Netflix Tests Out New TV App Interface

Netflix is reportedly testing a new interface for its TV application to improve users' ability to choose which shows to watch.

Netflix senior director of product Pat Flemming told sources that the company is improving the application's design to help users determine "if a title is right for them."

The static tiles for TV episodes and movies are being replaced with tiles that stretch when the remote is pressed, centralizing information such as the trailer and description.

While scrolling through material, show or movie information appears at the top of the screen. The redesigned interface displays that information in the center of the screen, while tiles for other shows are shifted to the side. A small preview will play automatically when the user hovers over a TV show or movie for a lengthy period.

Netflix intends to replace the left-side navigation menu with a top bar menu that includes search, home, shows, movies, and My Netflix, accessible by hitting the back button on the remote.

The present Categories and New and Popular tabs will be eliminated; however, New and Popular will be replaced with My Netflix suggestions, and Categories will be accessible via the search bar.

The new design is now being tested with a limited number of customers, but if it proves successful, it will be made available to more Netflix users in the coming months.

Netflix on Meta Quest

Netflix's interface update follows just a few days after it was reported that Netflix's Meta Quest experience is also set to improve.

Meta Quest's recent blog post for their XR headset, Quest 3, discusses the new experiences and upgrades accessible on the device. This announcement focuses largely on Netflix streaming. According to the company, consumers will benefit from improved streaming quality and additional viewing modes for the streaming platform.

This upgrade will let users select between a flat 2D screen and a "theater view," with a curved screen with 'far-field' windows. Meta did not specify when this would be accessible, but the business stated it would be shortly.

There is a caveat to Quest's latest upgrade for Netflix: the experience will only be available through the in-headset browser, not the app. However, this is good news for Quest users because Netflix appears to have no plans to upgrade its dedicated app, which can only stream at 480p resolution and has no viewing mode settings.

Netflix Android's HDR Toggle

There are also speculations floating online that Netflix for Android will soon have an HDR toggle option. This experimental feature would allow users to choose between HDR and SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) broadcasts, giving them more control over their viewing experience and device capabilities.