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13 'HBO Now' stories March 2015 - November 2015
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Apple promoting popular apps and games on new Apple TV with short clips [Videos]

Avatar for Zac Hall Nov 17 2015 - 11:13 am PT
8 Comments

Apple TV clips

Apple has launched a new campaign to highlight both the new Apple TV and the many games and entertainment services on its App Store with a new series of short video clips. Each 15 second video starts with the same Apple TV graphic, then promotes a popular game or video service app on the new Apple TV with some gameplay or a popular show available on the service, and ends with the same multicolor graphic. So far these clips promote Netflix, HBO NOW, Asphalt 8, Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition: Star Wars, and Crossy Road. You can view each one below:
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HBO Now updated with iOS 9’s picture-in-picture iPad feature

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 1 2015 - 11:19 am PT
2 Comments

HBO NOW iPhone iPad iPod touch 21

One of iOS 9’s most useful features on modern iPads is the ability to playback videos from the Home screen or other apps using picture-in-picture. Video services have to opt-in to supporting PIP, though, so it means App Store apps must be updated before the feature works.

HBO has done just that with their iOS 9 update for iPad, supporting picture-in-picture when you leave the HBO Now app while you’re watching a movie or TV show. The feature is only mentioned in the update for the standalone HBO Now service, however, so the HBO Go version which requires a cable subscription may not support it.
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HBO Now for iOS gains Chromecast support, more in latest update

Avatar for Stephen Hall Aug 6 2015 - 9:15 am PT
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HBO Now debuted earlier this year exclusively on Apple TV, iPhone and iPad, but lately it has been making its way to competing platforms. Android handsets and tablets as well as some of Amazon’s Fire-branded devices got HBO Now access a few weeks ago, but now the service is coming to Chromecast via an update to the HBO Now app.

The latest version of HBO Now for iOS was released today, numbered 1.2, and features more than just Chromecast support. You’ll find that you can also now receive push notifications — assumably for new episodes of your favorite shows and the like — as well as the usual bug fixes and performance improvements.

Here’s the full change log:

What’s New in Version 1.2.0

• Push Notifications
• Chromecast Support
• Performance Improvements

You can grab HBO Now on the App Store for free, and an HBO Now subscription is going to run you $14.99 per month after a 30-day free trial.

Verizon will sell HBO Now directly to wireless and FiOS subscribers as Apple’s exclusivity expires

Avatar for Mike Beasley Jul 28 2015 - 12:49 pm PT
7 Comments
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HBO NOW iPhone iPad iPod touch 21When Apple and HBO announced the launch of the HBO Now streaming service, they said that their app would be exclusive to Apple devices for three months. Now, a quarter year later, that agreement has expired and other providers are looking to distribute access to the television network’s streaming app.

One of the biggest names looking to get into the HBO Now market is Verizon. The mobile carrier and FiOS provider announced today that it will be bringing the service to its 100 million customers…


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HBO Now earned the most revenue of any iOS app last month following free trial period

Avatar for Zac Hall Jun 25 2015 - 11:03 am PT
11 Comments

HBO NOW iPhone iPad iPod touch 21HBO Now, the standalone subscription service for the premium network, appears to be a hit with iOS users, says new data from analytics service App Annie.

After launching on Apple TV and the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch in early April with a 1-month free trial, the new report says the standalone service’s app “debuted at #1 on our Worldwide May iOS revenue charts” showing that the free trial converted users to paid customers.

A month after the trial ended for day one subscribers, App Annie says HBO Now sat at “#2 overall daily grossing rank in the United States” according to its data. Showtime is planning a similar standalone service that will launch next month.

App Annie

It’s also interesting to see where Spotify and Beats Music sit on App Annie’s chart ahead of Apple Music’s launch on Tuesday. Apple Music will offer a 3-month free trial period for users and will be pre-installed, but Beats Music users should convert to Apple Music customers and the company certainly hopes to steal customers from Spotify. HBO Now’s performance is also good news for the revenue outlook of Apple’s rumored web TV service as cord cutters are clearly willing to pay for content.

