netflix.com/app
Netflix is easily the most popular streaming service, with a massive global impact. Nearly everyone knows what Netflix is, and many people use it on a regular basis. Even if you don't have your own Netflix account, chances are you know someone who does and has been able to wrest their password from them at one point or another.
Netflix had such a dominant position in the streaming market that it was commonly referred to as "Netflix." People would say, "Oh, I'll have to Netflix that when I get home." It became a cultural phenomenon. Before Netflix, people never spoke about watching content in terms of "binging." Thanks to Netflix, whether a show is binge-worthy or not is now a new criterion used to evaluate how good a series is. This has caused people to watch more series than ever before, even if they don't necessarily enjoy every episode.
Netflix has completely disrupted the way we consume media. Prior to Netflix, we used to watch television one episode at a time. And we usually would have to wait a full week for the next episode to be released. Sure, there are still shows and networks that use this now archaic way of releasing TV episodes, but Netflix changed the game entirely. They began making full seasons of their original and syndicated series available at a time, resulting in people taking in all the content that they could stomach in one sitting. The world of movies and television is forever changed thanks to Netflix?s innovative platform.
Netflix made a huge change in its content when it began to release entire seasons of certain TV shows and movies at once, instead of releasing them one at a time. This change revolutionized the way we consume content and allowed us to watch our favorite shows and movies on demand, no matter where we were. Netflix also created an easy to use mobile app which allowed subscribers to bring all their favorite shows and movies with them, no matter where they were.
Many people may not be aware that when the Netflix app first came out, it was a huge innovation. Previously, we had no convenient way to watch full-length movies and entire series on our mobile phones and tablets. This opened up many possibilities such as being able to watch while on travel. The Netflix app was truly revolutionary in both the way it provided content and where it was found.
But how has the Netflix app done in this new age where just about every major premium streaming service now has its own app? Are people still loving it as much as they did when it first came out? Well, looking at the App Store ratings seems to show mostly favorable reactions overall. People tend to be very picky when it comes to premium streaming apps, so it is not uncommon for apps like Hulu and Amazon Prime Video to not have as high of ratings as one might assume. However, the Netflix app seems to be liked by most people, even after all these years.
The Netflix app has an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars according to 176,000 individual ratings. This is not bad at all when you consider the abysmally low ratings of competing apps, such as HBO Max and HBO Go. However, this might not be quite as high as expected. So what is it about the Netflix app that causes people to occasionally rate it 1 or 2 stars? Well, let's dive in and take a look shall we?
Design
In 2020, the Netflix app will look different from how it has in the past. The app originally attempted to mirror the iconic layout and design of the Netflix interface as it appears on laptops and Smart TVs, but now it looks more like a social media app. Titles appear, for example, somewhat like they might on a news feed on Instagram.
You will be able to browse by genre still, by scrolling down, but at the top of the page, you will find a list of previews. The design is reminiscent of Instagram or Snapchat, how they allow you to view the stories of users. Netflix has borrowed this design for their trailers, having each one of their top titles appear at the top of the home section like a social media story might.
Whereas this does not bother me at all, I do not know if it is the best interface for an app like Netflix. If I were in charge of the design team, I would probably make things a little more streamlined and not borrow design techniques from social media just for the sake of it. I would probably prefer it if previews of a title could be accessed by holding your finger over a given show or movie instead of dedicating a whole section of an already cramped app to it - how many people really watch previews on Netflix anyway?
There are other sections of the Netflix app worth mentioning, such as notifications and downloads. One thing that the Netflix app offers that make it more mobile-friendly than the original website or Smart TV version of Netflix is the way in which you can download content, making it playable offline. This is perfect for traveling, allowing you to preselect what you might want to watch on a lengthy airplane trip (without having to shell out cash for the onboard wi-fi).
The notifications section allows you to keep track of your favorite series and movies, letting you know when new episodes of a series you follow are up or if a new movie that you are likely to enjoy has been added to the library. All of this added up results in a very customizable and personalized experience, which is the type of thing one would expect from an app from such a premium service.
Content
Although the Netflix app may not offer any additional content, that's fine. The Netflix library is already so vast (and constantly growing) that no additional content is needed. Additionally, if a title is available on Netflix, you can watch it on your phone or tablet via the Netflix app. However, downloads of titles may be seen as additional content since you can build up your own library of movies and shows that you do not need an internet connection to view.
Pricing and Plans
There is no additional cost for the Netflix app. If you already have a subscription to Netflix, the app is included in your account. It should be noted, however, that using the Netflix app counts as adding a device to your account. So, if your account has a limited number of devices that can be used at a given time (most do, including family accounts).
Suggestions that I have for the Netflix App
I suggest reverting to the older app design, which looked less like a social network and more like a streaming service. It would also be great if the Netflix app allowed you to create your own personalized playlists of movies and show episodes, so, when you are on the go, you can just throw on a good mix of content for a given situation ahead of time and let it play through. Other than that, though, I think that the Netflix app is an expertly executed premium streaming app.