NFL Players To Use Tablet Computers During Games

An anonymous reader writes A $400 million partnership between the NFL and Microsoft that replaces the old method of studying opponents from the sidelines using printed black-and-white photos with tablet computers is just one of the hi-tech upgrades to the NFL this year. From the article: "The referees are also going wireless so they can talk with each other without huddling, and coaches will sport new Bose headsets. But the appearance of Microsoft Surface tablets marks the first time players and coaches can legally use such electronic devices on the field during the game. The tablets will come into play for the first time Sunday night, when the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills play in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio."

Comments

How long before ...

[vlad30]

they are hacked/cracked and the outcome of the game is changed

Re:How long before ...

[Anonymous Coward]

At the New England Patriots opening game would be my guess.

Re: How long before ...

[jrumney]

It would just be another sponsorship opportunity for them. McAfee "sport" wireless security on Microsoft Surface tablets while you converse on your Bose headsets. IT is the new tobacco.

Push vs pull

[Anonymous Coward]

Pull: NFL wants something, shops around, buys a product
Push: Microsoft wants to promote something, shops around, finds someone to 'buy' it (in the sense its called a partnership and the balance of money transfers will result in Microsoft paying out).

So this $400 million partnership is unlikely to be $400 million, given its a few sideline cameras and a couple of dozen surface tablets. More likely it's a $40 million sponsorship deal for the NFL to promote Microsoft Surface Tablets.

Re:Push vs pull

[ruir]

I wonder how many of them will be using iPads secretly, kinda like in corporations where they have their Windows issued crap-mobile, and the iPhone on the side.

Re:Push vs pull

[hibiki_r]

Many, if not all NFL teams, already issue ipads to players to hold the playbook and film clips: Before you had to hand players tapes every week, and update the playbook, which used to be a big binder where you had to switch pages in and out.

What they are talking about replaces the binders with pictures of previous plays that you can see quarterbacks check on any TV broadcast. I guess that now that it's digitized, instead of stills, they'll get a video feed from the all-22 camera, and some way for the offensive coordinator, up above, to send bookmarks to the players on the side of the field.

NFL and Microsoft, lol?

[danknight48]

Next year in NFL:
- Start is removed. The game starts when a player can run through 20 squares of pointlessness to find the same option.
- Ball is replaced with a square cube. Showing adverts from Microsoft
- NFL fans are now forced to upgrade their TV's to support StupidX 12.0. They cant watch it otherwise.

Oh i so could go on for a long time, but, dinners ready, and, i really couldnt give a shit about either company :)

Re:American football

[pinzvidz]

You'll confuse the fuck out of 'em mate, it's "favorite". ;)

Re:American football

[Imsdal]

American football combines the worst aspects of American society: committee meetings and violence.

Bury the lede

[jamesl]

It's really about Xbox. From the linked article ...

Microsoft is getting some free TV advertising by outfitting the tablets with sky-blue cases clearly labeled "Surface." But Microsoft's main motivation is what the Redmond, Wash., company receives from its partnership with the NFL: a reported $400 million, five-year deal. That includes interactive content to help sell Xbox home video game consoles.

[ ... ]

When the regular season starts, Microsoft's Xbox Live network will offer services that include video feeds of game highlights and fantasy football data. Xbox owners will also gain access to NFL Sunday Ticket, the league's package of out-of-market game telecasts that was previously available only to DirecTV satellite service subscribers.

http://www.sfgate.com/technolo...

Re:Bury the lede

[Mr D from 63]

I wonder what they will charge for it.

Well, I've answered my own question... $200 to $300 bucks, and not only available on XBOX but other games and devices as well. But only to those who "qualify".

bad idea

[PopeRatzo]

NFL Players To Use Tablet Computers During Games

Won't they get broken with all the shoving and tackling? They better get some good screen protectors.

But you know who won't be using tablet computers during games? Hockey players. Because hockey players are the goddamn honey badgers of sport. Last year, a hockey player died on the friggin' bench, and they revived him and he went back into the game. Some player for Boston, the big Serb, I think, hooked a guy with his stick, on purpose, from behind right in the nuts and no penalty was called. Hockey players are some no-fuck-giving tough guys, and they won't be using tablet computers any time soon, except maybe to grab one out of a fan's hands to crack it over an opposing player's nose.

Re:But what about open source?

[stephanruby]

I mean, can Linux do this?

Pay 400 million dollars for the exposure? I doubt it. It was hard enough to pay for a single ad in the Wall Street Journal.

Wow.

[grub]

Neat idea, but shouldn't they be concentrating on the game and not playing "Learning my ABCs with Mickey"?

Tabloids will go nuts

[ArcadeMan]

A $400 million partnership between the NFL and Microsoft... coaches will sport new Bose headsets...

News flash! News flash!

Microsoft expected to buy Bose in order to counter the Apple-Beats deal!

Finally!!!

[Trailer Trash]

Microsoft has sold more than one Surface tablet! This will show up in the annual report next year: "Somebody bought Surface tablets!"

One more reason to not watch NFL

[DaveM753]

Could this be the year for Surface on the tablet??

This is so putrid. During every game this year, viewers are going to see a few scripted moments where a bunch of players/coaches will be standing around with their tablets and the TV commentators will discuss how marvelous/innovative the Surface tablets are. But during the rest of the game, watch closely: along the sidelines you will very rarely see anyone using their tablets

At some point during the season, a referee will make a controversial ruling after reviewing a replay using a Surface tablet (again, scripted moment).

But that's okay. I'll be watching not-the-NFL.

Re:One more reason to not watch NFL

[31415926535897]

They will get used a lot. I worked on the sidelines of the Bears one season and was amazed that they could only look at still photos (though if you flip through them, it practically looks like video).

This is a very natural progression to the game, and something that should have been done long ago. The whole MS/Surface/blah stuff is obviously marketing added on (why not if the nfl can make a buck or get a discount on the devices?). But I guarantee you that players will be glued to these things. Getting real-time film feedback is going to be huge, no matter who provides the technology.

Teams will still use paper

[tjhayes]

Remember that the NFL only permits teams to look at still images, they do not allow video. So even when using the tablet, they can only browse still images on it. The old paper print outs are still available and will be used 99%+ of the time anyway, because you can't see the tablet screen in bright sunlight.

Football? Do you mean Head-Brick?

[Scottingham]

I haven't heard of this 'football' sport. I think they're referring to Head-Brick: http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id...

Gloves?

[erp_consultant]

Most of the NFL players wear gloves these days (aside from quarterbacks - but some of them use gloves too). Did anyone test if the tablets work when you are wearing gloves? Gloves that might have mud on them? Just sayin'