HBO Now is available on the App Store for $14.99/month.

Showtime plans standalone Apple TV channel as Yahoo wins rights to livestream NFL game globally

Avatar for Zac Hall Jun 3 2015 - 8:42 am PT
15 Comments
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Showtime Apple TV iPhone iPad Mac

[Update: Showtime has officially announced its standalone service coming in July for $10.99/month on Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch ahead of the July 12th season premiers of several shows.]

CBS is expected to announce a standalone subscription version of its premium network Showtime on Apple TV “as early as today or Thursday,” according to a report from Variety. The standalone version of Showtime will allow cord-cutters to pay for access to the channel through Apple TV without requiring a cable subscription. The news comes as Yahoo revealed that it will be the first to stream an NFL game globally for free to set-top boxes, mobile apps, and more…
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9to5Toys Last Call: $100 iTunes Gift Card for $80, Samsung 850 EVO 250GB SSD $90, Brother Laser Printer $50, more

Avatar for May 18 2015 - 9:15 am PT
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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

Apple-iPad-mini-2

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$100 iTunes gift card for $80 w/ email delivery from PayPal (20% savings)

apple-ipad-air-2-gold

iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 64GB for the same price as 16GB model: $500 shipped (Reg. $599)

iPad Air 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular in Silver: $499 shipped (Orig. $929)

samsung-850-evo-1tb

Samsung Solid State Drives: 850 EVO 250GB $90 (Reg. $100+), 850 Pro 512GB $239 (Reg. $300)

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Daily Deals: Mono Laser Printer $50, Logitech K400 Wireless Keyboard $17, more

More new gear from today:

lumsing-pioneer1

Lumsing Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker $16 (Reg. $24), 4-port 4.2A USB wall charger $9 (Reg. $13)

gopro-hero4-silver

The best-selling GoPro HERO4 Silver Action Camera is on sale for $329 shipped (Reg. $400)

More deals still alive:

OtterBox iPhone 6 Symmetry Series Case $25 Prime shipped (Orig. $40), more

New products & more:

brakepack-backpack

BrakePack smart backpack keeps bicyclists safe on the road

nuimo-controls

The Nuimo Smart Home Interface aims to take control of your SONOS, lighting and other IoT devices

HBO GO iOS app updated with fresh design to match new HBO NOW app

Avatar for Jordan Kahn May 14 2015 - 12:12 pm PT
7 Comments
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Following the release of HBO’s new HBO Now app for its $14.99/month standalone streaming service, today the company updated its main HBO GO app with a similar, long-awaited redesign.

Here’s what HBO GO looked like prior to today’s update (left) next to the new design (right):
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Apple reportedly taking 15% cut of HBO Now & other subscriptions on Apple TV

Avatar for Mike Beasley Apr 13 2015 - 12:21 pm PT
6 Comments

Apple TV simple

Apple has long taken a 30% cut of sales made through its various digital stores, including fees charged for subscriptions to Newsstand magazines and other recurring charges. However, Re/code reports today that the company has cut that figure in half for subscriptions charged through the Apple TV.

In a move that’s likely intended to bring in content, Apple allows companies like Hulu and HBO to keep a larger portion of their subscription fees on the TV-based hub device, though charges made through iOS apps and other platforms still seem to fall under the 30% deal.

When exactly this revenue share change was made is unclear, but it doesn’t seem to be a new developement, given that services which have been on the Apple TV for some time now fall under these terms. The point is nearly moot though, when you consider how many offerings on the Apple TV are completely free of charge, or don’t offer in-app subscription options.

Based on the success of Apple’s exclusive HBO Now partnership, however, it’s possible that future channel additions could impement a similar system that allows users to purchase subscriptions through their Apple IDs. This deal could also help Apple secure more content providers for its upcoming digital television service.

