In a significant move, Plex, a streaming service and media software maker, has unveiled a redesigned version of its software. The new interface places greater emphasis on discovery, ease of accessing your watchlist, and other personalization features. This redesign is the result of two years of development work by Plex’s team.
A Balancing Act between Past and Future
Over the years, Plex has walked a fine line between its origins as a software maker focused on home media organization and its growth into a streaming service. The company generates revenue through ad-supported content, and its goal is to reach profitability around year-end or early 2025. Given this objective, the success of the redesign is crucial.
The Redesign Process
Plex’s redesign process was meticulous, with the team taking careful steps to ensure that the changes were well-received by users. The new interface was initially offered as a preview on mobile devices, allowing Plex to test the experience and gather feedback from users before expanding it across all devices.
New Navigation Features
The redesigned navigation is more intuitive and easier to explore, making it simpler for users to access different parts of the service. Instead of using hamburger menus, which can be cumbersome on mobile devices, Plex has opted for tabbed navigation with buttons at the bottom of the screen. This design choice allows users to easily switch between their media library, Live TV channels (ad-supported streams), On Demand streams, and more.
Discovery and Watchlist Features
One of the standout features of the new interface is the prominent display of your Plex Watchlist, where you can track the shows and movies you want to see. This feature has been given a more accessible spot in the top navigation for faster access, reflecting the growing popularity of this feature among users.
Other Notable Changes
In addition to the new navigation features, other notable changes include:
- Reorganization of personal details: The areas where you access your profile, watch history, friends, and streaming services are now all available in one place.
- Expanded use of visual imagery: Plex has increased its use of visual imagery throughout the app, including on movie and show detail pages, cast and crew profiles, and users’ own Plex profile pages. Title artwork for movies and shows has also been added, based on user feedback.
Under-the-Hood Changes
The redesign isn’t just about surface-level changes; Plex has rewritten its apps under the hood and streamlined its codebase as part of this process. This change will enable the team to release new features across all supported platforms quickly, speeding up the development cycle.
Testing and Feedback
However, before expanding the redesigned interface to all devices, Plex is first rolling out the update to mobile devices in an ‘early-access preview’ phase. This allows the company to test the experience with users and gather feedback before making it available across all platforms. A few features, including playlists and cast support, are still in development but will be added during this preview period.
Future Plans
Support for TV platforms will soon follow, according to Plex. The company is taking a thoughtful approach to its redesign, acknowledging the importance of gathering user feedback before expanding the update.
By prioritizing discovery, personalization, and ease of use, Plex aims to create an engaging experience for both home media enthusiasts and streaming service users. With careful planning and attention to detail, the redesigned software has the potential to significantly enhance the overall user experience.
Related Articles
- Nvidia’s Project Digits is a ‘personal AI supercomputer’
- Google is forming a new team to build AI that can simulate the physical world
- OpenAI is losing money on its pricey ChatGPT Pro plan, CEO Sam Altman says
About the Author
Sarah Perez is a Consumer News Editor at TechCrunch. She has worked as a reporter for the company since August 2011 and previously covered topics such as social media, mobile devices, and e-commerce.