Actors for Netflix on iPad

[Adrian]

Actors for Netflix on iPad is now available in the app store for free:
You can get to the app store, and documentation from this link...
http://bit.ly/9vS10L

The idea is to find movies by starting with a favorite actor and navigating by actors and directors. You can get to the Netflix page for a movie in one click, and play instant movies by invoking the official Netflix iPad player.

This is an open sourced app, developed by a group of people at the
iPadDevCamp last month.

Please try it out if you have an iPad

, we are looking for feedback on how to develop it

further. It's a spare time activity for me.

[Spindaddydad]

Very cool app. A couple of things: Shouldn't there be an "add to NF queue" button or am I missing it? Also, once you click on a movie, the poster graphic image is VERY lo-res on many of the titles. Would definitely be worth it to spend time and get higher-res poster graphics for those images. The beauty of the ipad is the larger size and subsequent ability to show beautiful pictures. Missing here. Otherwise, great start and one more app in my arsenal.

[Adrian]

The app shows the highest resolution box shot image available from Netflix. For DVD titles that is smaller and blurry when expanded, for instant watch titles there is a large image available.

The app does not use the normal Netflix API, it uses a different one (OData) optimized for searching, so it doesn't read the queue or do queue adds. However the netflix logo button opens up an iPad optimized web page at the netflix site for each movie, so it's easy to add to queue or do whatever else you want without leaving the app.

I'm going to add a favorite movies and favorite actors list to the app, and a page with the actors picture, and a flexible way to search for what you want next.

Cheers Adrian

[Spindaddydad]

I see now that the Netflix logo takes you to an optimized Netflix page. I didn't notice that at first. Maybe put "add" in that Netflix logo graphic box somehow?

Yes, I like the hi-rez box art on the IW titles when you go to the movie page. I assume the little blue-dot means it is IW available? Didn't realize that at first. Maybe put "IW" inside the blue dot? A hi-rez box art graphic for DVD titles is needed. When expanded, looks really pixelated.

What about including a small actor photo thumbnail on the gold button along with their name? Those buttons are big enough. Seems like it would be feasible, but then again, would mean a separate button graphic for each actor.

And yes, more actors in the database. And a way to search for actors.

[Adrian]

Good suggestions, thanks. Need to make sure people know to click on the Netflix logo. I'll try adding some helper text next to it. Maybe put a play triangle in the blue dot....

We have URL's to a database of actor pictures (from freebase.com), need to render them in the right places. That was in the original plan, but we ran out of time. Netflix actor head shots are incomplete and very low resolution.

[Pihk]

I do not necessarily agree. My dog is white with brown spots.