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The world of entertainment and media has changed a lot in the past few decades. Back in the days when we had to wait for our favorite show to air or go see a movie at the theater, networks and movie studios held all of the power. Nowadays, we have many great streaming sites and apps that let us watch movies and television whenever we want. Thanks to this change, viewers are now in control - something that has definitely benefited them. This means that whether you're binge watching an entire series in one sitting or just picking through certain episodes here and there, you're always able to get your fix without having to wait for the next installment to drop. Thanks to the new Netflix model of streaming content, on-demand viewing has become the primary mode of media consumption for most of the streaming world. This means that whether you're binge watching an entire series in one sitting or just picking through certain episodes here and there, you're always able to get your fix without having to wait for the next installment to drop.

Now, not only do we have the ability to watch our favorite shows and movies on our personal devices, but also in various public spaces, such as libraries and parks. Not only that, but this has opened up a whole new way of experiencing entertainment; now we can watch our favorite shows and movies while on vacation or even when we're just passing through a certain location.

You can easily access premium streaming apps on your smartphone or tablet to watch whatever you want, no matter where you are or what's on TV. Simply choose one of these apps and start watching your favorite shows and movies without having to worry about cable.

I have to board a plane soon, so I can catch up on my favorite shows or watch that movie my friends have been raving about for weeks now. There is no reason to be bored anymore, no matter where I am or where I'm going. My personal favorite time to use premium streaming apps is when I hit the gym. Nothing makes those usually eternal and sometimes painful minutes of cardio go faster than getting lost in some high-quality HD content on my phone. No matter what you like to do while you stream, premium streaming apps make it possible.

So, in order to figure out which premium streaming app is perfect for you and your viewing needs, the first thing you have to do is decide which streaming service or services have the most content that you are interested in. After that, it is just a matter of finding the right premium streaming app for you to use.

That doesn't mean that the app's performance is any less important. That is, of course, a crucial thing to take into account as well - how well-designed the app is, how dependably it works, whether you can stream content in HD on your phone, etc. So, especially if you are the kind of person who does a majority of his or her streaming on the go, the premium streaming service that has the best premium streaming app on the market is likely the one that you'll want to go for.

We will be taking a look at a premium streaming app from one of the biggest names in movies, TV, and streaming. Let's dive in and take a look at the HBO Now app, shall we?

History

After much speculation and rumors, HBO officially announced its new app, HBO Now, during a press event hosted by Apple on March 9th, 2015. Initially only available on Apple TV and iOS devices for a trial period of 3 months, HBO Now content was always made available on HBO's official website. Apple's new HBO app went live on April 7th, 2015, coinciding perfectly with the April 12th premiere of Game of Thrones? 5th season. Part of the deal stated that Apple would keep 15% of HBO Now's monthly subscription fee, at least from those subscribers who signed up from an iOS device.

After the initial three months of Apple exclusivity, HBO Now was also released for Android and Amazon Kindle Fire on July 16th of 2015. The following year, too, in April of 2016, HBO Now launched apps for Xbox 360 and Xbox One. And on September 15th of the same year, HBO Now became available on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 game consoles (this time in conjunction with the series premiere of Westworld.

Today, HBO Now is a standalone service that is separate from HBO Go. If you want to use this service on your computer or mobile device, you will need a special HBO Now membership. This means that people who have used HBO Go in the past may find it more difficult to access the service on their own devices because it wasn't designed well for these devices in the first place.

Design

Secondly, many of the features and functions that are essential for streaming content on a mobile device are inexplicably absent from HBO Now. For example, you can't pause or rewind live TV, there's no grid view for browsing episodes or movies, and the app doesn't even support AirPlay mirroring which is one of the coolest features of Apple TV. So, knowing that HBO Now, as opposed to HBO Go, was designed specifically with mobile devices in mind, you would certainly expect a remarkable improvement in design and functionality? Well, yeah you would certainly expect it but I'm afraid that HBO Now also does not deliver on a design standpoint. The app first of all does not look nearly as sleek or dynamic as you'd expect from one of the most popular and critically acclaimed networks in the history of television and film. Secondly many of the features and functions that are essential for streaming content on a mobile device are inexplicably absent from HBO Now. For example you can't pause or rewind live TV there's no grid view for browsing episodes or movies and the app doesn't even support AirPlay mirroring which is one of the coolest features of Apple TV. Some people really like the design of the app, while others are not impressed. I unfortunately do not think it is very good. The app has an average user rating on the Apple App Store which is very low for a premium streaming app. Some people like the design but others are not impressed.

Content

Speaking of content, HBO offers a vast and impressive selection of movies and series on its HBO Now app. This includes almost all of the movies and series that are available in the HBO library (excluding some notable old shows, such as Da Ali G Show, The Ricky Gervais Show, Tenacious D, and Tales from the Crypt).

Pricing and Plans

Considering the design flaws I mentioned, HBO Now is relatively expensive. It will cost you $14.99/month after a 1-month trial period, however, which HBO offers for free. Compared to Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus, HBO Now is definitely on the more expensive end of the spectrum when it comes to premium streaming apps.

Suggestions that I have for HBO Now

I don't understand why HBO Now decided to go with such blatant design flaws. Hopefully, knowing the budget constraints they face, they already have someone on a redesign project. Additionally, I would love to see the price point come down a bit. In my opinion, if they offered a "priority" subscription with ads and one without them, it could cost just 10 dollars per month.