Netflix on iOS now lets you enjoy previews

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Netflix iPhone
Netflix previews will help you hunt down the perfect show.
Photo: Netflix

Netflix has added a new feature to its iOS app, allowing users to watch a 30-second video trailer of content they are interested in.

The company began testing the feature in early March, but is now rolling it out to all users. The video previews are viewable in portrait mode, which ensures that they do not interrupt your browsing experience by having to constantly change the orientation of your device.

“Years of testing has made it clear that video previews help our members browse less and discover new content more quickly,” Netflix notes, describing the new feature. “With the launch of mobile previews, we are bringing a video browse experience to your mobile phone in a fun and mobile-optimized way.”

You can find the previews by searching for the round icons near the top of the home screen. These function similarly to Snapchat stories, allowing you to swipe between them to find something of interest.

If one of the previews catches your attention, tap the “Play” bottom at the bottom of the preview, or tap for more information or to add it to your Netflix queue.

The impending battle with Apple

Netflix is currently gearing up to battle Apple over original content. While Netflix remains the leader in streaming TV and movie content, Apple is spending heavily in this area.

At a recent event, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings referred to his company as “the anti-Apple” this weekend, painting Apple as a secretive company that’s limited by its obsessive top-down control. Here’s why we think that was a bad move.

If you want to download Netflix’s iOS app you can do so here. The app itself is free, although you’ll need to subscribe to Netflix in order to use it.

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