HBO Go comes to Chromecast on both Android and iOS

HBO Go comes to Chromecast

See, when the Chromecast first launched, it was intriguing primarily because of its exceptionally low price point. People who ran out and bought one (which included more than a few Engadget editors) were investing in promised future functionality, not its current feature set. Well, it’s safe to say that money was not wasted. With today’s announcement that HBO Go will now support Chromecast, Google has brought most of the major non-sports streaming properties to its tiny dongle, including Netflix and Hulu. It’s particularly impressive given how notoriously slow HBO has been to bring its streaming service to “new” platforms. Now Google-loving nerds across the US will be able to get their “Game of Thrones” fix on demand on their TV simply by tapping an icon on their Android or iOS tablet. Of course, that is if you’re an HBO subscriber. The update is already hitting both the iTunes App Store and Google Play, so go download it now.

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Source: Google

Chromecast config file hints at HBO Go app testing, prodding reveals DIAL details

Google Chromecast config file hints at HBO Go app testing, some prodding shows DIAL details

Google’s Chromecast dongle has already blown through its supply of Netflix discount codes and now that they’re in the wild all sorts of people are taking a look at how the devices work. For example, CJ Heres of GTV Hacker points out a configuration file that appears to list testing apps for Chromecast. While most of the services named in the file are those already announced (Netflix, Revision3, Google Play Music, Pandora etc.) and other devs working on support for AOL On and Songza, there’s also an entry for HBO Go. Google told Wired yesterday streaming from the website should work out of the box, however other sites they mentioned will work, like Hulu and Rdio, are not listed in the file, so we may see official app support sooner rather than later.

DIYers may have other reasons to be interested however, as Leon Nicholls posted on Google+ about his findings on how the device works as a DIAL server. His tests suggested there is potential for controlling it from outside of Chrome based on how it responds to some commands. Hit the source links for more info, and let us know if you’ve found any other services that already work.

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Source: Pastebin, Google Chromecast config (TXT), CJ Heres (Twitter), Leon Nicholls (Google+)

Discovery Communications working on a HBO Go-esque streaming service

Discovery Communications working on a HBO Goesque streaming service

Discovery Channel, DMAX, 3NET (with Sony and IMAX) and Revision 3 owner Discovery Communications is pondering an HBO Go-style streaming service. In an interview with Reuters, company boss John Hendricks said that shows that are between three and 18 months old can still make money before they’re launched on Netflix. His plan is to let subscribers access that programming online for a small additional monthly fee, which, according to Hendricks’ autobiography, is between $6 and $8 a month. The boss also said that the company is developing the infrastructure for the platform, but that we won’t see such a service arrive for anything up to five years.

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Source: Reuters

Apple TV adds HBO Go and WatchESPN to its ranks

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Apple today announced that two more entertainment options will be hitting its set-top offering. HBO Go and WatchESPN have been added to the Apple TV lineup, along with Sky News, Crunchyroll and Qello, joining the ranks of Hulu Plus, Netflix and sports from the MLB, NBA and NHL. Apple also used the opportunity to talk up some download numbers, revealing that iTunes users have downloaded one billion TV episodes and 380 million movies. At present, more than 800,000 episodes and 350,000 movies are purchased per day.

Update: As All Things D points out, the new offerings might not be so rosy for Dish and DirecTV subscribers.

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HBO Go version 2.1 for iOS adds AirPlay multitasking

Now that you can finally watch HBO Go on your Apple TV via AirPlay, the premium cable network has decided to sweeten its iOS app with AirPlay multitasking in a 2.1 update. The new version of the app also offers enhancements to Game of Throne‘s interactive features and general performance improvements as well. We’d obviously prefer that the app offers a standalone option instead, but being able to catch up on episodes of GoT on the HDTV while looking up how to say “winter is coming” in Dothraki is good too. (It’s “Aheshke jada.”)

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Source: HBO Go (iTunes)

HBO CEO casually mentions standalone HBO Go option for broadband subscribers, but it’s not à la carte

HBO CEO casually mentions standalone HBO Go option for broadband subscribers, but it's not  la carte

HBO’s president and COO Erik Kessler stated just last month that having à la carte access to HBO isn’t going to happen in the near future, but it seems that the channel’s CEO has been mulling a compromise. According to a new Reuters report, Richard Plepler believes that while HBO “has the right model today,” HBO Go — its standalone app — “could evolve.” In what way, you ask? Presently, HBO Go only shows content to folks who subscribe to the channel via their pay-TV provider, but Plepler seems to think that there’s potential to sell monthly access to the app itself so long as buyers are also subscribed to a broadband internet connection.

