This week PASG LLC, developer of the Hold’em Manager suite of products, informed private alpha testers via email that the latest major release of their popular poker tracking and analytics software, dubbed HM2, will be available for public beta testing in the next few days. They also ended the Non-Disclosure Agreement with testers, allowing the poker media to report on it for the first time.
The largest refresh of the software to date, HM2 sports an entirely redesigned interface: a white “ribbon” style menu and toolbar replaces the comparatively dowdy tab style of its predecessor, and dockable windows allows notes, replayer, and hand export features to accompany each report.
One much-touted feature in HM2 is the cloud sync, which will upload your database to private storage online and act as a backup as well as synchronizing between multiple devices. Apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch will allow for reviewing and replaying synced hands on Apple mobile devices, and a web-based view will allow sharing hands through the browser.
The list of new features does not end there. Front and center is the new home view, with customizable widgets including graphs summarizing recent results, RSS news feeds, embedded videos and more. A redesigned HUD and pop-up system promises improved visuals, and a new note-taking system includes tagging, table notes and integrated NoteCaddy automated notes system.
With competitor Poker Tracker recently unveiling the next major version of their competing product, the analytics market will certainly heat up as these two arch rivals race to release. With PT4 not scheduled for public beta testing until the end of Q3, Hold’em Manager certainly will have a sizable head start, but with speed and stability still major concerns with HM2 alpha testers, the battle to become the players’ choice of next generation tracking software is still to be fought.
Pokerfuse will have an official preview of HM2 in the coming days, stay tuned!
Correction July 1: Previously stated that PT4 was scheduled for alpha testing at the end of Q3; PT4 is actually in alpha testing now and a public beta is scheduled for Q3. The article has been corrected to reflect this.
