Home Technology Showmax finally heads to consoles with Xbox One app

Showmax finally heads to consoles with Xbox One app

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I’m a loyal Netflix adherent, and I have been for years now – even after the company started messing everything up with the DNS and VPN bans. That said, South Africa’s own streaming services have a lot to offer, with Naspers-owned Showmax at the fore. It’s home to a world of similar content, though some of Multichoice’s licencing agreements mean that it has fresher content than its American rival.

What it hasn’t had is apps on home consoles. If you wanted to watch Showmax on your TV, you needed a Smart TV with the app, an Android set-top box, an HTPC, an Apple TV or some other connected device. Me? I use my consoles for streaming everything, so a console app would be welcomed. It’s finally here.

The Xbox One version of Showmax is now live and available to download, say our friends at Memeburn.

“The addition of the Xbox One app is the latest step in the continued development of Showmax,” the company said in its PR. But what of the PlayStation 4 version? Keep waiting – though hopefully not for too long.

“To answer the inevitable question — yes the other console app you’re waiting for will be here soon,” says Showmax’s Richard Boorman. Memeburn says the app is in testing, so the wait shouldn’t be too long for those who’ve been waiting what seems an eternity already.

The more expeditious Xbox One release is likely down to Universal Windows Platform (UWP) support on the Xbox One, which has seen the system’s app stores flooded with all manner of largely pointless apps.

At R99 a month, Showmax is a good value proposition, but it’s not a service I’m especially fond of. Any of you using Showmax, happy that it’s now making its way to consoles?

Last Updated: August 29, 2017

34 Comments

  1. Guild

    August 29, 2017 at 10:36

    Not a fan of Showmax due to it’s links to Multichoice and DSTV. Plus I’ve always viewed the content when I checked as dated barring a few prime series. SA is considered PS country so why release an app for the XBox first? Is it due to easier process or development?
    I’m happy with my Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime setup but also the amount of streaming services is getting ridiculous. I’ve looked at Crackle, Starz, Showmax, DEOD, HBO Now and now Disney is looking to enter the market. Way to many.

    Reply

    • HvR

      August 29, 2017 at 12:05

      Also not crazy about giving Multichoice money; after ending my contract in March the fuckers are still deducting money from my account. They are no officially worse than Telkom.

      Have Showmax purely for the Afrikaans content; if the content was available on PB I would have not felt one ounce of guilt in downloading it.

      Reply

      • Guild

        August 29, 2017 at 12:11

        Thankfully when I ended contracts with DSTV and Telkom last year Feb I had zero issues with post billing. Only thing I have now is the odd phone call from DSTV asking if I would like to reactivate DSTV.

        Reply

  2. Ottokie

    August 29, 2017 at 10:45

    The speed of the console (PS4) never allows me to stream anything past 420p. What is up with the download and upload speed on these systems even through a CAT5 cable?

    Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      August 29, 2017 at 11:05

      I stream on Ps4 at 1080 without issue.

      Reply

      • Ottokie

        August 29, 2017 at 11:06

        I have no way to have a physical cable to it all the time, so wifi it is. But it’s the wi fi that’s so useless on the consoles.

        Reply

        • Geoffrey Tim

          August 29, 2017 at 11:07

          …I use Wifi.

          Reply

          • Ottokie

            August 29, 2017 at 11:07

            How the heck xD

            Do I need to sacrifice a virgin to it or something.

          • Ottokie

            August 29, 2017 at 11:08

            I would love to use it as my cruncyroll streaming platform, but no go at 420p with buffering on a 100mb fibre line.

          • miaau

            August 29, 2017 at 11:31

            Oh, and by the way, 100mb Fibre….. One of the few things to completely turn me green.

            I cannot get that in my area, in a large suburb in Pretoria….

          • Ottokie

            August 29, 2017 at 11:33

            It’s been a game changer that’s for sure xD

            No need to have a hard drive anymore with backed up games. Just re download them and go. At 1.2Gb per minute, you can make a cup of coffee and comeback to a finished game.

          • miaau

            August 29, 2017 at 11:36

            Gee whiz…… I wish.

            Some company last said if I paid R36 000 they would hook me up. AND then all my neighbours could get it for normal install price…..

          • Ottokie

            August 29, 2017 at 11:41

            When I sold my apartment and started looking for a new home, I brought up the fibre maps and only went searching in the areas that had coverage. 80% of what I do revolves around having internet and Telkom ADSL was just not doing it for me anymore.

            Always to far away from the exchange, callouts take weeks and most of the time they just say nothing is wrong.

