Netflix New User Interface Improvements, UI Tests In The Pipeline
Netflix regularly tests new updates in the user interface without officially making them public, usually changing the title cards of the home page or changing the sizes of windows, and other accessibility features. Just recently, a report from CNet discovered that Netflix is testing a new user interface on the desktop site.
The report states that in the old Netflix user interface, upon clicking a show/movie, an Overview tab would open up which shows a short summary of the content, which the user may add to "My List" or click on the triangular "Play" button. Users would require multiple tabs to view other episodes of a series, for example, and other related content.
In the new Netflix user interface, when a user clicks on the triangular "Play" button of a content, a large overlay will pop up and will immediately play the first or most recent unwatched episode of a series. In the overlay window, easy access tabs "Next Episode," "More Episodes," "Audio & Subtitles," "Volume," and "Back to Browser" can now be found in the upper right corner of the window. While the show/movie starts playing in an overlay window, according to CNet, it transitions into full-screen mode, and while playing, users can access the episode list and other details. When you school down for other details, the content will automatically pause play and will resume after clicking "Play" button or pressing the space key.
If you don't have access to the new Netflix user interface, you can opt out or enlist simply by going to "Your Account" in the upper-right corner, select "Settings" then look for a "Test Participation" link. In this page, you can either join or opt out of the new user interface testing. While there are others who like the new Netflix user interface, there are some who find the added features too distracting.
The Netflix user interface is a slightly significant change that lets users access more of its content streaming features. Some love it, while others are annoyed by it.
