As one might expect, HBO GO is HBO’s attempt to bring HBO GO to iOS and Android users. When HBO GO launched roughly two years ago, it was an instant success that brought streaming content to millions of subscribers at no extra charge. Last spring, the app brought the service to mobile users. But how good is the app?
HBO GO is a free app, but you do have to have HBO service in order to use it. HBO GO is available to HBO subscribers for nearly every cable or satellite provider, including DirecTV. When you first launch the app, you’re prompted to either verify your television provide account or browse HBO GO as a guest. Once you’ve entered your credentials, you’re treated to an interface that will vary slightly in appearance based on what device you use. On the iPad you get a more tablet-oriented layout, whereas the iPhone app presents content in a single vertical column.
This main page promotes HBO’s top programming. Luck, Eastbound & Down and Life’s Too Short are among the featured programming as of this writing, but the content changes frequently as HBO moves through its lineup. Tapping a program brings up information about the episode, such as how long it will remain available on HBO for and how long it runs. A synopsis is also provided. To play a program, just tape the thumbnail at the top of this page.
Aside from browsing the featured content, there are also several tabs to help you navigate through the app. These include Categories, Search and Watchlist. In the Categories menu, you can browse HBO GO content based on the type of programming it is. Everything from category from sports to movies is covered here. Recent movies such as Your Highness, Rio and Something Borrowed are all available, so there are no issues with timeliness of the content. If you know what programming you’re looking for and don’t want to waste time browsing, then Search lets you quickly type in a program name and get right to watching. Similarly, Watchlist loads your HBO GO Watchlist from the web service and imports it to the app. Both features let you start watching programming fast.
The best word to describe the HBO GO app is “solid.” Everything about it is what you would hope for from the service. It’s easy to navigate, programming is played in very high quality, and all the shows and movies that are on the HBO GO web service are represented in the app. If you subscribe to DirecTV or any other provider and have HBO, then the HBO GO app is a must-download.
Tech writer EJ Parfitt has been writing for a short time now and has already picked up steam with several tech websites and local news sites . During his free time , you’re sure to catch him competing in local chess tournaments in downtown Fort Lauderdale FL .
