Shortly after the streaming service HBO Max rebranded to Max, a standalone app was released. As a result, the dedicated HBO Max buttons on many smart TV remotes have become ineffective. Reports from a major technology portal highlight this change.
Some smart TV remotes include programmed buttons that launch the HBO Max app. After the rebranding, the old HBO Max app was discontinued and a new Max app took its place. When users press the service button, they often encounter a screen that does not open the intended app and may display a message prompting the user to download another program.
Users find they can no longer reconfigure the button for the new app or remove the outdated one. It remains unclear whether the Max service plans to offer a remedy or patch for this mismatch. There is speculation that television manufacturers could independently reassign the button in a future firmware update to launch Max directly.
Earlier notices from various tech outlets had warned about security concerns and credible but unfounded virus reports tied to inexpensive Android TV boxes. These reports add another layer of caution for consumers considering third party devices to access streaming services.