Streaming video service Netflix has just rolled out a big update to its iOS apps, adding new features for different markets and sporting a revamped interface for its iPad version.
The big user interface change requires Apple’s latest version of its iOS platform, iOS 5, to work correctly, but once you update Netflix (and provided it updates correctly – some users are reporting a few issues upgrading), the new app should be very much altered to take advantage of the iPad’s larger screen. It also contains a new “Continue Watching” section that has shows or movies that you’ve already started ready to go wherever you left off, no matter what device you were using. So you can start a show on your TV with, say, your Xbox 360, and finish it on your iPad within seconds, just by tapping into the right video.
The new update focuses on making navigation through Netflix’s massive online library of streaming movies and TV shows easier. It looks a lot like a big update that Netflix just kicked through for another platform, Xbox LIVE. Now you can see a lot more movies on your queue or search results a lot more quickly, which minimizes the time needed for navigation and gets you watching content faster. The update also addresses some stability issues, Netflix said in its blog.
There are other new changes for the free app, as well. Netflix recently expanded to Latin America, opening up a whole new market for its streaming service, but those countries it started offering service in were without compatible iPhone and iPad apps. That changes with Netflix 2.0, which rolls out the apps in Latin America, along with the UI changes that U.S. and Canadian customers are getting with the update.
Lastly, Netflix has added new functionality to its app for Apple TV. It now supports what’s called “Just For Kids,” a section on the interface that provides content specifically geared toward kids 12-years-old and younger. The service is also opened up to Latin America on Apple TV as well. Of course, while all Netflix’s apps are free, you still need a subscription to watch streaming video.
Netflix has suffered from some missteps lately, but it has always been a big supporter of Apple’s iOS devices. Users are reporting some issues getting the Netflix 2.0 update to work, but it seems like once it does, it brings more functionality and ease of use to iPad owners, and it still makes it easy and convenient to watch movies and TV shows on your iOS devices.
