Netflix recently rolled out a major update for the Apple iOS app, and here comes a significant update for Android. The new app vastly improves the user experience and also adds improved Chromecast controls from the lock screen.

New Netflix app for Android
The new Netflix app for Android is first and foremost a significant improvement in terms of the performance and user experience. The current Netflix Android app has been criticized for being slow and laggy to the point of being almost unusable, but this update fixes that. The update also introduces graphic improvements and a new menu that can be pulled out from the left side.


The Netflix app for Android has received a major update

Another interesting addition is the improved Chromecast support. If you own the Chromecast dongle you can beam movies or TV shows to the TV and control playback from the lock screen via a new widget, instead of the previous implementation that took over the entire lock screen. Similar functionality was recently added to the iOS app with Airplay, and it seems that Netflix hopes to make remote controlling more intuitive, so you don’t have to open the app.

The app still lacks support for Netflix’s profiles feature that was recently launched, as well as widespread HD support. Currently HD is only supported on Android 4.3 devices.

At a separate conference Netflix told attendance that they are looking into adding extra material for original programming such as House of Cards and Orange is the new Black, just like you would find on a DVD/Blu-ray.

The new Netflix Android app has not been made available on Google Play yet, but can be downloaded here.

- Source: Android Police & GigaOm