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AFTER BECOMING ONE of the biggest online TV and video services in the world, Netflix is taking the next steps in its bid for global domination.
As well as planning to create 60 original shows this year - ten of them being feature length movies – the company announced it’s launching its service in Australia and New Zealand by the end of the month (likely in response to so many people there using VPNs to access it), but it’s has a number of other things in store.
One of which is a overhauled interface and design for both tablet and desktop, and if you’re used to Netflix on the PS4 or Xbox One, you’ll have an idea of what to expect here. Dark background and bright tiles so titles pop out more.
The main reason for the proposed look (and emphasis should be placed on proposed) is to move it from what seemed like a video store look – which has become less relevant over time – towards a look that’s reminiscent of a movie theatre.
So instead of rows of box-like icons to click on, the most relevant pick for each category will be displayed as a large image. The further suggestions will be placed underneath and displayed as rectangular tiles instead, meaning it’s easier to find what you’re looking for and less time spent browsing the collection.
The VP of Product Innovation at Netflix Todd Yellin said that the change was currently in the testing stages – with a number of users getting access to the new look – to see whether it improves the experience or not.
On the desktop version, it’s just a row of rectangular tiles with content only being expanded upon once hovered over with your mouse pointer and then again when clicked on.
The major change behind this version of Netflix is that it’s all happens on the one page. Yellin explained that the original Netflix experience was designed with the traditional web browser in mind. That is using different pages to display different content.
Now with faster connections, that requirement isn’t necessary and until you press play, your browsing happens on the one page so you can access summaries, episode lists, related series and other information without leaving the feed.
Yet the main point to take from this is it isn’t finalised. It could be changed or it could be scrapped entirely if those testing it don’t respond well to it. However, Yellin was pretty confident that the new look for desktop and tablet would win out and eventually make their way to users.
For this concept, it took a year to get to this point where people could begin testing it (normally it would take roughly a year and a half or two years for such a large update to go from concept to release). If it’s successful, it would likely be rolled out over the next few months.
The other development is Netflix’s movement into HDR (High Dynamic Range) quality. This is something that’s much further down the line, and dependent upon TVs adapting the standard (the move to 4K, for example, hasn’t exactly materialised), but the company is already creating TV shows using the new standard.
Effectively, it allows for more detail and allows for stronger contrast between lighter and darker objects.
For the viewing experience, it means that objects on a screen have more colour instead of being washed out. While Netflix has already created TV shows using 4K resolution, the main benefit of HDR is you can add it in during the post-production of a show or film. 4K requires you to shoot using 4K compatible equipment and is harder to recreate.
http://vine.co/v/O0QQP3nMWhm
When asked about the possibility of a offline service, allowing users to download episodes or entire shows, Yellin said that priority “wasn’t at the top but more at the middle of the list and it’s a long list.”
Add to that the licensing restrictions for shows and films which means it’s probably not something you’re going to see happening anytime soon.
Quinton O’Reilly is at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona all this week. Follow all the goings-on at @TheJournalTech.
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Users don’t want an updates layout. What they want is Profiles to be fixed, and instead of showing movies similar to the one I search for, show the film I actually want.
All that means is they have the movie, you have already paid you higher than US fee for the service, but we’re not going to show it to you, just tease you into downloading the torrent.
The worst part of this is sometimes you have to go on a global hola trip to find the right region. It’s very simple for Netflix/US film industry and Irish rights orgs: Your content is zero in UK/irl, not worth a euro, sort out you licencing or it’s back to downloads.
SHITE……go to the movies.
Go onto the American one or even the Mexican or Belgium one. Much more content to spend even more time browsing.
Alien, just use the American netflix. It’s not hard.
Agree with Alien8… choice of films is incredibly limited, mostly to mainstream rubbish. Had a look on a trial acount for about 5 recent films I wanted to see – didn’t have any of them.
I know it’s very reasonably priced but a better selection would be great.
