Technologies
HBO Max Is Rebranding. Here’s What That Means for You
HBO Max is updating its name, features and catalog. Learn how those changes may impact your streaming.
																								
												
												
											
Warner Bros. Discovery revealed on Wednesday that «HBO Max» is out, and «Max» is the name of its rebranded streaming service. The reworked platform will house merged content from HBO Max and Discovery Plus, giving you shows like Euphoria and Succession next to greige-tinted unscripted series like Fixer Upper. Along with the new name comes a new tagline: The One to Watch.
The company is touting a larger library and a better user interface, but you may have some basic questions about how all these changes will affect your existing account. And newcomers may be curious about what’s up with Max and what the service has to offer. Here are answers to some of your questions.
When will Max roll out in my country?
US customers will have access to Max on May 23. Users in Latin America will see the rollout in fall 2023, with certain Europe and Asia markets receiving Max access in early to mid 2024.
Once the service launches, it will automatically upgrade with the new Max logo, interface and features. According to Warner Bros. Discovery, existing subscribers will see their profiles, billing information and watch lists seamlessly transfer to the updated version and they’ll only have to open the app to use the platform. However, the company said some users will be prompted to download the new version of the streaming app.
New Max customers can either sign up for HBO Max now, or wait to subscribe to the new service on May 23 to start streaming instantly.
How much will Max cost?
The price will remain the same as current HBO Max subscriptions, but there’s one new premium plan that will cost more than the standard two options. Max Ad-Lite will cost $10 per month and come with HD and two streams, while ad-free Max is priced at $16 monthly for HD, two streams and 30 downloads.
When the new service arrives in May, there will also be a $20-per-month Ultimate Plan, which offers four concurrent streams, 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos sound and 100 downloads. This is a change, as HBO Max currently offers three streams for both plans with the ability to watch some titles in 4K Ultra HD. Yes, you’ll have to pay more for 4K, but some existing HBO Max features will still be available for up to six months after Max’s launch.
Note that Discovery Plus will continue to be a standalone streaming option. It’s currently priced at $5 a month for the ad-supported plan and $7 per month without ads.
What TV shows and movies will be on Max?
Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming offering will bring together content from HBO Max and Discovery Plus. Max will have HBO originals, Warner Bros. movies, Max originals, DC Comics and Harry Potter alongside programming from brands including Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC and ID. The entire HBO Max library will be found on Max with a selected collection of Discovery titles.
At its Wednesday press conference, Warner Bros. Discovery highlighted a range of new titles that’ll be hitting the freshly rebranded streaming service. In addition to DC drama The Penguin, subscribers will have access to spinoffs of familiar franchises like The Conjuring, The Big Bang Theory, Game of Thrones and Harry Potter. New shows coming to the streamer range from a limited series starring Kate Winslet to a Barbie-themed home renovation competition series, and from a thriller based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to a dating series from the producers of 90 Day Fiance.
WBD’s head of content, Kathleen Finch, and Max’s content boss, Casey Bloys, emphasized that family and children’s content will also take center stage on the new service, with an aim at audiences of all ages. Viewers will get more animation and entertainment releases from popular brands like Cartoon Network, Hanna-Barbera, Boomerang, Looney Toons and DC. This includes a new animated version of Peter & the Wolf from U2’s Bono.
Subscribers can also expect films to find Max as their streaming home after their theatrical runs. Shazam! Fury of the Gods will arrive on launch day, and Blue Beetle, Dune 2, Barbie, and The Flash are among the other movie titles you’ll find on the platform. The Flash will hit Max in the fall.


