Announced last fall, HBO GO is just about ready for its Xbox 360 closeup. I still find HBO GO to be one of the most compelling online streaming services, yet cord cutters will remain disappointed as access requires an old school HBO subscription via one’s satellite or cable provider. Further, Comcast and DirecTV customers may continue to be left out. Not to mention this particular implementation will also require a Xbox Live Gold membership ($40-$60/year). But if you happen to be one of the lucky ones, HBO GO offers every episode of every modern original series (True Blood, The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, etc,) in addition to select movies on demand. Engadget reports the Xbox 360 HBO GO channel will launch April 1st, although Tech of the Hub has word the 720p content could show up even sooner.
As a PS3 owner, and not being very familiar with the Xbox 360, why the hell do I need a Xbox Live Gold Membership to access this? I already have to pay for HBO, now I would have to pay Microsoft too? Forget it. I’d be more inclined to just pick up another Roku.
Great, so now I’ll have three platforms (Roku, Samsung TV and now XBox 360) that as a Comcast Customer I won’t be able to get HBO Go on.
Xbox is looking better all the time – Netflix, Hulu Plus, Crackle, HBO GO, ESPN, Zune, and iHeart Radio – as my preferred device. I’m left to wonder why Sony and Apple aren’t doing more (i.e. landing content deals) with the PS3 and Apple TV respectively.
Tim, therein lies the irony… a Roku LT is cheaper than an annual subscription to Xbox Live Gold (MSRP).
Why is the HBO Go app bigger than the others (or is that simply how any app appears when selected?
The blocks all move about. I picked that particular screengrab because HBO GO was so prominent. Most of the other shots have it as a smaller box. The updated UI is pleasant. Which might be a strange descriptor.