I just realised that HBO GO app is finally made available on Samsung TV app.

The app installs itself, and it doesn't allow me to uninstall.

However, I'm unable to login to the account... It kept showing this HTTP 500 error.


I've tried Reinstall HBO Go app on my Samsung TV, device management is cleared, and also tried enter login activation code on my HBO Go app on my phone and it says...


There's no option for me to refresh new login code, and I still can't login.


Any idea how to solve this login issue?

This post has been edited by joshhd: Jul 29 2020, 01:34 AM

Solved
Thanks

Try use the search function instead to look for shows to watch.

https://www.hbogoasia.my/#series/sr536
Selected content may not be available on the Malaysian version of HBO Go. Yeah, region locked.
Same like Netflix.

Same... HBO Go on Samsung TV also doesn't have live TV function...

Or, try ask around friends/family that got subscribe to Astro's Movies Pack, and from there, you can link the HBO GO account with their Astro account.

How to know if they got Movies pack? The simple way is, as long their Astro subscription (Njoi prepaid not counted) are able to to watch HBO and Cinemax (ch411 and ch412), then their account is entitled to enjoy HBO GO without any additional charges.

In the past few days, when I stream shows in HBO Go app on my Samsung smart TV, the video buffers and stops occasionally. Sometimes once it buffering, the video just won't play anymore.
I have to press "Back" to go back to the HBO Go library page, and press OK to resume the show, then the content plays as usual.
There are times where even the HBO Go library just keep loading, not showing thumbnail, restart the app many times, tried reinstall the app also same...

To make sure it's not my Internet issue, I did try launching other apps like Netflix and it works fine. As I exit Netflix app, then launch HBO Go app, the same issue happens again.
Do you guys face this issue too? Or it's just me?
Anyone here sent email support to HBO Go before? Is their customer service support reliable?




This post has been edited by joshhd: Aug 17 2020, 11:01 PM

It is on the latest version.

I wonder, does anyone realise the video frame rate when streaming any HBO Go content (except live TV channels), just seems not right?
Like, do you guys realise the jerky video playback, skip frames-like?

It's like the video would stutter once in every second during playback.
I don't think is the device problem, cuz I tried different devices also same...

Or it seems like they encode the video content in a wrong video frame rate?
I mean seriously, ALL content are like that, from series to movies...

This post has been edited by joshhd: Sep 13 2020, 12:27 AM

Mhmm... I think it's due to some wrong video encoding settings used by HBO Go's side...

From what I see, it looks like they encode the content to 29.976fps and then encode to 24/25fps, resulting some jerky video motion... 😐
They should maintain original frame rate from the original content. If the content is in 23.976 (24fps), then after encoding the video for viewers to watch must be in the same frame rate to 23.976fps.
No frame rate conversion or whatsoever should be happening. It's not TV. It's HBO OTT platform that doesn't need whatever frame rate conversion from HBO's side.

Ironically, almost all HBO titles (such as Westworld, Chernobyl) that is available on Astro's VOD library (including Astro GO) also has this jerky video motion issues.
Even HBO titles that we see on Astro Go also has this issue, so definitely is HBO's problem already... Other non-HBO titles on Astro Go never has this problem.

Just for those who don't know, this has nothing got to do with the device types you're watching from, nor internet speed related problems. This problem is from HBO's side, not end user.
Hope the respective HBO Go technical team will do something to fix this issue ASAP...
The way I see it, they need to re-check the video encoding settings used in their side first.

It is safe to assume that every 24fps content you'd get from HBO channel or through HBO Go (including streaming HBO titles on Astro Go platform) has been sped up 4% to match 25fps.
This is called "PAL speedup", which is commonly used for managing 24fps content before being broadcast on linear TV channels in countries that uses PAL standard.

Literally, as a result of the video playback being fast forward by 4% (1.00x to 1.04x), it explains why the overall movie runtime appears a little shorter.
But broadcasters don't expect this to be a big issue, since majority of the viewers won't realise the difference which is deem pretty minor to most people.
If you are a perfect or almost-perfect pitch kind of person, you'd realise the audio pitch are slightly higher than the original, throughout the movie playback.

Unfortunately, this also appears to happens in selected titles on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia also:
https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...ost&p=101202284

The audio tracks from HBO and HBO GO today has been "badly managed" till the point that it is not in-par with Netflix standardz (unlike HBO Max in other countries).

Same goes to 5.1 audio also.
I wouldn't recommend HBO GO to anyone that prioritises visual and audio quality.

It is "modified" and does not the same as the original. All because of cater for linear TV broadcasts (e.g. HBO linear channels).