In other words, this wouldn’t provide HBO access via one’s cable box or DVR, but considering that HBO Go just recently gained AirPlay support, an iPad + Apple TV combo could effectively accomplish the same thing. Well, outside of the whole “live viewing” thing. Still, the concept of paying $10 or $15 per month for HBO Go (alongside broadband) could be quite compelling for up-and-coming cord cutters — after all, these folks are used to watching shows after they air. Now, here comes the part where you wait for these thoughts to translate into reality. If we had to guess, we’d say that HBO’s oh-so-friendly cable partners aren’t going to be inclined to let such a solid idea actually happen.

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Source: Reuters

TMN Go launches on iOS and the web, brings HBO Go-style experience to Canadians

TMN Go launches on iOS and the web, brings HBO Gostyle experience to Canadians

While viewers in the US have had access to HBO Go streaming on a varying number of platforms over the last few years, the licensing situation in Canada has, until now, made it more complicated. That’s changing today, since Astral Media is bringing its The Movie Network Go app for iOS and PCs out of beta (an Android version is “in the works and launching shortly”) with access to movies from many studios, as well as TV shows from HBO, Cinemax and Showtime. In Canada, Astral airs content licensed from our US premium networks as well as some Canadian productions and airs them on its five multiplex channels, including HBO Canada.

Some providers have already been streaming content online with setups like Rogers On Demand Online and Videotron’s Illico, but hopefully this should make the feature more widespread. Currently it’s open to customers on Bell Fiber / Satellite TV and Cogeco Cable, with Rogers due “in the coming weeks.” Specific features announced include streaming over WiFi or 3G, playback state that syncs across devices, up to three simultaneous streams and five registered devices per account and more. Check out the press release after the break for all the details and a list of some of the available content.

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Source: TMN Go.ca, App Store

HBO Go for Android adds HDMI video output, at last

HBO Go on an Android tablet

HBO brought some of the content walls down when it opened up AirPlay support in the HBO Go app for iOS users, proving that it wasn’t going to protect TV viewing at all cost. It just removed some more barriers: the premium channel has quietly rolled out an update to its Android app that enables HDMI video output. Provided a phone or tablet supports the connection (sorry, Nexus 7 owners), it too can pipe video to the big screen. The solution still doesn’t let us watch HBO without a pricey TV subscription, but it will give us fewer qualms about catching up on Girls when we’re at a friend’s place.

[Thanks, Carl]

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Source: Google Play

Eric Kessler announces AirPlay support for HBO Go and Max Go apps, says à la carte HBO access still isn’t economically viable

Eric Kessler announces AirPlay support for HBO Go and Max Go apps, says  la carte HBO access still isn't economically viable

Eric Kessler, President & COO at HBO, just announced that a long-awaited feature will be going live today during his interview at D:Dive Into Media 2013. HBO Go and Max Go users with Apple products filling the home will now be able to enjoy AirPlay beaming. Straight from the man himself:

“Our long-term goal for Go is to be on all platforms and all devices. Effective today, we will be enabling AirPlay — any device that allows users to watch on the big screen is great. You can play HBO Go on your iPhone or iPad, and then beam that to your HDTV via an Apple TV using AirPlay.”

It appears that neither app has seen an update in Apple’s App Store just yet, but we’re guessing it’s only a matter of time before both are refreshed. [Update: Looks as if both updates are now live!] Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that HBO will be on Apple TV for some time yet. Host Kara Swisher asked Kessler what the problem was in getting ’em on there. His reply? “We will get on Apple TV — there is no problem. These things take time.”

We spoke firsthand with Kessler following his interview, and he affirmed that there’s no 30 percent revenue cut to worry about with Apple TV like there is for conventional apps on the App Store. It seemed that HBO simply viewed this as a lower priority now that AirPlay is a reality, and it may go a long way to explaining why so many other video apps are opting for AirPlay inclusion rather than focusing efforts on a dedicated Apple TV app.

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Source: iTunes (HBO Go), (Max Go)

Roku update adds cross-provider search over Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO, Vudu and Crackle

Roku update adds crossprovider search across Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO, Vudu and Crackle

We’ve seen web portals that let you search for TV and movies on the internet across different services, but a new update for Roku is bringing that capability directly to its set-top boxes. Whether you’re searching by movie, TV show, actor or director it will sniff out related content across some of the higher profile services it offers, including Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Crackle, Vudu and HBO Go. The new Roku Search function is front and center (once your second gen HD or higher player has been updated to the latest version) and in our tests worked quickly, pulling up content wherever it was available and mentioning if it was available in HD. The only downside is navigating the onscreen keyboard via remote, although you can always sub in your mobile device thanks to those recently upgraded remote apps for iOS and Android. All in all Roku says it can reach its tendrils across around 130,000 titles and almost 100,000 actors and directors. Check after the break for a couple of screenshots and a quick demo video, hit the official blog for more info or force an update on your hockey puck to check it out yourself.

Continue reading Roku update adds cross-provider search over Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO, Vudu and Crackle

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Roku update adds cross-provider search over Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO, Vudu and Crackle originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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