Amazon Gives Prime Video Interface a New Look | TechTree.com

Amazon Gives Prime Video Interface a New Look

Well, almost a new look! We believe anyone who's familiar with Netflix wouldn't miss the very obvious similarities

 

Regular OTT watchers would agree that the user interface of most apps in the space isn't exactly something that makes for painless discovery and seamless viewing. Most users say that finding content beyond what's the latest on the platform is well-nigh impossible and it's mostly a pleasant accident that gets one a good watch. 

Such being the scenario, Amazon was accused of cluttering up its Prime Video interface the last time it went for a rejig. There was just too much of it on a single screen, leaving most of us confused about what to watch, unless of course we are among those who binge watch a new series on the day of its release. 

It looks like Amazon has heard our complaints as they're coming with a new Prime Video interface this week. However, the company seems to have played safe by mimicking its arch-rival Netflix or one could say any other modern streaming service. Of course, the objective is clearly stated - to make user experience "less busy and overwhelming". 

So, what are these changes? For starters the platform's main navigation has shifted left of screen with icons arranged in a vertical column. The six menus now include Search, Home, Store, Live TV (where available), Free and My Stuff. These include subcategories such as movies, TV shows and sports under Home. 

Netflix-inspired changes include a top-10 list of popular content and elaborate poster-style thumbnails that expands and plays a preview when mousing over. There's also a new set of icons that allows a user to know if something is part of Prime Video. For e.g. a blue tick suggests that the show or movie is part of your subscription while a gold shopping bag suggests you need to loosen your purse strings. 

A report published by The Verge says Amazon spent a year-and-half on the redesign with Ben Smith, who did a similar product redesign with Hulu in 2017, actually leading the show. Ironically, the Hulu redesign tried something radical but reverted to the old look some time later. 

The new Prime Video experience will start rolling out later this week and will arrive first on Android and compatible streaming devices. Thereafter, one can expect it to land on iOS and the web later this year.  


TAGS: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon, Redesign

 
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