A new take on Peter & the Wolf is coming to Max, courtesy of Bono.
Max, Warner Bros. DiscoveryIs there a way to opt out of Discovery or HBO Max content?
No. But you can choose to have a standalone Discovery Plus subscription instead of subscribing to Max. While there won’t be a separate version for HBO Max and HBO-branded content, Warner Bros. Discovery says the updated app will have an interface that’s more tailored to a user’s personal tastes. It’ll also feature genre hubs and a new content navigation menu at the top of the screen to make it easier to find what you want.
According to the company’s global streaming boss, J.B. Perrette, Max will «have differentiated and high-performing personalized experiences including elements such as ‘Because You Watched’ recommendations, and immersive hero images tailored for each user.» He indicated that the app’s recommendation engine will eventually learn to surface content that matches your viewing habits.
Should I cancel my current HBO Max or Discovery Plus subscription if I have both?
There’s no need to cancel your subscriptions right now unless you’re no longer enjoying them. All existing HBO Max subscribers will transition to Max when the app relaunches in May. Max will include Discovery Plus content, but Discovery Plus will also remain a separate, lower-priced streaming option that has content only from Discovery networks. If you like Max’s fully merged lineup, then you may want to wait and drop Discovery Plus in May.
What if I get HBO or HBO Max through cable?
If you currently receive HBO Max or HBO through a mobile carrier or your cable/satellite TV provider, you’ll have access to the updated Max app. You won’t have to cancel and resubscribe. Upon launch, it’ll be available through AT&T, Hulu, Cox, Xfinity, Verizon, DirecTV, Prime Video channels and other services. You can view the list on the Max website. Max will be accessible on most devices, including TVs, gaming consoles and mobile phones.
If you’re new to Max or Discovery Plus, you can sign up now or wait until May 23.
To learn more about WBD’s streaming services, read up on its strategy for live sports and which channels are on Discovery Plus.
Technologies
Windows 11 Previews a Feature That Lets You Share Audio With Another Person’s Device
The feature would let people share their audio over Bluetooth with another speaker, headphone or Bluetooth-compatible hearing aid.
														Want to watch the same movie with family members on a plane, but still allow each person to use their own audio device? Microsoft is previewing a new feature that will allow Windows 11 users to share audio over Bluetooth LE. The audio sharing feature should support any headphones, speakers and hearing aids with Bluetooth LE compatibility, and it will allow users to share the same audio stream to two sources at once. Bluetooth LE refers to Bluetooth Low Energy, which uses significantly less power than traditional Bluetooth.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
«Built on top of Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast technology, shared audio lets your supported Windows 11 PC transmit an audio stream to two Bluetooth audio accessories at the same time,» Microsoft said in a blog post. «Shared audio lets students share music with a friend while studying or brings family members closer by watching a movie together on an airplane.»
Insiders will receive a new shared audio preview tile in Windows Quick Settings, enabling the feature. Users then connect their Bluetooth device and add a second one. The PC will transmit audio to both devices once both are connected.
Microsoft is rolling out the update for supported Surface Laptop and Surface Pro devices starting Monday, and it will roll out to other devices in the coming weeks. You can also check settings to determine if your Bluetooth device is compatible with Bluetooth LE, which will make it compatible with audio sharing.
Your Bluetooth device must support Bluetooth LE to use the feature. Fortunately, most of the best headphones on the market today do, which will make the transition easier if you already own top-tier Bluetooth headphones.
Doing more with Bluetooth LE
The preview comes amid a larger push from Microsoft to bolster its Bluetooth audio offerings. Part of that included a super-wideband stereo profile for gamers, which uses better audio compression and a higher sample rate to improve audio quality over Bluetooth LE while allowing users to keep using their microphones. Microsoft has also recently rolled out spatial audio support over Bluetooth in Teams, which will add some new functionality for your favorite work-from-home headphones.
Bluetooth LE has been a hot topic for operating system updates over the last couple of years, and Microsoft’s preview will bring Windows 11 back into parity with its competitors. Android users received shared audio over Bluetooth LE earlier this year, while Apple users have had the feature on iPhones and iPads for a few years. MacOS also has the feature.
Technologies
Waymo Expands Its Robotaxi Fleet to Las Vegas, San Diego and Detroit. Everything to Know
Here’s everywhere the self-driving company operates now and where it’s heading soon.
Technologies
Apple Plans to Use a Custom Model of Google’s Gemini AI to Power Siri, Report Says
Apple reportedly chose Google over Anthropic for financial reasons.
														Apple is turning to Google to make a custom Gemini AI model to power the next version of its virtual assistant Siri for spring 2026, according to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman on Sunday.
According to the report, Apple was evaluating whether to use Google or AI competitor Anthropic for the next version of Siri. Gurman says Google offered a better financial deal. In an earlier Bloomberg report, he says Anthropic would have cost Apple $1.5 billion per year. The report doesn’t reveal Apple’s own financial offer.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
This custom Gemini model will run on Apple’s private cloud compute servers. Apple’s own models will continue to run on devices for personal data, while Gemini would operate on servers for more complex tasks. Gurman also says that Apple won’t highlight Google’s involvement in the company’s marketing.
Representatives for Google, Apple and Anthropic did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
With major tech companies pivoting toward AI, Apple has largely been left behind. The tech company was slow to adopt AI and hasn’t developed AI models that are competitive. It instead turned to companies like OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, to help add generative capabilities on top of existing Apple systems.
Even then, the promise of a truly agentic Apple Intelligence has failed to materialize, although it has improved. Apple CEO Tim Cook also hasn’t ruled out the possibility of acquiring an AI company.
(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)
Apple also has a close relationship with Google. The search giant pays Apple $20 billion annually to remain the default search engine on Apple devices. It’s a relationship that nets Apple money and prevents it from building a competitor to Google Search, a claim Apple denies. This arrangement was an important factor in the Department of Justice’s case against Google, where a judge ruled that the company was operating an illegal monopoly.
Despite falling behind on AI, Apple is doing well financially. Last month, it surpassed a $4 trillion market cap.
- 
																	
										
																			Technologies3 года agoTech Companies Need to Be Held Accountable for Security, Experts Say
 - 
																	
										
																			Technologies3 года agoBest Handheld Game Console in 2023
 - 
																	
										
																			Technologies3 года agoTighten Up Your VR Game With the Best Head Straps for Quest 2
 - 
																	
										
																			Technologies4 года agoVerum, Wickr and Threema: next generation secured messengers
 - 
																	
										
																			Technologies4 года agoBlack Friday 2021: The best deals on TVs, headphones, kitchenware, and more
 - 
																	
										
																			Technologies4 года agoGoogle to require vaccinations as Silicon Valley rethinks return-to-office policies
 - 
																	
										
																			Technologies4 года agoOlivia Harlan Dekker for Verum Messenger
 - 
																	
										
																			Technologies4 года agoiPhone 13 event: How to watch Apple’s big announcement tomorrow
 

