HBO Go coming to game consoles, internet-enabled TVs

I realized what you meant after a friend clarified it for me. I'm going to try that, as I'm 100% sure my parents never use their login for anything, let alone streaming (I bought them an Apple TV for the holidays, and I'm the only one who has used it so far).

Wow, I never thought of using family's account. Will see if that's a possibility.

I wish this were coming to PS3.

Woohoo, it worked brilliantly. My parents gladly let me use their account, and I got it all set up and tested via the website. Now to wait for Sunday.

ahrezmendi wrote:

Woohoo, it worked brilliantly. My parents gladly let me use their account, and I got it all set up and tested via the website. Now to wait for Sunday.

Nice! If they couldn't make a sub account just for you, be aware that they limit the number of devices to one (at least they used to, but they may have upped it to a couple) per account. So, if your parents use HBO Go at all, you might get some conflicts.

I remember experiencing some issues when watching something on iPhone on the bus and then switching to my computer at home. It would take a little while for the system to figure it out, so I would have to log in and out.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:
ahrezmendi wrote:

Woohoo, it worked brilliantly. My parents gladly let me use their account, and I got it all set up and tested via the website. Now to wait for Sunday.

Nice! If they couldn't make a sub account just for you, be aware that they limit the number of devices to one (at least they used to, but they may have upped it to a couple) per account. So, if your parents use HBO Go at all, you might get some conflicts.

I remember experiencing some issues when watching something on iPhone on the bus and then switching to my computer at home. It would take a little while for the system to figure it out, so I would have to log in and out.

I believe the limit is five devices. I'll have to double check on that.

mumford wrote:

I believe the limit is five devices. I'll have to double check on that.

They must have upped it then as I suspected. I only had issues the first month or two when it came out IIRC.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:
mumford wrote:

I believe the limit is five devices. I'll have to double check on that.

They must have upped it then as I suspected. I only had issues the first month or two when it came out IIRC.

I take that back, I'm pretty sure there isn't a limit.

I'm assuming the borrowed account trick won't wok if you don't get the internet or TV from the cable company (I have DSL)?

Tigerbill wrote:

I'm assuming the borrowed account trick won't wok if you don't get the internet from the cable company (I have DSL)?

Inquiring minds want to know this, too.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
Tigerbill wrote:

I'm assuming the borrowed account trick won't wok if you don't get the internet from the cable company (I have DSL)?

Inquiring minds want to know this, too.

It's completely separate. You just need an internet connection.

Tigerbill wrote:

I'm assuming the borrowed account trick won't wok if you don't get the internet or TV from the cable company (I have DSL)?

Shouldn't make a difference, since it'll work on tablets and phones, IIRC.

I ask because with the Xbox-ESPN deal I can't watch live games since I'm not with a cable provider.

Tigerbill wrote:

I ask because with the Xbox-ESPN deal I can't watch live games since I'm not with a cable provider.

In that case, I don't know if there are any restrictions on the Xbox version of HBO Go. There aren't any on the iOS and browser based versions. I guess it worked for ahrezmendi, so it should be fine.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:
Tigerbill wrote:

I ask because with the Xbox-ESPN deal I can't watch live games since I'm not with a cable provider.

In that case, I don't know if there are any restrictions on the Xbox version of HBO Go. There aren't any on the iOS and browser based versions. I guess it worked for ahrezmendi, so it should be fine.

There are no restrictions. It'll work just like the iOS and browser versions do.

I have AT&T Uverse and I tried it out last night. Worked perfectly. Started up with Generation Kill again. Man, what a great show.

Here's the way it worked for me:

- Contact parents, get login info for Comcast (yes, Comcast, not HBO)
- Go to HBO GO, create account (which I linked to my personal e-mail address, I don't think HBO cares what e-mail you give)
- Download HBO GO app on 360, it generates an activation code
- Go to hbogo.com/activate, punch in the code
- Profit

I only tried watching a show via the web streaming, I haven't actually watched anything on the 360 app yet, but no errors came up and it listed everything as being viewable.

ahrezmendi wrote:

Here's the way it worked for me:

- Contact parents, get login info for Comcast (yes, Comcast, not HBO)
- Go to HBO GO, create account (which I linked to my personal e-mail address, I don't think HBO cares what e-mail you give)
- Download HBO GO app on 360, it generates an activation code
- Go to hbogo.com/activate, punch in the code
- Profit

I only tried watching a show via the web streaming, I haven't actually watched anything on the 360 app yet, but no errors came up and it listed everything as being viewable.

Apparently the 360 does have some limitations - it's blocked to users of Comcast and Time Warner cable.

Tanglebones wrote:
ahrezmendi wrote:

Here's the way it worked for me:

- Contact parents, get login info for Comcast (yes, Comcast, not HBO)
- Go to HBO GO, create account (which I linked to my personal e-mail address, I don't think HBO cares what e-mail you give)
- Download HBO GO app on 360, it generates an activation code
- Go to hbogo.com/activate, punch in the code
- Profit

I only tried watching a show via the web streaming, I haven't actually watched anything on the 360 app yet, but no errors came up and it listed everything as being viewable.

Apparently the 360 does have some limitations - it's blocked to users of Comcast and Time Warner cable.