          • Fox1 - Retro

            August 29, 2017 at 12:32

            Sounds like an issue with your Router or ISP. Try different ISP’s and see if the problem persists or borrow a friends router and test. I was having issues with an Asus router I used for years. Changed for a D-Link and it made a huge difference.

          • HvR

            August 29, 2017 at 12:00

            Gettin mine soon, Vumatel dug up my yard yesterday for the fibre.

            Close to a year’s hard work and campaigining finally paying off

          • miaau

            August 29, 2017 at 11:19

            What is your latency from your console to your wifi connection? I.e. if I use wifi in my bedroom, it is poor, as it to get to the study is through multiple other rooms and walls.

          • Ottokie

            August 29, 2017 at 11:20

            Just one wall, 3 meters away. latency is perfect.

          • miaau

            August 29, 2017 at 11:21

            bloody hell, that is a problem. Does PS4 have a speedtest function, like the Xbox One. I get, sometimes, latency of 250ms to Xbox Live (international)

          • Ottokie

            August 29, 2017 at 11:23

            Some games do have them yes, the network test function on the PS4 itself does not give you any info on down and up speeds. But game latency is 160ms international.

            Starting to think it’s a hardware problem, but not to much of a deal breaker as I have a cheap media PC setup next to the TV.

          • miaau

            August 29, 2017 at 11:24

            Yeah, but we love the Xbox One for our media, as I am sure the PS4 could also be useful.

          • Ottokie

            August 29, 2017 at 11:26

            It would be less power consuming that’s for sure.

          • miaau

            August 29, 2017 at 11:27

            Hell yes…. Xbox One (Mine) hovers around 70kw if memory serves, very little. Can push higher, but not that much. Lower than a computer and lower than a TV, for example.

            Did calcs a while back for Solar panels + all equipment for certain household plugs.

          • miaau

            August 29, 2017 at 11:26

            And that speed test of mine is Xbox Live, not in game or for a specific game.

          • miaau

            August 29, 2017 at 11:38

            No. If you get in game Latency of 160ms using the same Wifi, then your PS4 should blood stream well…..

            You Tube? Other services?

          • Ottokie

            August 29, 2017 at 11:42

            All of them buffer. And I spend a lot of time streaming Twitch.

  3. R1ker

    August 29, 2017 at 10:47

    I have an android media player and i don’t like the interface of showmax that much. I also have a 7.2 home media center but Shomax only stream in stereo. At least netflix stream 5.1 sound.

    Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      August 29, 2017 at 11:05

      This is a big one for me. I need muh surround sounds.

      Reply

  4. miaau

    August 29, 2017 at 11:18

    We have both Netflix and Showmax, for different types of shows.

    Netflix, on a usability and tech level, is just streets ahead. A list of things that Showman does not do well on its web interface.

    We currently watch ShowMax with a HDMI cable (longish one) plugged into a laptop. Annoying. Xbox One App is most welcome. I just hope its interface is better than the Adroid app, I really, really do.

    Reply

    • HvR

      August 29, 2017 at 11:57

      Also have an old laptop now connected to tv just for Showmax

      The android app is close to useless if you are not using on of the popular phones

      And to add to the ridiculousness I have an Explora with a built in Showmax app but it will only work with a premium R1000 month subscription.

      Reply

  5. I_am_Duffman!

    August 29, 2017 at 13:05

    Started using Showmax on our Samsung Smart Tv over the weekend. We will probably try to see if Netflix is any better.

    Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      August 29, 2017 at 14:41

      content may be a toss up, but in terms of how well the services work, how they optimise bandwidth etc, Nteflix is champion.

      Reply

      • I_am_Duffman!

        August 29, 2017 at 14:48

        Well. The streaming worked perfectly. We watched 2 seasons of Ballers and the Money fight with no problem. The basic navigation of the app and the fact that it has crashed 3 times already makes me worried.

        The suggestions were also rather bizarre. As I mentioned, we watched Ballers and the Money fight, but somehow Peppa Pig is on my suggested list. I mean, how?

        Reply

  6. Pieter Kruger

    August 29, 2017 at 13:31

    Well one of those “largely pointless” apps on Xbox One is Xodus…..don’t think I need anything else tbh!

    Reply

  7. Gardos

    August 31, 2017 at 15:39

    I don’t watch much of either but one thing I will say is that Showmax has many of the big HBO shows. They may be a season or so behind but they’re some damn good shows! Besides Netflix’s original content and documentaries, they don’t really have much else (in my experience). Though the technical side of Netflix is obviously far superior.

    Reply

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