Here’s why HBO Max’s playback controls are its best feature
Here’s why HBO Max’s playback controls are its best feature
The streamer’s intuitive playback controls are my favorite thing about its interface.
Anyone who read my review of the HBO Max user interface knows that I’m fairly high on the experience overall. I think HBO Max does an overall good job of presenting content and making searches easy, even if there are one or two things that could stand to be improved about the service.
But which feature of the HBO Max app stands out as my favorite? I’ll fill you in on that below, letting users know which part of the HBO Max UX I like to use most when watching the streamer.
What makes the playback controls my favorite part of HBO Max
At first glance, viewers might not note anything special about the playback controls on HBO Max. When you pull them up, there’s not a ton to see; viewers get the standard pause, fast-forward, and rewind buttons, as well as the subtitles and audio menu, and the information about the episode or movie they’re currently watching.
There are two other buttons in the HBO Max playback controls that viewers will want to pay close attention to, however: an Episodes button and a You May Also Like shortcut. Scrolling down on your smart TV remote will bring up these options for you to browse through, without blocking a huge portion of your screen.
Let’s start with Episodes. This lets viewers pull up a horizontal carousel of all the other episodes in the current season viewers are watching, and going another row down will allow them to browse between seasons. I love how much freedom this gives me to jump around between episodes of a given show, without having to return to the details page.
The Episodes menu in HBO Max’s controls give users a great amount of freedom to move through series.
Next, You May Also Like pulls up a content row of titles that are similar to the one a user is watching at the moment. First of all, I appreciate that this menu is actually filled with relevant titles, instead of a grab bag or the shows HBO Max wants to steer me toward the most for whatever reason. It’s an easy way to find something to continue with when my current title is over.
Other streamers try to make these kinds of options available in their playback controls, as well; Hulu stands out as one. But why I appreciate HBO Max’s controls so specifically is that the Episodes and You May Also Like menus don’t come up unless they’re specifically called for, making them convenient without being obtrusive.
The HBO Max playback controls are surprisingly intuitive and viewer-friendly, and they are my favorite thing about the service’s user interface.
Do these playback controls come with all HBO Max plans?
Yes, these playback controls are available to all HBO Max customers, regardless of plan. Viewers can sign up for HBO Max starting at $10 per month for the streamer’s ad-supported plan, or they can upgrade to ad-free streaming with two plans: one for $17 per month, the other providing Ultra-High-Definition 4K and other features for $21. Both of the ad-free plans include live sports as well as on-demand content.
HBO Max
HBO Max is a subscription video streaming service that gives access to the full HBO library and exclusive Max Originals. There are hubs for content from TLC, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, TCM, Cartoon Network, Travel Channel, ID, and more. Watch hit series like “The Last of Us,” “House of the Dragon,” “Succession,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and more. Within HBO Max, B/R Sports allows users to watch live NBA, MLB, NHL, March Madness, and NASCAR events.