A simple a-z index would help.
Totally agree with the index idea! I also loathe the appearance of some movies in 4 or 5 genres. If the tags were simply displayed and searchable, it would make things a lot easier.
How about opening up the US selection. Sick having to use VPN and HOLA just to get access to stuff that Im already paying more for than the US users.
BSkyB own the rights to a tonne of content in the Irish/UK market that otherwise Netflix could have purchased.
What is vpn and hola? I have a netflix account so do I download vpn on laptop? What does it do?
This is what I use. unblock-us.com
Hola is an extension on google chrome. Download it and it appears on your toolbar. You can choose any country in the world so choose USA,refresh the page and you can access US netflix. It’s a brilliant extension imo.
What is the deal about Netflix?!! It’s movies are dated, B-rated dated at that. MB’s of trash.
At least we can now browse trash quickly!
It’s great for Saturday nights after I’ve drank the wine, ate the pizza and used the hand lotion!
Are you Mick Power or Mickey Power?!
I fail to see how this is going to stop me from spending a lot of time searching.
How about proper search functionality that allows me to search by release date and upload date to find new stuff without having to rely on their banners.
They also need to update their machine learning algorithm. It’s not using enough or is not using the correct features. It fails miserably to recommend movies to me. This algorithm was the result of a competition that came with a 1 million dollar prize. Maybe offer 2 million next time?
I find myself using Hola to access various European countries Netflix’s I watched Captain America the Winter Soldier on Dutch Netflix the other night.
UK/Ireland Netflix is pants.
Does that only work on laptops or can it work on smart tv?
You are pants.
To use it on smart TVs, you need to change your DNS settings to one of the many Netflix proxies. It does mean all requests go to that server, so don’t login to social media or anything private on TV when doing this. I have Netflix on lg TV, and apart from getting stuck at 25% on some series (you have to run the network test to fix this), it works perfect, even for HD & 3D
It’s getting worse instead of better! so sick of because you watched this … Because you watched that ….go back to the old format please or comedy’s Horrors, new releases , action etc …. Theres no sense to the set up at moment
I have the new format, as with everytime a,
website changes its layout, I don’t like it, they seem to have done away with the categories, comedy, thriller, tv sitcom etc and there is a lot less on screen at any one time. It seems to me harder to find something to watch, but then again, I haven’t really used it much yet
I doubt I’ll bother renewing this time, not a great selection of movies and the “similar to……” or “because you watched……” is annoying.
Better call Saul is giving me doubts about Netflix future. What’s with the weekly episode updates? That’s not what I subscribed for. If I have to wait a week then I might as well go back to good old fashioned television.
So wait a few weeks until the whole series is released and then watch it all. What’s the difference?
Netflix aren’t the creators of Better Call Saul. It’s created by AMC and Sony Pictures in the US , who are airing it in the traditional week-by-week format. Netflix are the exclusive online distributors though in the UK and Ireland in a deal similar to the last series of Breaking Bad that sees it released the day after it airs in the US.
Once a slave Neal…
Meh it’s not great anyway given the hype that preceded it. Watchable but no breaking bad
You youngsters won’t be happy until you have twelve screens so you can watch every episode simultaneously. Then you’ll want more.
search for a program called “popcorn time” download and install, then kick back and watch to your hearts content(like netflix for pirates) – is touted to be the best program to hit the internet for 2015, seeing as you aren`t actually downloading a movie/tv series only streaming it
And while you are streaming it’s browsing your files or using your hardware and data to spam emails
Yes use away.
did you ever hear of “sandbox”on a computer? looks like you should try it
Does it have The Riordans?
One word or maybe two… ” Showbox” for Android.
And Amazon making loads of money out of it :)
Can I use the American one on Apple TV?
K
A million movies and not one you wanna watch
Spent more time searching on it than watching stuff!
Seriously considering just cancelling it altogether it no real addition
have your say