Well that sucks. Guess I'll have to try it on the mac mini.

It completely sucks. I went to install HBO Go on my Roku and I found out Comcast/Xfinity does not allow it. I also stared at that Xfinity coming soon message on XBL only to see it disappear weeks later. These conflicting interests that the big media companies are juggling is making the marketplace a bit muddled and it keeps the old expensive cable/satelite model competitive, since you can basically get everything you want from them (tv/cable shows, dvr, rentals and on demand, sports, porn, etc.) and your do not have to go buy and compare anything. You just tell them what you want, hand them some money, and then it is in every room of your house. But in the end, you pay a massive premium for that simple, all inclusive, no work solution. I wish I had just enough disposable income (or any for that matter) where I could just go, "give me the works and send me the bill." Right now I seem to be juggling different subscription services, devices, etc. every few months as the prices and content change. I am just tired of tinkering.

My parents are with Comcast and I was able to activate it just fine. Or do they only block when you try to actually watch something?

ahrezmendi wrote:

My parents are with Comcast and I was able to activate it just fine. Or do they only block when you try to actually watch something?

I have never experienced issues with this either. I'm not using an xbox, though.

ahrezmendi wrote:

My parents are with Comcast and I was able to activate it just fine. Or do they only block when you try to actually watch something?

It's not who their cable provider is but who your ISP is. So if you have Comcast as your ISP, you won't be able to use HBO Go with your 360. It doesn't matter if your parents use Comcast to get HBO in the first place.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

It doesn't matter if your parents use Comcast to get HBO in the first place.

That's definitely an xbox only situation, because that isn't an issue for me being on Comcast. I wonder if they'll find a way to block PCs and iOS devices.

ahrezmendi wrote:

My parents are with Comcast and I was able to activate it just fine. Or do they only block when you try to actually watch something?

Dunno, I'm just going by this:
http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/27/29...

tuffalobuffalo wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:

It doesn't matter if your parents use Comcast to get HBO in the first place.

That's definitely an xbox only situation, because that isn't an issue for me being on Comcast. I wonder if they'll find a way to block PCs and iOS devices.

Yeah, it's specific to the Xbox. Comcast doesn't like that it's easier for you to use an Xbox to watch HBO on the big screen; they want you to use their cable boxes and On Demand so that they can advertise to you.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:

It doesn't matter if your parents use Comcast to get HBO in the first place.

That's definitely an xbox only situation, because that isn't an issue for me being on Comcast. I wonder if they'll find a way to block PCs and iOS devices.

Comcast has an agreement with HBO on PC and mobile. It just seems to be big screen focused devices that they are not working with HBO on.

I'm still confused, ahrezmendi. When you say you activated the Xbox, did you log in on the HBO page by clicking on your ISP's/MSO link to provide credentials, then input the code from the Xbox? Because you actually have to log in to one of the approved partners using your account info from them, and Comcast isn't available on the HBOGo.com/activate page.

Tanglebones wrote:
ahrezmendi wrote:

My parents are with Comcast and I was able to activate it just fine. Or do they only block when you try to actually watch something?

Dunno, I'm just going by this:
http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/27/29...

Haha! That's ridiculous. I hereby allow everyone on GWJ to facepalm.

So can I say "Called it!" now? It doesn't matter anyway; even if it did work I don't know anyone in my area well enough, who has HBO.

I have Comcast for cable and internet (only game in town) and I was blocked from adding HBO Go to my Roku. The error message was that HBO Go not supported by your provider on your device.

I assume that the same thing will happen to Xbox users as well.

Like I said earlier, Xfinity had ads up on the XBL TV application section and then took them down. I do not think the contract negotiations are going as planned between MS, Comcast, HBO, and whoever else has a horse in the race.

I am hoping that Comcast/Xfinity is going for a bigger iptv roll out and that is why they are late to the game. It is my hope that they are trying to bring all On Demand content to XBL and not just work something out between MS, HBO, and themselves. It would great for me either way, but having HBO Go AND the other on demand content I pay for would be great.

MannishBoy wrote:
tuffalobuffalo wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:

It doesn't matter if your parents use Comcast to get HBO in the first place.

That's definitely an xbox only situation, because that isn't an issue for me being on Comcast. I wonder if they'll find a way to block PCs and iOS devices.

Comcast has an agreement with HBO on PC and mobile. It just seems to be big screen focused devices that they are not working with HBO on.

I'm still confused, ahrezmendi. When you say you activated the Xbox, did you log in on the HBO page by clicking on your ISP's/MSO link to provide credentials, then input the code from the Xbox? Because you actually have to log in to one of the approved partners using your account info from them, and Comcast isn't available on the HBOGo.com/activate page.

I did exactly this, as I listed in my steps above, and my ISP is Comcast (though I'm on Comcast Business, I have no idea if that makes a difference). I was able to go to activate, select Xbox 360 from the drop down of devices, input the code, and browse all the offerings on my 360. The only thing I didn't do is actually try to watch a video, but the app started, it showed everything, and no errors appeared.

I followed the instructions from HBO to the T, and it went swimmingly even though my ISP is Comcast. I'll try actually watching a video on it tonight, maybe they'll block me there (though that would be totally stupid).