First Look: The Portable US Open

As luck would have it, I was on the go when the U.S. leg of the tennis Grand Slam started Monday, providing a good chance to test the live streaming video for iPad and the new mobile features from USOpen.org. The USTA went iOS-centric with an iPad-optimized browser and an iPhone app, but included a WAP site. My first take across the board:

– US Open for iPad: The Safari-optimized version of USOpen.org is slick though a little confusing. The natural impulse is to click where it says live videos but that’s a mistake. Instead, the “welcome iPad users” message explains you have to click on of the links below. Not too bad but the images of the five courts available television/streaming don’t come with helpful details like who’s actually playing where. That means checking the live rotating scoreboard that has a “watch” that merely reloads the page, not the video. So optimized, yes. Fully, not quite.

Once you figure out which match is on which channel, the video quality is as good as your connection. Full WiFi, pretty darn good, Spotty WiFi, stuttery results. Either way, it’s one of the first times I’ve clicked and instantly felt like I’ve just changed the channel on a small, but very decent TV. After I got home, the iPad provided an additional screen and a sense of control over the viewing experience when ESPN2 changed courts. One warning: the iPad stream is seriously delayed so if you’re relying on it and want to be surprised, stay away from real-time social media. (Play has restarted in the televised William-Vinci match as I type, while the same players on the iPad just got back on the court.)

– iPhone app: IBM, the US Open’s tech partner is the main sponsor of the US Open app; American Express sponsors the feature that highlight its own interests. exclusive sponsor of the US Open iPhone app and it shows. I’m not going to have a chance to try this on the scene but the features for ticket holders appear to be highly useful — seating charts; dining guide ranging from places that recommend reservations to the food village; venue maps that pinpoint here live matches are being played; and more. The GPS-augmented reality feature shelled me out when I tried to open it; maybe it could sense I’m nowhere near the Bille Jean King National Tennis Center.

The app includes USOpen.org Live Radio (live coverage and guests) and a way to send questions to the booth but no live video. Also on board: Twitter feeds for players, commentators, various official entities and events; auto-refreshing scores and stats; schedules and photos.

– WAP site: USTA didn’t develop standalone apps outside of iPhone, instead relying on a one-size-fits-all mobile browser version for the rest. Unfortunately, even when you’re using Android, you get a pitch to download the iPhone app. I tried the site out from my iPhone and a review Droid X from Verizon. It includes live scores, very limited spectator info; streaming USOpen.org radio (offered for iOS, Blackberry and Android but not Windows). No video on m.usopen.org but my Android browser cooperated and let me watch via usopen.org proper. Ditto for photos.

– Upshot: 30-15. Early in the match.