One of the key changes is redesigned navigation that makes it easier to dive into the different parts of Plex and discover content with simplicity. Through extensive testing, we found that this new structure not only helps existing users navigate more intuitively but also gives new users a much clearer sense of what Plex is all about. We’ve brought our core features to the forefront, saying goodbye to the days of hidden hamburger menus and making it easier to explore with one hand on your phone.
I honestly don’t see much improvement in “intuitive” and “simplicity” in this preview, sorry. I was hoping for many more changes to fix the current problems, that I’m glad you see, in the old app and believe there can be fixes.
However, in this current iteration of the new app, the “My Libraries” is not front and center. It’s still a hamburger menu in just a different form. Then the double tapping to pull up the favorite libraries is burying them down another layer beyond the old app, and then to see All libraries you have to click a third spot. This is not more “intuitive.”
Okay, so the profile menu is more front and center, which more solves the problem of seeing what Plex user account you are currently using. I’ll give you that one, but not nearly as important as library navigation “to what Plex is all about.”
Why not bring front and center to the Home screen more library controls…
Option 1: Display on Home the Favorite Libraries and label them as such and then provide the library “tabs” right there. Followed by the hubs for the library:
Option 1a: Or, just place the library labels with >>, so “Movies >>”.
Option 1 diagram
"Movies" - Recommended, Browse, Collections, Playlists, Categories
Hub 1
Hub 2
...
"TV Shows" - Recommended, Browse, Collections, Playlists, Categories
Hub 1
Hub 2
...
"Home Videos" - Recommended, Browse, Collections, Playlist
Hub 1
Hub 2
...
Option 1a diagram
"Movies >>"
Hub 1
Hub 2
...
"TV Shows >>"
Hub 1
Hub 2
...
"Home Videos >>"
Hub 1
Hub 2
...
Then, have “My Libraries” menu pull up All libraries.
This would pull up so many more controls to the Home screen instead of burying them behind tap menus (hamburger or whatever any menu becomes called later).
But you could come at this much differently…
What about more swiping to increase the size of home screen just like Android and iOS do for their home screens?
Have some left side indicator that intuitively has users swiping to the left to see more controls on that side, and perhaps on the right as well? Or swipe down.
I mean, swiping down is already used in Plexamp to access menu options in that app (not just content as in done in this Plex app).
Google and Apple have already thought of the problem: small screens. They obvious said, “How do we increase the screen size (virtually)?”
Yes, yes, this needs to work on TVs. A “swipe” left would be just like you are already doing for the side menu. It works well and could instead sweep to another full screen.
