Pros:
- Able to access AFL games live on my mobile.
- I was able to use my login credentials to access the app on my tablet, even though my tablet was running off WiFi, and not the Telstra 3G or 4G network.
- The quality of the image is better from what I can tell, than accessing these games via the Foxtel GO app, which seems to only stream in SD
Cons:
- Slight increase in the monthly fees I pay for mobile access. Optus was about $40 a month, Telstra is about $50 a month (although the salesman said it should come down to $40 based on some discount he configured when I changed over - we'll have to wait and see about this when the bill comes in)
- By far the biggest con is that, even though I can access the app on my tablet on local WiFi, the image is not full-screen, and instead is reduced to include stats on-screen. There is no 'full-screen' function:
- The Foxtel GO app allows these games to be watched on the tablet in full-screen. I feel that this is an effort by Foxtel to push audiences towards their app:
Observations:
- I definitely felt resentment and anger when I realised that the AFL Live app on the tablet was less-than-full-screen. I immediately thought about ways of getting around this - VPN's, chromecasting etc, but nothing seemed immediately apparent. I also felt that this was a commercially driven outcome.
- The next step is to sign up to a Watch AFL account. This is the new 'global' account for the AFL which is run by Fox Sports, and seems to have replaced the old AFL Global Pass that was run by the AFL. I should be able to fire up the VPN, sign into this account, and get games full-screen that way. I know this app also has the capability to chromecast as well.
