Netflix making changes to mobile apps to make binge-watching easier

Additionally, a second screen experience, which has reportedly been in development for a number of years, will soon allow viewers to use their Android and iOS devices as a secondary device when watching content on Netflix.

Netflix is now supported on more than 1,500 different devices and while the best viewing experience is, arguably, on the largest possible screen, the company is now making it even easier for mobile users to binge-watch shows.

The update bumps the app to version 8.0 and includes auto-play support for iPhone users, 3D Touch support, and iPad Pro display optimization. Many versions of Netflix on other platforms already have this feature. Additionally, users will get the option to select HD streaming and there will also be a data-saving mode, which will let the streaming quality to drop below 1080p when required. Netflix vice president of product innovation, Chris Jaffe, told Business Insider that the goal is to “just to make things really, really stupid simple”. This means after a show or movie has finished playing, Netflix will automatically queue up the next episode or recommend similar content. Images that previously took a while to load will also theoretically appear a lot faster.

Understanding watching Netflix using cellular data when Wi-Fi is not readily available is a sure way to chew through the data allowance of mobile phone plans; the streaming giant is working on a solution.

Previously, this action would only bring up display controls.

Also the design has been made “more fluid” for users to scroll between shows and movies on the homepage. It isn’t clear why Netflix has avoided adding the feature.