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The world of entertainment and media has changed radically in recent years. Gone are the days of waiting around for your favorite show to air, of having to go to a movie theater to see a hot new release, and of the networks and movie studios being in complete control of when, where, and how we can watch movies and television. Thanks to all the great movie and TV streaming sites and apps that we have today, the viewer is now in control - and this is all thanks to their ever-growing popularity.
Throughout the traditional TV show release schedule, it can occasionally be difficult to catch up on all of the new episodes of a series. However, thanks to the new Netflix model of streaming content, we are able to watch entire seasons and series of our favorite shows at our leisure. Consequently, this has become the primary mode of media consumption for a majority of streaming audiences.
That is not all that has changed, though? In addition to the ways in which we watch content, the locations, and means by which we are able to watch it have also been tremendously altered. Remember when the only way you could watch a show or movie was to sit down in front of your television and either insert a DVD or wait for it to air on a given network? Well, nowadays, adding to this sense of autonomy that streaming sites have provided, you can take all of your favorite films and series with you, no matter where you go.
To watch television without cable, one only needs a streaming app and internet access. There are many such apps available and they are all customizable to the user's preference.
Do you have to travel soon and want to catch up on your favorite shows or finally get around to watching that movie your friends have been raving about for weeks now? There is no reason to be bored anymore, no matter where you are, or where you are going. My personal favorite time to use premium streaming apps is when I hit the gym. Nothing makes those usually eternal and sometimes painful minutes of cardio go faster than getting lost in some high-quality HD content on my phone. No matter what you like to do while you stream, premium streaming apps make it possible.
But which premium streaming app is right for you? Well, there are a few answers to this question. First and foremost, though- the most basic question that you have to ask yourself before you can land on the perfect app for your streaming needs- is, which premium streaming service (or services) has the most content that you know for a fact that you will enjoy. Because, at the end of the day, when it comes to premium streaming apps that you are paying for, what you are really paying for is the premium streaming service in question? The app is just the mode by which you will be able to access it when you are not at your computer or in front of your smart TV.
Of course, one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a streaming service is how well designed the app is, how dependably it works, and whether you can stream content in high definition on your phone.
And today we will be taking a look at the premium streaming app from one of the biggest names in movies, TV, and streaming in general ? let's dive in and take a look at the HBO Now app, yes?
History
On March 9th, 2015, HBO officially announced its new app, HBO Now. The app was made available exclusively on Apple TV and iOS devices for just a trial period of 3 months. However, HBO Now content always been available on HBO's official website.
The HBO NOW app went live on April 7, 2015, coinciding perfectly with the April 12th premiere of Game of Thrones? 5th season. Part of the deal stated that Apple would keep 15% of HBO Now?s monthly subscription fee, at least from those subscribers who signed up from an iOS device.
Following Apple's three-month exclusivity period, HBO Now was also released for Android and Amazon Kindle Fire on July 16th of 2015. The following year, too, in April of 2016, HBO Now launched apps for Xbox 360 and Xbox One. And on September 15th of the same year, HBO Now became available on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 game consoles (this time in conjunction with the series premiere of Westworld).
Today, HBO Now is a standalone HBO subscription service that is separate from HBO Go. This means that you will need a special membership if you want to enjoy this service that was specifically designed for mobile devices and smart TVs. Anyone who has used HBO Go in the past knows that, frankly, it isn't designed very well for mobile or desktop computers, only adding to the allure of HBO Now.
Design
In addition, the navigation is clunky and difficult to use, and the overall design feels dated.
So knowing that HBO Now was designed specifically with mobile devices in mind, one would expect a remarkable improvement in design and functionality, right? Well, yeah, one would certainly expect it, but unfortunately HBO Now also does not deliver on this fronts. The app, first of all, does not look nearly as sleek or dynamic as you would expect from one of the most popular and critically acclaimed networks in the history of television and film. In addition, the navigation is clunky and difficult to use, and the overall design feels dated.
The app design is basic, but it's not in an extremely streamlined, experiential, or minimalist way. The app has an overall average user rating of 2.8 stars out of 5 on the Apple App Store which is exceptionally low for a premium streaming app such as this. People often cite the lack of an easy-to-use scrubber that allows for convenient rewinding and fast-forwarding through a show or movie. Instead, HBO Now has opted to just include a 10-second forward and backward button, which is fine for short videos but remarkably annoying when it comes to skipping through the much longer content that HBO tends to specialize in.
Content
Speaking of content, HBO's library is unparalleled. HBO Now offers nearly all of the movies and series that are available in the HBO library (excluding some notable old shows, such as Da Ali G Show, The Ricky Gervais Show, Tenacious D, and Tales from the Crypt).
Pricing and Plans
Considering the design flaws I mentioned, HBO Now is relatively expensive. It will cost you $14.99/month after a 1-month trial period, however, which HBO offers for free. Compared to Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus, HBO Now is definitely on the more expensive end of the spectrum when it comes to premium streaming apps.
Suggestions that I have for HBO Now
First, HBO Now needs to address these obvious design flaws. Hopefully, knowing the HBO budget, they already have someone working on a redesign. That being said, I would also love to see the price point come down a little bit. Even if they added a second tier, one with ads and one without - the former could cost $10, and that would be my opinion, more acceptable.
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