Silicon Prairie News

Video from hudl.com/blog

Last Thursday, Hudl released what one reviewer has already called "a game-changer for coaches and video analysis software." On his blog, "iTeach. iCoach. iBlog.," Court Allam of Olathe, Kansas wrote: "This app will revolutionize the way coaches and athletes prepare for competition by making it faster, easier and more efficient to watch game film."

I concur. For more than four years, I experienced the traditional viewing experience while serving as a student manager for Creighton University's men's basketball team. At least once a week, we'd gather around the 50-inch television in the locker room to watch and break down film from a DVD (they're not a Hudl user). Other times, coaches would work with players one-on-one, viewing it on a laptop. Bringing that experience into your hands, on your lap, or on the surface of a table is a significant leap forward. With the Hudl iPad app, the user can intuitively zoom in and out on video (the standard iPad pinch), fast forward and rewind at adjustable speeds (a new Hudl feature), and swipe to see the next video (a familiar iPad experience). Each of these features and more is shown in the video above.

"Our dev team spent the past few months crafting an extremely simple app focused around video playback for iPad," said Hudl's UX engineer Kyle Murphy in an email interview last week. "A mantra that’s helped guide our design decisions recently is: 'Just give me my damn video.' That’s why we didn’t just port everything from our full web application. Instead, we focused on what matters most: watching video."

Looking forward, the Hudl team is already listing out enhancements they plan add in their next version, and coaches are doing the same. Allam provided two in his post, and on Hudl's blog post announcing the app, "iPad Hudl App = Awesome," at least six coaches have chimed in with ideas. This quick feedback is a testament to Hudl's active user base. Another testament: the day after its released, it climbed to the number six spot in Apple's app store for "Top Free iPad Apps - Sports Category."

For more on Hudl's iPad app, see:

• Hudl's announcement: "iPad Hudl App = Awesome"
• Court Allam's review: "iPad & Hudl = Game-Changer"

Also, if you have an iPad and aren't a Hudl user but you're curious about what the Lincoln-based Hudl team has put together, download the free app and give the demo a try. The demo is what's shown in the video above. Find the app at itunes.apple.com.