Current Missing Features & Bugs with the AppleTV App Experience Preview

Hello Plex Team,

I recently tested the beta version of the updated Plex app on Apple TV, and I noticed a couple of significant changes that I wanted to provide feedback on.

Firstly, the removal of the reflective focus effect when navigating between items is, in my opinion, a major regression compared to the current version. This subtle but impactful effect added a lot of charm and polish to the interface, making the experience more immersive and visually engaging. It would be great to see this feature retained or reintroduced.

Secondly, I noticed that the spacing between text and other elements, such as movie posters and thumbnails, feels a bit cramped in the beta. Adding more space would improve readability and give the interface a cleaner, more polished look.

Additionally, I observed a few other issues in the beta:

When playing a file (movie, series, etc.), the on-screen playback bar is identical to the one on the mobile app, featuring buttons for play/pause, next, and previous files. On Apple TV, this is redundant since the remote already has a dedicated play/pause button. This UI element takes up unnecessary space and detracts from the streamlined Apple TV experience.

The playback bar and associated text do not utilize the full width of the screen, which feels inconsistent and limits the visual appeal.

Pressing the back button while the playback bar is visible does not simply dismiss the bar but instead navigates back to the previous page (e.g., the home screen or the movie/series detail page). This behavior is unintuitive and disrupts the viewing experience.

Some background illustrations or images do not scale properly to fit the screen, resulting in portions of the image being cut off. This diminishes the aesthetic quality of the interface.

These details might seem small, but they contribute significantly to the overall user experience. I hope these points can be considered as you refine the app further.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication to improving Plex!

6 Likes