HBO Max exec admits to the app’s early flaws

Viewers have long complained about the early HBO Max app’s tendency to crash, and its lack of discoverability features. There have been a number of overhauls and fixes since then. Now we know why. Turns out that HBO Max launched its apps before they were ready in order to keep up with its competitors. The app was “never intended to go global” or to suit the needs of a direct-to-consumer market, according to an interview that Sarah Lyons, HBO Max’s head of product experience, gave Protocol. The network wanted to build an audience first, and then fix the app’s flaws as the service scaled up.While Lyons admits that the early days of HBO Max were rocky, she thinks the company made the right decision. We’ve been changing out the engine of the plane while we’re flying the plane,” she said. “I do think it was the right decision to try to balance both,” said Lyons.HBO Max first released its app in May 2020, to join an already saturated streaming ecosystem that included Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV+ and others. At the time, both HBO Go (the network’s on-demand app for cable subscribers) and HBO Now (the standalone app for cord-cutters) were still available, a fact that confused many subscribers. The network has since retired both apps.Viewers have flocked to Reddit since the app’s initial launch with complaints that spanned platforms and devices. “We’ve been trying to watch the Harry Potter movies and literally every 15 min or so we get an ERROR message and have to force close... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2022-04-14 23:32:58 UTC ]
News tagged with: #apple tv+ #streaming platforms #home page #biggest change #harry potter

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September Religion Bestsellers: Max Lucado Hits #1; Jonathan Cahn Dominates

Max Lucado is #1 on our Religion Nonfiction Bestsellers list with his treatment of anxiety in ‘Anxious for Nothing’. Plus, Jonathan Cahn landed on both the Religion Nonfiction and Religion Fiction lists following the release of ‘The Paradigm.’ Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #max lucado #religion nonfiction


Book of Dust accidentally published early in Netherlands

Philip Pullman’s eagerly awaited La Belle Sauvage has reportedly reached Dutch readers a few weeks early after a publisher’s mix-up. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Murdoch’s News Group admits benefiting from hacking of army officer's emails

Publisher to pay damages to Ian Hurst after admitting ‘vicarious liability’ as Labour calls for case to be taken into account in assessing Murdoch bid to buy SkyRupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers, the publisher of the Sun and the now-closed News of the World, has apologised in court and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #high court #army officer #pay damages


D&D Reader app brings paper reference books to your tablet

Dungeon Masters can rest a bit easier now that the library of Dungeons and Dragons core rulebooks will soon be available in an easy-to-lug digital edition. Instead of a stack of heavy paper-bound volumes, you'll be able to take your iPad or Android t... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2017-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bit easier


Excio seeks photographers, artists, museums to join background photo app

Whether it is a photo of your favourite book cover, or a portrait from an obscure artist, there is something for everyone's "small billboard". Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2017-09-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Unit Sales Slide in Early September

Print unit sales were 3% lower in the week ended September 10 than in the similar week last year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Obituary: Top Exec at Three Publishers, Howard Kaminsky, Dead at 77

Howard Kaminsky, a former president and publisher of Warner Books, Random House and William Morrow/Avon, has died. He was 77. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘The app isn’t always brand-safe’: Why Grindr is trying to become a publisher

Grindr hopes its new publishing arm can win over big brands that would otherwise steer clear of hookup apps. The post ‘The app isn’t always brand-safe’: Why Grindr is trying to become a publisher appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publisher appeared #publishing arm #big brands


Halo Top Ice Cream and FX Are the First Brands to Back Gay Dating App Grindr’s New Digital Magazine

After quietly rolling out a digital publication earlier this year, Grindr is making its push into digital media official today with the launch of lifestyle site Into, which it hopes will attract ad dollars from brands looking to advertise around LGBTQ content. Into launched in March as part of a... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2017-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HBO says there's no evidence hack has infiltrated email system

The hacker group that took credit for breaking into HBO’s computer systems reportedly released new documents on Monday, including marketing materials and emails of an HBO executive. The premium pay-TV channel, owned by media company Time Warner Inc., reiterated late Monday that it does not... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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iBooks Bestsellers: 'The Late Show' Scores Early

Michael Connelly's 'The Late Show' landed at #1 on this week's iBooks bestseller list. Following Connelly was Daniel Silva with 'House of Spies,' and J.P. Delaney with 'The Girl Before' at #3. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michael connelly #ibooks bestsellers #late show #daniel silva


Top publishing execs say interstitial ads are the worst user experience trade-off

Digital media means user experience often is compromised for aggressive monetization tactics. We took a temperature check to find the biggest issues. The post Top publishing execs say interstitial ads are the worst user experience trade-off appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #biggest issues


Amazon boosts kids' reading app with Signature Stories

Reading app Amazon Rapids has extended its offering with Signature Stories, a feature which introduces stories from its TV shows. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reading app #tv shows


BBC's latest app is a home for its VR experiments

The BBC is forever playing around with new forms of storytelling, but its many experimental projects can be hard to keep track of. A 360-degree video might be published on YouTube and Facebook, for example, while an animated VR tale might launch firs... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2017-07-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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William Max Nelson wins £20k Notting Hill Essay Prize

The winning essayist of the third £20k Notting Hill Essay Prize is William Max Nelson for his essay "Five Ways of Being a Painting".  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HBO’s Sheila Nevins Is Loving Every Minute of Her Book Tour

From the looks of the crowd at Michael's today, I suspect there were plenty of big doings being finalized in betweeen bites of Cobb salad. Attorney Bob Barnett was with Huma Abedin, Charlie Rose was huddled in conversation with Marie Josee Kravis on Table Four while CBS 48 Hours Mystery's Susan... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2017-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Florence Welch: British singer admits that performing allows her to 'hide in plain sight'

Florence Welch is nervous. "I get very anxious in interviews," she says, her pale cheeks flushed, her dark eyes shining. "I've always felt overwhelmed by my emotions. Even sitting here now I want to cry and I don't know why." We are sitting side-by-side on a yellow striped sofa in the front... Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2017-06-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #critically acclaimed #topped charts


Educational Publishing Execs at HMH, Cengage Leaving

As educational publishers continue to deal with dramatic changes in the college and school markets, two high-placed executives at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Cengage will leave their roles later this year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-05-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Telegraph buys revision app Gojimo

The Telegraph Media Group has bought revision app Gojimo for an undisclosed sum. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Comic book publishers dismiss Marvel exec's comments as 'rubbish'

Comic book publishers have slammed the recent comments made by a Marvel executive who blamed the inclusion of more diverse and female characters for its declining sales as “ill-judged” and “a load of rubbish”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #marvel executive #female characters #declining sales