To solve problems, the HBO Max app will be redesigned from scratch

Since its launch, users around the world have reported various issues with the HBO Max app. Brazilians, who tend to consume subtitled content, are among the worst affected, as this feature is one of the most problematic, along with crashes, difficulties in returning an episode being played or failure to save the location where the viewer left off. According to Warner, who is in charge of the streaming service, this will all be resolved with the release of a new version that is made entirely from scratch.

There have been several issues with the problematic version of the HBO Max app. Chief among them is the reuse of previous solutions, such as the HBO Go and HBO Now apps, as well as the introduction of a new subscription in a timely manner, at a lower value and serve ads to US users. The idea came at the end of the development process and added extra complexity to a functionality that was already complex.

These discoveries were revealed by an unidentified Warner executive in an interview with Vulture. According to him, the regional characteristics involved in the delivery of local content have also brought difficulties; It was also possible to accelerate expansion to 39 countries after the arrival of HBO Max in the US, especially in terms of server availability, synchronization of image streams, dubbing, and captions. Users are well aware of the result of all this.

Reports also indicate that Warner was already aware of the problems even before HBO Max’s regional expansion. Work on an app made from scratch has been in the works since the beginning of the year by You.i TV, a company acquired by WarnerMedia at the end of 2020 that specializes in such solutions. The idea, says the source, would be to create a solution that is visually similar to the current one, but without all the problems that exist now.

Date set (approx.)

HBO Max launched the ‘Poetic Subtitles’ category pic.twitter.com/NMlJM9QL6v

Soraya Alves 4 July 2021

The most serious flaws should also receive fixes in the coming weeks and months, still in the current software, which will gain new features. However, the priority is the drawbacks, especially with regard to the localization of the content, since the purpose of all this work is to ensure the entry of new subscribers and, of course, the retention of existing subscribers, ensuring that they are not canceled. Service to calculate problems.

However, reformulation work is in progress. According to the executive, HBO Max apps are expected to be replaced on all platforms within five months. Users of Roku devices and consoles of the PlayStation line will be in first place, while users of Apple TV will have to wait until the end of the year. Finally, in early 2022, new web and mobile versions arrived, which, in theory, are also the ones that work best today.

In Brazil, a subscription to HBO Max costs R$19.90 in the mobile version, with standard quality and accessibility in one device; Or R$27.90 in the multi-screen package, which goes up to 4K and allows use on three devices at the same time. All new users get a seven-day free trial, while quarterly or annual subscriptions guarantee lower prices, with up to 33% off.

Source: Eagle