iWorld
HBO Max delivers a new mobile, desktop apps for an improved user experience globally
Mumbai: Warner Bros. Discovery’s OTT service HBO Max has completed the rollout of a new user experience on desktop, iOS and Android mobile devices, and Amazon Fire tablets, where available globally. The replatformed app delivers highly requested new features from HBO Max fans and marks the conclusion of moving all HBO Max apps to a new, more performant tech stack. This was a process that started with replacing connected TV applications last year in September.
The latest features available in the updated HBO Max mobile and desktop applications include:
- Shuffle button functionality is expanded to mobile devices. Previously, only available on the desktop and CTV experiences, this feature gives users the ability to randomise the first episode that plays for select series on the platform.
- SharePlay support for iPhone and iPad users (US only): Subscribers in the US with an ad-free plan and an iPhone or iPad can now use SharePlay to watch their favourite HBO Max programmes in sync with friends and family while on a FaceTime call.
- A dedicated home for downloaded content with improved performance and stability.
- Tablet support for both landscape and portrait orientations.
- An enhanced screen reader experience with improved navigation elements and functionality.
- The ability to split screens with other apps on any behaviour-supported mobile device.
- The intuitive navigation has been updated.
- A refined design and visual styling to let the content shine.
- Chromecast’s stability has been improved.
According to the platform, these updates mark a significant improvement to the experience that will further connect audiences with the stories and storytellers.
Warner Bros. Discovery Streaming senior VP of product design Kamyar Keshmiri said, “We are delighted to introduce the revamped HBO Max mobile and desktop apps. The changes give our users more of the features they care most about, along with improved navigation and a more immersive canvas for storytelling, helping them click play on their favourite content faster and with less friction.”
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
