Plex for Apple TV gets a whole new interface and new customization options

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Plex Free Movies
Plex Free Movies (Image credit: iMore)

What you need to know

  • Plex for Apple TV now has a new interface with additional customization options.
  • Users can choose new layout options and more.

Popular media jukebox app Plex has released an updated version of its Apple TV app, complete with an overhauled interface. Users can now customize the way the app looks in ways that weren't previously on offer.

Plex made the new interface announcement in a blog post and said that it set about creating the new interface by asking people what they wanted — something that was important given the number of different types of users the app has.

So how do we ensure we offer the best experience for as many of you as possible? And build a dynamically responsive system that pulls visual styling from millions of different pieces of art? Turns out, the solution was not something we could pull off all by ourselves. So we got a little help from our friends.

The new interface is more customizable than ever, giving users the chance to opt for a new 'Modern' layout that displays artwork and "inline" details on some Home screens. But there are more options, too.

Plex Modern Layout

Plex Modern Layout (Image credit: Plex)

Content Layout: This setting controls the layout used to display your content. Okay, so before you say "No, duh!", this setting also controls whether "inline metadata" is displayed on the homescreen and the poster is displayed on detail pages.

  • Modern (the default): Displays artwork and "inline" details about the title on some screens when focused on a poster. This layout also prefers background artwork over posters on title detail pages.
  • Classic: No "inline" metadata is shown, displays title and additional information below posters, and prefers posters to artwork on detail pages.

App/Home Background: This setting allows the user to select the base background of the app (i.e.: the background used for the home screen, settings, etc…).

  • Artwork Colors (the default): Applies colors from the current title's artwork to the background and gracefully (we hope!) transitions the colorfield as the title selection changes.
  • None: Displays the default background for the application (dark gradient).

Details Background: This setting controls the background displayed on the detail pages for items.

  • Artwork Colors (the default): Utilizes colors from the title's artwork within the background on title detail pages.
  • Dimmed Art: Displays a full screen, dimmed version of the background artwork on detail pages.
  • None: The default background for the application is used for detail pages (dark gradient).

The best way to see what Plex has been working on is to download it and try it for yourself. You can grab the newly updated Plex from the App Store now. It's free, and is one of the best Apple TV apps you can find.

Oliver Haslam
Oliver Haslam
Contributor

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.