Oh, I would never use it for score unless I was spectating or something dumb like that, maybe playing parents vs kids. I'm all about that paper. I contacted the guy who wrote the one I use and asked about his change to pro version. I'll let you know what he says.
I've now played (sitting at my desk) with the "Pro" (paid) version of this app a little bit and so far I'm thinking it might be really good. I especially like that it keeps vibrating (at adjustable intervals) while you have the clock stopped. I'm going to try it next few games as my primary watch with the Casio as backup. What is "Spectator Mode?"
It vibrates at random intervals, prompting you with bon mots to yell at the referee. (I think it's just no GPS/step tracking.) I'm also going to be trying it out with Casio on wrist #2. Looking forward to shared reports.
Yes, spectator mode turns off gps. It was surprisingly awesome, hard to find something that absolutely nails what you need
Sounds awesome. Makes me want to get a Garmin again, especially with my Spintso causing problems ever since I changed the battery.
OK after two club matches with the app my first impression is that it's brilliant. The best part is when you have an injury (or chat-with-the-coach) stoppage you just hit the button and it stops the countdown but keeps the countup running, while vibrating periodically to remind you you've stopped it. In the meantime it's keeping a separate cumulative countup of your stoppages. I had a couple, and as I approached full time I was able to glance at it and see that it was two minutes and change, so I added three minutes (in a 1-0 match). This is a lot better than my usual Fingerspitzengefühl for adding time. So far--recommended. (Oh and it successfuly saved the GPS record of my meanderings around the pitch.)
It also gives you this nice little summary at the end, but if it saves it somewhere I haven't figured out where. (Let's not start a discussion of what the might be reflected at the bottom of the screen. And the reason it appears I added eight minutes instead of three is that I forgot to hit stop until I got to the parking lot.) The author is German. I'll try to remember to drop him a note about the typo in "length."
@Bubba Atlanta this was with your new Garmin, yes? To get that map displayed on your phone - does the watch send the data directly to the phone?
Yes that's my new $100 refurb Garmin. It communicates directly with the Garmin Connect app on the phone by bluetooth. Very nice.
It saves it under "Last Match Data," accessible via the watch menu. I don't see any way to transmit it or pull up anything other than the last match.
Here's an "Amazon Deal" link for the Garmin Vivoactive for $139 new. Don't know how long it's good for.
I used it without the GPS for three matches I reffed and one I coached back to back to back to back and WITHOUT GPS, it only used about 5% of my battery life. Since I run with it using GPS it does a really good job of estimating mileage based on steps, about 11 miles yesterday. Good stuff. Maybe the best app I've used for anything. Those refurb Garmins are a good deal. A couple of friends have bought them. I guess people get them online and decide they don't like them and send them back.
The Garmin forerunner 10 is currently on clearance at Best Buy online for $40 band new. I picked one up and will post again in a couple months after I get to use it as a second watch in a game. It's basic with no HR monitoring and no ability to download apps (I figure my Spintso already does what the app does), and battery life not as good as other models but should be enough to get through at least 2 games.
I've now used the app for three games on my 235 and am very happy with it so far: it's performed exactly as I'd hoped, enough that I'm starting to look at it instead of my Casio during the game. My only nit is that I wish it recorded the activities as "Other" rather than "Running," but others might have a different opinion on that. I keep the GPS on, because I just charge the watch in my car anyway, and the impact is like any other run/workout.
@Bubba Atlanta You almost have me sold here. It looks like the watch you have does not have a heart rate monitor, is that correct? The other Garmins, (the 230 and such) have the heart rate along with the ability to download this app as well? looks like my SO might be getting a fit bit for a present...
The vivoactive that BA referred to (and I also bought) does not have an HR. There is also a vivoactive HR, which I believe is the same watch with a built in wrist hear monitor. (I haven't used it for a game yet, but I have played with the ref ap and like it, and I like the watch itself, which I started using as my everyday watch. I'll miss my deceased RFT, but I think this is going to help me get past my grief.)
The Garmin 230 has no HR the 235 does, BUT, the 230 CA link with a chest-mounted HR strap. The 235 measures from your wrist. The vivoactive can link with a strap as well, I believe. I always scoffed at smart watches until I got my 230.
Technically not a smartwatch, and we should be glad for that. All the smart watches out right now, have terrible battery life when using GPS.
I dunno, it's pretty smart. It's a GPS watch with smart watch functions. Shall we say it does smart watch things better than a smart watch does gps things?