Netflix for iOS 8.00 brings groundbreaking accessibility fixes to Voiceover. Here is a quick demo of these improvements.

I have been a long time user of this app via my iPhone. I am in shock at how excellent this iteration of the app is, with regard to VoiceOver accessibility. Absolutely incredible. Everything I did was completely accessible from using the browse feature, to searching for a title, to simply navigating by heading on the front page of my movies and TV shows. Really impressed. Don't hesitate to update if you haven't done so yet. Happy viewing.

Great, thanks for that. I'll listen to the podcast when I get home.

Just one question though. Does the Netflix app let users search for audio described content? Or even an Audio Description category?

Thanks.

Hello Ray,
That's a good question. And I'm downloading the app right now to check out. That would be nice to be able to find audio described content.

Honestly I got by well enough with the old Netflix app, and now that I finally have my lovely Apple TV I seldom watch Netflix on my phone - but, all that said, I'm thrilled to hear that Netflix has made some major strides forward in accessibility. I wonder if this was an accidental result of the app redesign? I'd like to believe that, with the increasing push towards more and more audio described content, that Netflix is actually starting to take the needs of blind customers more seriously. I'd strongly recommend everyone who uses this app to send a feedback email to Netflix thanking them for the improvements - that will make it all the more likely that this newfound accessibility becomes the norm, and not just a temporary aberration.

Hi John

This is awesome and much appreciated! Netflix has made major strides in accessibility recently, both on mobile and desktop platforms.
Thank you!

Best,
Malthe

I have not been able to test the new update for myself yet, but I am thrilled to hear that the new version is really accessible! Maybe this is included in the new version, and I don't want to sound like one of those people that are never happy, but is there an easy way to find Audio Described titles?

Keep up the great work! :)

Hello John and Sagar:

I am so thankful for all the hard work your team has invested in the accessibility features. It's such a thrill when an app just works. Being an avid TV lover, my experience has greatly improved since these recent updates in the Netflix app. Keep em coming. The app is perfect as far as I am concerned now.

Thank you.

I love the new update to Netflix. It runs much smoother without most of the old bugs. I'd love to see a subtitles feature implamented where we could somehow read subtitles for foreign language movies with Voiceover. However I am sure that is wishful thinking because most in the community probably wouldn't have any use for that.

First off, the latest Netflix is an extremely welcome update! The excess ability if this latest version is outstanding! When you click on a TV show to get more details about it, you can see the description of the whole show as well as the description of each episode. I've noticed that once I start playing an episode, I no longer see the main description of the show. I can still see the cast and the creators of the show but not the main description. Is there a way to see the main description again? I am just curious.

I'm sorry if I didn't explain things properly. I meant when I go back to the details page after being in the player I can see the creators and the cast and all of the other things but I don't see the main show description. Like I said, I can see the description of each episode, but I don't see the main show description. The only time I first see the show description is when I first enter a shows detail page. Even if I completely close the app from the app switcher then go back into the app I still can't see the main show description.

Hi. This new update rocks! I have a question though, and it has to do with the scrubber, which moves you back and forth in an episode. Since it's in landscape, I've never quite known how to work it. The VoiceOver hint says swipe up and down to adjust the value, but logic tells me that it should actually be left and right. If I try this while an episode is playing, nothing seems to happen. If I pause it, I can swipe to the left on that element and it appears to move back to the beginning of that show, but sometimes it doesn't. Does anyone have any good tips as to how to navigate in an episode? I know we have the back 10 seconds button, but I might not always need that. I might want to go back even further in the show. So if someone could set me straight I'd appreciate it.

Hi segar and John. Thanks for making the IOS app accessible but also the Mac site pretty usuable as well. i watched fuller House, don't judge, my brain is dead now, and i got the audio description to work awesome after the first episode. I had to laugh, the described pronunced bologna as bolonya not bolony Lol.

Hello,

I have to congratulate you guys as others did. This update is awesome.
I have a question regarding the accessibility of the player while using the chromecast feature. I haven't tried it yet, but before this update controlling the video while casting was totally inaccessible for VoiceOver users. Has this changed? There were no problems at all watching contents on the phone itself. I could switch languages and all the things, but not while using the casting feature.

Rating a title is not possible with VoiceOver. After taping on a title, and then on rating there's nothing to do. Actually you cannot go back either.
Still have to try the MDX player.

This new update really rocks! Thanks so much for the accessibility improvements across the board, not only on the iOs app but for the web players as well. At least on Windows. I hope Mac users can access and play items as easily now.
May I make a suggestion, though? I'd like to report that the MyList button gives no VoiceOver feedback. In other words, it doesn't tel you if this is adding an item to your list or in some cases that it will be removing the item from your list. You actually need to go back and check your list to see if the item is there or if you have just accidentally deleted it.
That's the only thing that needs tweaking that I've found so far. Again, thanks for the excellent work! :)

Hi Ann:

Thanks for the info about the My List issue. And to everyone else who's been reporting issues, please know much we appreciate it. Some of the issues mentioned, were already on our radar, others not.

Best,

John

Hello John or Sagar,

I am trying to learn more about Netflix's accessibility strategy moving forward in hopes of writing a story about this on BlindAccessJournal.com.

With whom could I speak on the record about accessibility as it relates to Netflix?

Thanks,

Darrell