888 Poker Android App Review (Coming Soon: 888 Poker iPad App!):
888 poker’s mobile Android app is a hot piece of online poker engineering. It offers most of the options and pretty much all the functionality of the main software, having been perfectly adapted to touch-screen use.
Like all mobile online poker apps, 888 Poker’s recently launched Android app is meant to be compatible with as many Android-based tablets and mobile phones as possible. Being based on the Adobe Air technology though, the app will only run on devices which support Adobe Air. That little bit of shortfall is well countered by a whole slew of advantages though. The 888 Poker mobile app can be downloaded directly from the 888 Poker website, and it’s only 10 MB big. Customers should be able to download it directly onto their devices within a maximum of 3 minutes. Once downloaded and installed, the app will take up 23 MBs of space and that is well affordable, even on the lowest-end devices.
The app is meant to be a standalone mobile solution for the site, which means it was specifically created to allow players to perform all the actions they would be able to perform through the site’s PC-based client. Thus, 888 mobile app users will be able to log into their existing 888 Poker accounts through the app. They will also be able to create new accounts through it. The main lobby of the app features a ‘register now’ link which takes players to a web-based registration form where they can go through the registration steps. Mobile app users will be eligible for the bonuses that PC-based users get.
Mobile users will also be able to deposit money and to make withdrawals directly through their 888 Mobile app.
The 888 Poker Mobile app lets players engage in real money action but they can hit the play money tables too. What’s more: play money action is available even when players are not logged in. This way, one can pretty much test-run the app before creating an account. As smooth and functional as it looks, the app features a few limitations too. Grinders will certainly not appreciate the fact that currently, there is no multi tabling available. Players can only play at a cash game or SNG table at once. Texas Holdem is the only poker variant currently supported by the mobile app.
Once players install the app and launch it, they’ll be asked to log in using their existing 888 Poker account, or to create a new account. They’ll be able to access the play money feature from the not-logged-in lobby, as said above. Once they log in, the lobby will display relevant information about their account and their real money balance. They will also be able to access the cashier (in order to make a deposit asap) and the play money feature.
The main lobby features two tabs: a quick seat and a ‘beginners’ tab. Apparently, a 3rd SNG tab is also planned but that is not yet available. The ‘beginner’ tab is meant to offer inexperienced players a chance to jump into the action at the touch of a button. It features 3 buttons which link to three tables spanning most of the stakes-range offered by the app. Players can access the tables by simply clicking on one of the buttons.
The quick seat tab is for those who are more selective about where they want to play. This tab allows players to set a filter based on three factors: stakes, game type and table type. The table type choice is limited to heads-up and 3-10 player tables, while the game type is basically about the betting structure: NL, FL or PL.
Once they make their selection, players can click on the ‘play now’ button to access the table.
There are also two quite subtly set-up buttons in the main lobby: a settings button and a help button. The help button offers basic information about the version of the app, the support email and it gives players a way to access the 24/7 support.
The settings button allows players to choose and to set up their avatars. There’s quite a wide range of available avatar-pictures, sorted into several relevant categories.
The most important requirement regarding the actual mobile poker table was that it should offer the same kind of look and functionality as the site’s main downloadable software. We have to say the developers have done an outstanding job in this respect: they’ve managed to transfer all the functionality, while changing the controls so that they suit touch-screen devices perfectly.
The 888 Poker mobile app table is indeed a familiar sight for all more or less experienced online poker players. The table is smooth and easy on the eyes and the cards are well-visible, even on devices featuring smaller than usual screens. The controls are large, bulky and well-defined, exactly the way they should be for touch-screen users.
Players’ avatars are visible around the table, together with the amount of chips each player possesses. Players can get additional information on their opponents by clicking on their name-tags. The extra information includes the player’s country, credit, name, avatar and tag. Users can attach various tags to their opponents here in order to be able to recognize them and their style of play later.
The user interface consists of the usual fold/call/raise buttons, augmented by 3 other buttons which offer various pot-size related raising options. There’s also a sliding bar which allows players to set the exact amount of their bet manually. Players can access the settings menu directly from the table, and they can add more chips to their stacks too.
The bottom line: the 888 Poker mobile app is a highly functional, visually satisfactory poker application, which is certain to be a hit with 888 Players on the move.
