Plex Unveils Redesigned App with Enhanced Discovery and Personalization Features

Plex, a leading streaming service and media software maker, has introduced a revamped version of its app, designed to provide a more streamlined and personalized user experience. The redesign, which has been two years in the making, aims to strike a balance between Plex’s history as a home media organization software and its future as a streaming service.

The updated app features a redesigned navigation system, which replaces the traditional hamburger menu with a tabbed interface and buttons at the bottom of the screen. This change is expected to improve the overall user experience, particularly on mobile devices.

One of the key features of the redesigned app is its enhanced discovery capabilities. The new interface includes a dedicated Discovery section, which provides users with personalized recommendations based on their viewing history and preferences. Additionally, the app’s home page has been redesigned to include a more prominent display of content that users may be interested in watching.

Plex has also made significant improvements to its media library management features. Users who continue to use Plex to manage their home libraries will appreciate the dedicated button that centralizes access to this feature. Furthermore, users can now favorite libraries to customize the experience to their needs.

Other notable changes in the new release include a reorganization of the areas where users can access their personal details, such as their profile, watch history, and streaming services. The updated app has also expanded its use of visual imagery, including title artwork for movies and shows, and cast and crew profiles.

Plex has rewritten its apps from the ground up and streamlined its codebase as part of this redesign process. This change will enable the company to release new features across all supported platforms more quickly, speeding up the development cycle.

The redesigned app is initially available as an early-access preview on mobile devices, allowing Plex to test the experience with users and gather feedback before expanding it across all devices. Support for TV platforms will soon follow, according to the company.

With this redesign, Plex is taking a significant step towards achieving its goal of nearing profitability by the end of 2024 or early 2025. The company’s ability to balance its history as a home media organization software with its future as a streaming service will be crucial to its success in the competitive streaming market.