The Netflix web video player has been updated with new, scalable controls and browser mode functions even in full-screen.
If you’re a frequent Netflix user, you may have noticed that the site has recently updated its web video player to work better at all screen sizes, and to provide more information on-screen.
The new-look video player now scales the size of its controls, making it easier to use the player on large screens – like when you connect your computer to your TV – or when you want to shrink the screen size while working in another window.
To enable this, the new control bar sits all on one line, filled with icons instead of words. The seek bar sits above, spanning the whole width of the screen, making it easier to pinpoint the right moment.
Introducing the update on the Netflix UK & Ireland Blog, Michael Spiegelman, director of product innovation for the website and tablet, acknowledges that it could take time for familiar users to get used to the new layout, but once you’ve had a go it will soon become second nature.
You can also view season and episode information and switch over to another episode even when in full-screen mode and, when you pause a video, you’ll now see more information about the title.
The biggest change to the controls is the ‘Back to Browse’ button, which has been moved from the bottom-right to the top-left (in case you’re looking for it) and displays no text until you hover over the arrow icon.