HBO CEO reached out to his old boss Jimmy Iovine to land Apple’s HBO Now launch

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Apr 7 2015 - 10:44 am PT
8 Comments
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Eddy Cue and Jimmy Iovine at Code Conference via Re/code

Eddy Cue and Jimmy Iovine at Code Conference via Re/code

As HBO’s new standalone streaming service launches today exclusively on Apple TV and iOS devices, FastCompany has a story profiling HBO CEO Richard Plepler and the motivation behind the new service and partnership with Apple.

In the story, Plepler denies that an $80 billion bid to buy Time Warner encouraged the launch of HBO Now and explains that he had already reached out to Apple executive Jimmy Iovine, who he had worked for previously at Warner Music:
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HBO NOW standalone streaming service debuts on Apple TV, iPhone & iPad with 1-month free trial

Avatar for Zac Hall Apr 7 2015 - 8:08 am PT
32 Comments
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Apple TV HBO Now

HBO’s new standalone streaming service called HBO NOW has officially launched on Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad. HBO NOW allows subscribers to watch the premium network’s movies and TV shows online. The service is similar to Netflix as it’s delivered over a high-speed Internet connection rather than cable or satellite and doesn’t require long-term committments through contracts. Here’s how to get HBO NOW works:
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Apple reportedly offering viewer data to TV partners to help solidify content deals

Avatar for Mike Beasley Mar 17 2015 - 12:17 pm PT
7 Comments
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Apple-TV-69

With rumors flying about an Apple television subscription service in the works for release this year, new details have started to emerge about what kinds of deals the tech company will make with its content partners. The NY Post says that these deals will involve Apple turning over certain data about its users to programmers to help solidify its agreements.


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Roundup: All the news from Apple’s Spring Forward event

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz Mar 10 2015 - 5:27 am PT
7 Comments

Tim-Cook-gold-macbook

Apple’s Spring Forward event on March 9 was packed with news, including everything from expected Apple Watch announcements to the debut of the Retina 12″ MacBook, a price drop for Apple TV, the announcement of ResearchKit, and the release of iOS 8.2. Here’s everything you need to know.

First, the Apple TV dropped in price from $99 to $69, and got a three-month exclusive window to launch HBO Now, a standalone $15/month to HBO TV content and on-demand library.

Second, Apple announced ResearchKit, enabling iPhone users to opt-in to large-scale medical research studies using all-new apps to track and provide health information. Five initial apps were released, including heart, glucose, breast cancer, asthma, and Parkinson’s research tools.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bhsG8k7GvI&ab_channel=TechnoBuffalo]

Third, Apple officially unveiled the all-new 12″ MacBook, its thinnest and lightest Mac laptop yet, with a Retina display, single USB-C port, and Force Touch trackpad, starting at $1,299. A collection of new USB-C adapters are required to connect the MacBook to traditional USB devices and wired displays. It also updated the older MacBook Air and 13″ Retina MacBook Pro with faster Intel Broadwell processors, faster SSDs, and battery improvements.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjiZv0WBR0o&ab_channel=TechnoBuffalo]

Fourth, the Apple Watch finally got its long-awaited battery life (18 hours) and pricing ($349/$549/$10,000/$17,000) details, plus preorder (April 10) and launch (April 24) dates. Additional details on real-world Apple Watch 38mm and 42mm battery life, as well as warranty details, were quietly released online. A small collection of Apple Watch apps were shown off, and accessories including bands and chargers also got priced ($29-$449). One of the accessories actually includes two separate bands in one package.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDAP9OWtQro&ab_channel=Apple]

After the event, Apple released iOS 8.2 with Apple Watch support and Health improvements. It also published the official event video, as well as separate Jony Ive-narrated videos showing the aluminum, steel, and gold manufacturing processes for the Apple Watches. To help customers plan their Watch band purchases, Apple released a new band size guide showing the wrist sizes that will fit each of the numerous types of bands (in millimeters).