First of all, audio pitch is slightly higher due to PAL speedup (they speedup from 24fps to 25fps). Like when there's music playing in the movie, you'll realise that the pitch is slightly higher, and it is pretty obvious. But do note that people who are really tone-deaf may not hear the difference. Secondly, centre speaker channel is being spread out to left and right speaker channels (Meaning, sounds from centre speaker can be heard on left and right speakers. Compared to the original, it is not like that). Thirdly, audio volume is being normalised till you don't feel the dynamic range anymore, compared to the original. Meaning, scenes that are meant to be loud like explosions and gun shots, you'll hear that the audio volume is being normalised, so no "syiok" watching it already.

For video, first of all, HBO logo is hardcoded to the content. Damn annoying. Secondly, video playback is 4% faster due to PAL speedup compared to original. Meaning, when the content is 24fps, it is being speed up to 25fps. Imagine the playback speed is 1.00, then because of PAL speedup, it becomes equivalent of 1.04. You'll realise that the overall movie length would appear few minutes lesser, compared to original. Thirdly, some content are badly encoded which resulted stuttering video frame rates. Also, video quality is way inferior as compared to Netflix's Full HD quality.

These reasons is good enough to discourage me from watching any content from legitimate HBO GO service. If really want to "support original", use VPN and stream Max from other country. That one don't have such problems, and the quality are on-par with Netflix.

But yeah, I heard the good news that HBO GO service in Southeast Asia will be replaced with Max by end of this year. So let's see how it goes.

The Dolby Atmos indicator that you see on the "movie page" is just to let you know that the content is available in Dolby Atmos, but whether will you be able to get it, it depends on your Max plan tier.

Dolby Atmos is only available if you're on Max Premium plan. Max Standard don't offer Dolby Atmos.

Where did you get the Max subscription from? Is it from Astro, Unifi TV or you subscribe standalone subscription directly from Max?

If its from Unifi TV, which TV pack are you on?

Yes.
Astro customers who subscribed to any pack that includes Movies, are entitled to Max Standard plan by default.
For the avoidance of doubt, there are no Astro bundles/package that comes with Max Premium plan, hence no one will be getting Max Premium for free from Astro.

If you wish to upgrade the existing Max Standard plan that you're getting from Astro subscription, into Max Premium, you can't do it today (Astro hadn't provide that option yet due to technical readiness), but you can do so by early next year 2025.

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Alternatively, if you have Unifi TV, and subscribed to either Family, Ultimate Plus, Ultimate Max or Movies Pack, then you are eligible for Max Standard.
But as an introductory offer, customers on these packs before 19 Nov 2024 are eligible to "redeem" their free 3 months of Max Premium plan (will revert back to Standard afterwards) as long they activate it before 31 Dec 2024.

After that, if you want Max Premium, just topup RM10/month.

Otherwise, if you only have Unifi Home Internet but without Unifi TV packs mentioned earlier, you can addon Max app onto your bill at a cheaper price:
• RM13.60/month (Max Mobile Plan)
• RM24.90/month (RRP RM34.90/month, Save RM10/month on Unifi) (Max Standard Plan)
• RM34.90/month (RRP RM52.90/month, Save RM18/month on Unifi)

If you're not a Unifi Home customer, then you can subscribe as a standalone subscription directly from max.com

If you never had HBO GO or Max account before, then you'll need to sign up one, then link it to your Astro account (if your Astro subscription includes Max app).

But first of all, are you saying that after you launch Max app on your Ulti Box, it just stuck at Loading? If yes then this shouldn't be happening.

Have you tried unplug the power of your Ulti Box, then plug it back in, and see if issue persists?

If your Astro subscription has Movies, then you can get not only Max (Standard plan), but also Disney+ Hotstar (Basic plan) and Amazon Prime.

The easiest way to know whether your Astro subscription has Movies Pack or not is, check if you're able to watch HBO channels 411, 412, 414 and 415. If yes, then you should be eligible for Max, Disney+ Hotstar and Amazon Prime without additional cost.

I can load the app but when I try to play a movie.. it just keeps loading..the pink circle spinning. Lol
This is an app problem.
Have you reboot your box (meaning unplug the power of your Ulti Box, wait for few seconds, then plug it back)? If not, please try first.

So Max is suppose to be free to me as well?
Yes correct.

I've just registered and link my astro to Max. Will try later and see if it's still failing to load.
If you still see the never-ending pink loading icon, try clear NVRAM as follows:
https://support.astro.com.my/question/refre...-ultra-ulti-box

As you do this, your box will factory reset. The biggest impact for you probably is, besides needing to re-enter your WiFi password again (if the box is connected using WiFi), you also need to re-login all your streaming apps on the Ulti Box.

If clearing NVRAM still doesn't work, that is where you can contact customer service for further assistance, and you can tell them you did the clear NVRAM steps.
Box replacement may be needed then.

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For further Astro related questions, you can post your questions on this thread about Astro: https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/4574137