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Netflix has released a new edition of its Windows 10 app designed to work across an array of Windows 10 devices.
Added to Microsoft’s Windows Store on Wednesday, the updated app supports both Windows 10 PCs and tablets from the get-go and will support Windows 10 smartphones in the “near future,” Netflix said in a blog post. The Netflix app will also take advantage of features specific to Windows 10, such as voice activation via Microsoft’s Cortana virtual assistant, Microsoft said in its own blog post.
The new Netflix app taps into Microsoft’s Universal App concept, which it hopes will boost both the apps in and traffic to its marketplace of apps for Windows devices. For consumers, it means that apps will offer a similar look and feel whether you run them on a PC, tablet or mobile phone. For developers, it means less work up front since they don’t need to design apps from scratch for each type of device.
After you log into Netflix, you can browse the app vertically via mouse or finger to view categories and then scroll horizontally to view the titles in a specific category.
Clicking or tapping a specific title brings up a Details page that displays a large photo highlighting the TV show or movie along with a summary of your selection and the main cast members. For TV shows, the Details page links you to all the episodes of a specific season and lets you quickly switch to a different season. For movies, the page suggests related titles that may interest you.
If you pin the Netflix app to the Windows 10 Start menu or screen, it turns into a live tile. This means the app will display artwork showing the titles in your Continue Watching list, allowing you to pick up where you left off without having to open the full app.
The Netflix app can also take cues from Cortana. You can open Netflix by telling Cortana to “Launch Netflix.” You can search for a specific title such as “House of Cards” by saying to Cortana, “Netflix find House of Cards.” The app should launch automatically and bring up your search result.
Since it’s designed for different devices, Netflix’s new app automatically adjusts its layout based on the display size of your device and the scale of the open window. You won’t have to manually adjust the app if you decide to change the size of the window.
