Many of you might know that HBO has rebranded to call itself Max. Along with this, the company has released brand new apps for iOS and iPad OS. The app showed up late last night. Those of you who watch HBO's shows and movies by using the iOS or iPad OS apps should not download this app. The app has an inaccessible CAPTCHA.
The CAPTCHA appears once you've entered your sign in details. It is inside what the developers call "CAPTCHA web dialog". Double tapping with Voiceover does not allow you to enter this dialog. The only way to see this dialog is to switch screen recognition on. Once screen recognition has been switched on, you will see options to solve a visual puzzle or to use an audio CAPTCHA.
Once you choose the audio CAPTCHA option, you are told to press play and identify one of the three options you hear as an animal sound. You are required to enter the number of the sound that corresponds to an animal sound in the text field below the play button. Once the sounds stop playing, the audio CAPTCHA screen disappears, returning you to the initial screen with the visual or audio CAPTCHA choice and you are told to try again.
To avoid this, while playing the audio CAPTCHA, you can enter the text field for the number entry while the audio is playing. Quickly slide your finger down to the entry field and double tap. The keyboard will popup. The screen will not disappear. However you will be unable to enter anything in this field. Pressing a number and then pressing the enter key activates the "done" button but your number entry is not recognized. You are still returned to the visual or audio CAPTCHA selection screen. This bug that doesn't allow you to type anything in text fields is probably related to the long-standing Safari bug which fails to allow typing in certain text fields.
Regardless of this last bug, it is clear that the CAPTCHA is unusable at several levels. Warner Bros could have used multiple methods to avoid using a CAPTCHA including allowing you to verify email, verify text, checking that you're signed into the original app, or even not use the CAPTCHA. Frankly speaking, there is absolutely no use for it in an app such as this one. I have reported this issue to Max's support team. I urge others to do the same. Additionally, this app is not usable until Max either removes the CAPTCHA or it is somehow resolved. It is unclear as to how long the old HBO Max will continue to work. I imagine it won't disappear immediately.
* Please note that I have not tested the visual CAPTCHA option. *
Comments
Replicating the Problem
I just tried to replicate the issue before I sent an email off about it. When I opened the HBO Max app, I was prompted to download the Max app with no other option for continuing to use the existing app. I downloaded the app and opened it. I received a welcome screen when I did, and it knew my name meaning that I was already signed in. I double-tapped on continue and am now experiencing the newer, slightly clunky but usable interface of Max. I guess the secret is to keep the HBO Max app on board until you've switched all the way over.
This probably won't be an option for users who have limited storage capacity and the issue still needs to be fixed, but it's not going to be everyone's user experience.
Update: Possible good news?
A couple of notes and updates.
I received a note from support, letting me know that the CAPTCHA will be withdrawn. They did not have a timeline for this.
I have heard from several people similar things to what's reported by @Changeling above. I specifically asked Max support about this. They say that, if you have the original HBO Max and you are signed in, you will not need to sign into the new Max app. While my experience did not match what they said with me trying several times, it does appear to be working for people. It's definitely worth trying. Support also informed me that they were making changes on the back end.
Ultimately, what finally worked for me was deleting the ap, restarting the phone, going to the original HBO Max app and launching the download experience through that. This time, I wasn't even asked to sign in. the new Max launched my profile.