address book for iscorecast

[photojon]

I haven't seen this request or a work around but I am trying to find an efficient way to email a list of people the link to a live iscorecast. As we all know the first few minutes of a game are very rushed as we try to edit last minute lineup changes and I find myself spending a significant amount of time cutting and pasting email address to sent our for the live iscorecast. It would be nice if there was an address book the the user could just click a checkbox and have them emailed the iscorecsst link. Alternatively/additionally, it would be nice if someone could subscribe to a team and get an email anytime a game is being scored via iscorecast. Thanks for your consideration.

[team mom]

Not really an iscore solution, but why not enlist another parent to help you? You can send the link to that one parent and it is their job to send the link to the team while you are setting up the game.

[Danger]

Or just purchase a team website for $20 (or use your own team website if you have another source) and put the link on the website.

[mprusak]

Here is what I do:

Get game set up.
Start game (before it actually starts).
Misc -> email game link and send to myself (on ipad you can set up a 2 letter shortcut that autofills your email address)
hit undo to return to pre-game status.

On my phone, receive the email.
Forward to my preset distribution list from the phone (I use an app called MailShot Pro to manage distribution lists).
I add the following blurb to the email (again with a text shortcut, so I just type a couple letters and the rest is auto-filled):

Below is the link for today's game, which will begin soon.

NOTE: the last link is for the simplified viewer, which may provide best viewing on a mobile phone, while the first one works best on larger screens and provides a superior interface. You can also follow us on Twitter @NiIllinoisReds to receive realtime updates.

Visit our website: http://www.nireds.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have suggested to FTM that this process could probably be made more user friendly. However, its not unworkable as it is now. The entire process probably takes me less than a minute. It sounds more complicated than it is. I often create the game before I even get to the fields, so I will send myself the email then too. Then when I get to the field, I will forward the email a few minutes before the game.

I believe FTM created the email game link function with the idea that it would be used ad hoc...they envisioned sending the link to someone at the spur of the moment and not to a pre-determined distribution list on a regular basis. However, I think the email method works well for two reasons: 1) It makes it easy for everyone to go into their email and click a link to get to the game, and 2) It serves as a reminder/notification that the game is about to begin, for those that arent at the game.

Ideally, I would like for this functionality to be available from within the game info page to avoid the step of fake starting the game and would also like the address book accessibility feature included.

Here is an older thread discussing this and FTM's reply.

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3555" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

FTM - Would be interested in hearing if this has climbed up the prioritization list at all.

[FTMSupport]

fyi... we have added the email option to the Game Info page for the next iOS release.

fyi 2... if you are using iOS, you can select an email from your contact list to email to, and it will email to ALL email addresses associated with that contact. So you could create a contact called "iScorecasts" and add the email addresses of all people that want the link emailed to them to that contact. Then come game time, just select that contact when sending the email and everyone will be notified.

[mprusak]

Good to hear on the first point...Thanks!

I have tried (and used) your second point method, but in the end found the mailshot app easier to use (and ends up the same result, a single contact in the directory that is actually multiple contacts). Either is a perfectly good option to achieve the same result.

[Camerabry]

I have a rule at home that when it receives the email it sends it to a distribution list. Very easy.

[photojon]

Wow. Lots of great replies and ideas. Thank you all very much! I have a couple follow up questions.

Danger mentions team website. We already have one of those but apparently I'm not using all it functionality. What is the linkage between the team website and pushing an iscorecast link to users?

Mprusak- very detailed response which I will try our on a mock game. What is the 2 letter shortcut you refer to? I am also intreagued by your message you send about two different links. A simplier one for viewers following along on mobile devices vs the larger screen version. I have only been seeing the larger one. Can you provide more details on how you create the simplier one?

FTM- I was unaware that iscore could utilize information in my contacts. It sounds like you are making use of a "Distribution list" on the iOS device. How do you set this up?

Thanks again for all the suggestions!

[FTMSupport]

Just go to your contacts and create a contact called "iScorecasts" or whatever you want to call it, then add the email addresses of all the people that should receive the email to that contact.

[photojon]

Two questions:

1) so are you saying that Misc->email game link will actually look the contact up in Contacts? I thought I had to type the complete name
2)If I list 10 email addresses for my contact called "iscorecast", if I just type iscorecast in the Misc->email game link, it will send the email to all 10 email addresses that are listed? I thought email apps require you to choose name in which on email account. i.e. iscorecast, home; or iscorecast, work?