HBO on Thursday released an important update to its iOS app for cable subscribers, HBO Go, enabling support for Apple's dedicated TV app, as well as single sign-on with compatible cable or streaming providers.
Movies and shows available in can now be tracked in Apple's TV app, which was alongside iOS 10.2 and to provide a unified interface for browsing and watching shows.
-- the standalone version of Go -- has been compatible with the TV app since the beginning, so it's not clear why HBO took so long to carry over the feature. Indeed, support hasn't been automatic and omnipresent among streaming services, and when it is present it may be inconsistent, , which isn't yet, according to Apple.
Single sign-on compatibility means that HBO Go can automatically grant access if a person has already authenticated with a provider. So far, the only major providers on board include DirecTV, Dish, and the internet-only Sling TV, itself a Dish subsidiary.
Finally HBO has updated Go's home screen, making it possible to quickly resume play of the last movie or show a person was watching.
is a free download, and runs on any device with iOS 8 or later. An Apple TV version is also available.