The NBA called out its partnership with Microsoft as it unveiled a redesigned app on Tuesday. The new app has content recommendation and personalization features “powered by Microsoft Azure and Azure AI,” according to a news release. The app will have live streaming of games for NBA League Pass subscribers with higher video quality and lower streaming latency, according to the league. It also includes access to hundreds of past games from the “NBA vault,” as well as other video content. There is a new membership program called NBA ID. The partnership with Microsoft, first announced in 2020, “will help… Read More
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is going to keep a better grip on his Microsoft Surface after hearing from the NFL about his tablet-tossing tantrum during a loss on Dec. 19. “I did get a warning from the NFL on that,” Brady said Monday night during his “Let’s Go” podcast (fast forward to 24:45 mark) with Jim Gray. “I can’t throw another Surface, or else I get fined. Imagine that! Imagine that.” Brady was caught on camera on the sidelines taking out his frustration on Microsoft’s technology after throwing an interception during a 9-0 loss to the New Orleans… Read More
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers weren’t the only ones to get battered and beaten during a “Sunday Night Football” game this week. Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablet was once again hit hard on the sidelines. NFL star Tom Brady showed his frustration during a 9-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints — Brady’s first shutout loss in more than 15 years. The quarterback was caught on the Bucs’ bench hurling a Surface over his shoulder, and the clip ended up all over Twitter. “Those Microsoft tablets have taken some blows over the years,” said “Sunday Night Football” analyst Cris Collinsworth. Microsoft is an… Read More
In hindsight, Microsoft’s decision to ink a six-figure sponsorship deal with the National Football League in 2013 was a shrewd marketing move. Tune into a NFL game today and you’ll likely spot coaches and players using a Surface tablet to review past plays. Millions of people watching football in the fall are exposed to Microsoft’s devices, which have become a permanent part of the 102-year-old league. But when the deal was signed, it was a big risk. And Xbox, more than Surface, was the focal point. Yet the partnership ended up changing football forever and perhaps saved Microsoft’s tablet brand… Read More
The NBA is tapping the power of its partnership with Microsoft to deliver advanced analytics that offer insights into shots, passes, defense, double teams and more. NBA CourtOptix Powered by Microsoft Azure utilizes the tech giant’s artificial intelligence and machine learning to track and analyze action on the court and turn it into insightful video about how well players perform in various situations and how that data stacks up against league averages. Microsoft partnered with the league last year to become its official AI and cloud partner. They quickly went to work during the shortened 2020 season and used Microsoft… Read More
