesday the app has been downloaded over 10,000 times - awesome!
But, as some users have found, there is a small bug affecting iPhones with older software which is causing the app to crash when accessing the 'More' section.
We have built a fix for the bug - but this will not be live until early next week.
If you are finding the app crashing, please update your iPhone software to the latest version.
============================================================
To learn more and download the app click here.
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Looks good so far!
Great first version guys... can't wait to use it this weekend! Thanks!
Please consider a Windows Phone version - would also be great to have this work on Windows 8 tablets if you're looking at an iPad specific app.
I second the call for a Windows Phone version
It's a good start and there's a lot to like about the app. I particularly like the way it's so easy to update availability. I notice that it carries through team preferences from the site - would be good if you could choose them on the app to as some players are yet to get that far on the website. It's great that you can add games directly to our calendar. Loving that there's so much there already but doesn't mean I won't ask for more.
What I'd like to see:
- please let people comment from in apps. Helps to build the sense of community of the site
- admin access (promised in an update but no timeframe offered)
- league tables - if they are there I haven't seen them
- photo uploading for players
- links to social networks for sharing direct from the app
- ability to download photos
- don't appear to be able to rotate in gallery - everything is stuck in portrait
Hi James,
You should be able to find league tables in the "Match Info" section of the app. Your list of additions are great and we'd certainly like to include most or all of them at some point.
Hope you enjoy using the app.
I wished it hadn't posted an entry in the activity feed that I had downloaded the app... is there a way to get rid of this?
Looks good but am I am getting reports frrom other players that they are unable to scroll through Match Info.
Hi Andi,
I'll try to look into this for you. In the meantime if any of your members are having any problems they can create a support ticket and we'll do our best to help them out.
http://help.pitchero.com
Hi Alex,
Thanks for that. Found them now. Would like to be able to sort them so I can see my side first.
Best wishes
James
A very good start. Seems easier to navigate team sections - we run three teams.
Thumbs p, looking forward to updates.
Boldmere St Michaels FC
Quick question, I am seeing notifications of people downloading the app on my activity feed (which is good), how many people will get that detail.
Tommy
Cumnock RFC Primary Webmaster
I just see numbers, not names on the activity feed
Earlier in the day it was posting at an individual level (ie Joe Bloggs has installed the iPhone App) but now there is a generic message from pitchero.com.
Not sure if they changed it or made it a number after a certain threshold.
It still shows me that in account settings, not activity feed on main website homepage. There it only shows me a number as well.
Hi guys,
The activity feed in your "Account" will display up to 3 names plus a total number. You need to be logged in and connected with a club to see this information.
The activity feed on your club homepage will simply show the total number of users who have downloaded the app.
Hope that clears things up.
cheers, it does.
Hi Guys - really great addition - thanks
Couple of things related to video playing - if i play a match video on my iphone through the website then it shifts from portrait to landscape as required. If I play one through the new app it doesn't - it's always in portrait.
Also playing the same video from the app from the team page fails to play.
Cheers Matt
Well done guys, Apps great....only gripe is the advertising banner you've placed on the top of the websites makes the sites look awful/messy.... imo
Gavin,
The advertising banner will only be in place for a few days.
Cheers
PH
okies cheers for the update
Fine idea, but what about all the other smart phone users? And really it's not a priority. What is really needed is some vital functionality with the ability to notify multiple users on one email address (crucial when picking teams) AND a calendar that collates all fixtures and events, so that members can easily see what is happening on which day.
Shame is doesn't work with older version OS's. Mine is 4.2.1 (Iphone 3G)and the most recent my phone will take
HI Steve,
If you decided to update the iPhone software (Settings > General > Software Update) the app will work fine.
As posted IPhone 3G won't go higher than IOS 4.2.1 and I can't justify a new phone yet
Shame is doesn't work with htc
What about android phones? Would be lovely...
Love it!
When selecting events, it crashes the app. Any idea why? I have deleted the app and re-installed it. Otherwise a fantastic app!!
Hello Tino,
We have found a bug for iphones using the older software. We are working on a fix and hope to have this online early next week.
Really sorry for this. As soon as the fix is live, we will post it on this blog.
Thanks
PH
Love the new app
All my players are using it and now can't complain they "can't get online !"
Great app. Do you have any plans to show league information somewhere? Either in the club news feeds or separately select the league the same way you to for teams you are supporting.
When will a version be available for Galaxy and other androids? Several supporters have asked.
You need to have a look at capitalisation - some sections are correct (and reflect parent website) some sections e.g Fixtures look like they are set to initial caps.
How long are the adverts going to continue on our website for?
Cheers, LCFC
any chance of turn the constant iphone adverts off please. Like the majority of users, I have Android and will not be using the iphone app.
Is there any need to have three iphone app adverts on the home page? The title banner is particularly annoying, should be able to turn this one off at least.
Secondly, the news article you inserted into the news feed: we deleted this for two reasons. Firstly it isn't your news feed. All future attempts to do this will also be deleted. Secondly it pushed something more important down the list out of sight.
Pitchero attracts clubs because it is a good solution to a problem. If it becomes a problem we'll look for an alternative that isn't as intrusive.
I notice you've sent a message out to our members today detailing news article, so that you can once again promote the iphone app. This has annoyed several members of our site bbbecause they think it came from us and contains details of a news article that was circulated at the begining of the week.
Stick to advertising in your designated parts of the site and stop bombarding people about the iphone app.
ps: the app may be great but as I have Andriod I've no way of telling yet. But if the over bearing promotion of the iphone version is repeated when the Andriod one is available it will get an automatic 1 star rating from me.
Hi Andy,
Thanks for your comment. The iPhone app has been developed to benefit to all Clubs on Pitchero at our own cost and we want to make sure your members don't miss out on the opportunity to access the great content you add to your website.
The iPhone app banner is temporary and will be removed shortly. In the meantime you can hide the banner by clicking "Don't show this again".
Same here... Any idea when in 2013 the android app will be released?
Am currently unable to confirm team selection within the app, not sure if this is a recurring problem. Have been able to update my availability and am getting an alert badge to say that I have been selected for a side but when i select that area of the app it tells me that I have no selections pending. I have re-installed the app and even changed the settings to get it to show all sides but to no avail. Any ideas.
At any rate, keep up the good work. People seem to forget that you provide a FREE hosting service and have just created a FREE app.
Hi James,
Thanks for the great feedback. We have an sent our first update to Apple which adds improvements to "Selection" and "Availability". Once this has been approved (hopefully in the next week) you'll be able to confirm your Selections.
Hope you continue to enjoy using the app.
Hi guys, no exact dates for the Android version yet sorry.