As many of you know, the London 2012 Summer Olympics officially kick off this evening and run for the next two-plus weeks. Seeing as most of us have obligations (work, family, sleep), we cannot stay glued to the TV to keep up with all of the events and festivities. Try as we might, there’s just no physical way to do it. That said, it’s not impossible to stay in the know and up-to-date with each sport and those who medal.
Below you will find five apps for tracking the 2012 Olympics from your Android device. While we recognize that there are a few other apps available, we happen to like these particular titles more than others and think you’ll enjoy them. We also appreciate that you’ve got your own favorite apps to follow sports and the Olympics so to that end we ask that you share with us in the comments! NOTE: Some apps will not be compatible with your device, likely a result of your country or market.
This week’s topic: Android apps for following the 2012 Summer Olympics
London 2012 Results App
As one of multiple official applications for the London 2012 games, this Results app ensures you are able to track the things that have already happened. Want to see how a specific country or athlete is doing? This is the one you’ll want. Additional features include a calendar of events, personalized news and updates, social commentary, and photos. While London 2012 Results App tracks all 36 games of the Olympics, it’s also a great app for staying up on the 21 Paralympics sports. Round out your mobile experience with London 2012 Join In App!
BBC Olympics
Given that the games take place in London, it’s only fitting that the BBC has a great app for tracking the Olympics. Features here are quite robust and include up to 24 live streams, on demand video (3G/4G/Wi-Fi), and dedicated pages to every sport, country, and athlete. What’s more, there’s the other stuff you expect such as a medals table, top stories, schedule, and live commentary. Like any good Android app allows, users can share stories, videos, and other results across social networks and email.
NBC Olympics
Perhaps the most feature-rich app available to U.S. residents, this NBC client provides everything but the kitchen sink. Get news, videos, photos, results, and medal information for every sport and every member of Team USA. Engage with other followers and fans across Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ and chat over your favorite participants. At night, the Primetime Show televised on NBC turns the app into a second screen experience that helps round out the live broadcast. Should you wish to watch live coverage of the events throughout the next few weeks, NBC Olympics Live Extra will provide that, and much more.
Samsung: Take Part 2012
Remember when we told you Samsung would be a big player in the sponsor and advertisement area of the games? This is proof positive of those rumors. More game than app, this one lets users play 3D and Augmented Reality games on behalf of their country. Weighing it at a whopping 104MB, Samsung: Take Part 2012 features HD graphics and a sharp user interface, players can challenge their Facebook friends and compete for the global leaderboard. Additional features include a 360-degree view of the Games Venues, late breaking news, polls, and more. Oh, and there’s also a tour of the GALAXY S III – You know, in case you didn’t know much about Samsung’s new phone.
2012 Olympic Now!!!
As a hybrid of two other apps (2012 Olympic Schedule, 2012 Olympic Results-Medals ), this one gives you all the stuff you’d expect, including news, medal counts, schedules, and more. We like the user interface and the color scheme and really appreciate the push notifications for each medal sport. The “discover” section of news seems to pull in just about anything with an Olympics-related title however we’re fans of the sources anyways.
Your Turn
What apps are you using to follow the Olympics this summer? Is it one of these or do you prefer to use your other sports-related apps? Leave a comment below with your picks and faves!
Five for Friday: Android apps for following the 2012 Summer Olympics originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
Get more AndroidGuys on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!
Listen to our newest podcast and download the official app.
Shop for Android accessories, apps, and more!
It’s a sad day for Xperia Arc S and Xperia Mini Pro users, as Sony UK has revealed via some Facebook comments that neither device will be getting any Android 4.1 love. This is the first that we’ve heard from Sony in regards to Jelly Bean updates, and it doesn’t look good for the rest of the 2011 Xperia lineup. The Arc S had the highest specs of the line, so it’s safe to assume that if Jelly Bean isn’t coming to (arguably) the best device of the set, none of the others will see it either. It’s really a shame, as there were some nice devices that came from Sony in 2011.
