Streaming video apps all look the same now - The Verge

Video streaming apps like Netflix, Disney Plus, and HBO Max all feature a similar user interface — and Amazon’s redesigned Prime Video.

Earlier this week, Amazon announced a major redesign of Prime Video, and the overwhelming response was “finally.” Prime Video had become a relic frozen in time, with an ugly, laggy interface that seemed stuck in 2010. Amazon’s streaming competitors, meanwhile, have routinely switched up and refined the user experience.

And it seems like Prime Video’s designers noticed. Because another thing that stuck out about the app’s makeover is just how closely Amazon’s video service now resembles Netflix. Column of navigation icons on the left side? Check. Top 10 list with big numbers? Yep, it’s there on the home screen. And Prime Video has even added “super carousels” of poster-style artwork that expand to landscape and start auto-playing a trailer when you hover over them — just like Netflix.

Based on the comments on our story and comments I’ve seen across Twitter, Reddit (1, 2, 3), and elsewhere, people don’t seem to mind the similarities. This interface has gradually become the de facto standard across Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, and now Prime Video. And consistency goes a long way here; we’re fundamentally using all of these services to reach the entertainment on each one, and having a samey interface between them should make doing so easier for everyone.

It does pose the risk of confusion, though. You might find yourself mindlessly scrolling through HBO Max or Paramount Plus when you’re trying to find the new Lord of The Rings series on Prime Video.

https://www.theverge.com/23274393/amazon-prime-video-netflix-hbo-apps-look-the-same

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