Just in time for the holiday season, and coinciding with the release of new Kindle Fire and NOOK tablets, Netflix has updated it’s Android app for tablets, with similar changes coming soon to the iPad app. According to the company, the updated app presents nearly twice as many titles on the screen as the previous version, while at the same time displaying larger artwork for each title.
Netflix’s New Android Tablet Interface
Neil Hunt, chief product officer at Netflix, said “In the last 12 months we have seen a threefold increase in how long Netflix members are watching on their tablets. We’re happy to debut a new user experience coinciding with the release of the next generation of devices from industry leaders. The new Netflix interface offers a significant improvement in browsing and searching for TV shows and movies to instantly watch.”
Netflix’s enhancement to its Android tablet experience comes as the first credible threat to Apple’s iPad, Amazon’s Kindle Fire, is released. The US$199 device began shipping on Tuesday, providing a significant boost in the number of Android tablets in consumer hands. Barnes & Noble countered the Kindle Fire with its own $249 Nook Tablet, and Netflix’s new app will work on both devices.
This also marks one of the first major apps that we’ve seen that has come out with new features for Android tablets before bringing on those changes to Apple’s iPad. Whether it’s a blip or a trend remains to be seen, but it’s definitely a sign that it has taken Amazon to shake up the tablet market, at least for now.
The Netflix app for the iPad should be available in a few weeks and will be free from the App Store. You will need a Netflix membership that supports instant streaming to view titles using this app.