Two months into the 2008 Major League Baseball season, things are starting to heat up. Already, Jon Lester has thrown a no-hitter, Ozzie Guillen has gone off on a handful of rants, and the Yankees have underperformed their way into the AL East cellar. But, for true MLB fans – the ones who go to games intent on watching every pitch – a pair of new inventions may be the real baseball news of the summer.
Scorecast and Liveboard are two similar new products that provide play-by-play action when tickets and TVs are out of the question. Of the two inventions, Ambient’s Baseball Scorecast (pictured) boasts both the more modern appearance and the lower price ($124.99). The miniature desktop device supplies scores, stats and schedules for every MLB team. An office worker can sit the Scorecast on a desk and glance at it from time to time to get the latest scores – without surfing the Internet from a work computer. The device runs on four AA batteries and it automatically receives updates from Ambient’s InfoCast Network. Along with getting all the scores from around the league, users also can select an in-progress game and monitor the action inning by inning – including runs, hits and errors. A toggle button allows users to quickly switch from game to game, and view the standings of different divisions – including individual team wins and losses, games back and streaks. Users also can use the device to view the schedule for any team.
While the Scorecast is good for keeping track of around-the-league action, the Liveboard from Vroop, LLC, is a better tool for keeping tabs on a particular team. With a less “tech” look than the Scorecast (and more expensive price - $199), the Liveboard has an old-school appearance that fits comfortably with the sport of baseball. Encased in a white-ash frame (the same wood used to make baseball bats), the Liveboard has LED displays that show the names of the teams playing a game, the score of each team and the inning the game is in. The right side of the Liveboard features a baseball diamond with light-up bases to illustrate men on, and small circular lights to indicate the current number of balls and strikes for a batter and the number of outs in the inning. The device comes with a USB adapter that sends signals from a computer to the Liveboard, and it can work up to 60 feet away. Liveboard operates in three different modes: single, full and cycle. Each mode allows a user to set a home team, and the board automatically displays game action whenever that team is playing.
Both the Liveboard and Scorecast are small enough to fit subtly on a desk at home or work. While both devices function in a similar manner, the Liveboard is probably better for following a single team while the Scorecast is more suitable for general baseball fans. But individuals are probably most likely to decide between the two based on design preferences. Certainly, the throwback appearance of the Liveboard will appeal more to elders than youngsters. And. while the Scorecast will appeal to fans used to getting their scores and stats from the Internet, the more advanced interface may be too much for individuals who want their ballpark info relayed as simply as possible. Aesthetic preferences aside, either device would make a great gift for the devout baseball fan – which is something to keep in mind with Father’s Day coming up.
