iPhone

The way we consume content has changed over the years. Thanks to increasing internet penetration and a rise in the number of mobile users, we now have several options to view content. Entertainment portals such as Hulu and Netflix have become popular around the world. Even old patrons of entertainment, such as Disney are moving towards a newer, digital content platform. Even in India, streaming services such as Amazon Prime, Hotstar and Netflix have become extremely popular. It is into this highly competitive field that another entertainment platform has entered. After many months of massive publicity, Quibi, which will focus on short-form content launched today for both Android and iPhone users. Here’s an honest review of the application and what it means for the entertainment industry.

Who’s Behind It?

There’s been a lot of talk of this mobile app that delivers bite-sized original content, and finally, it is out. Headed by Jeffrey Katzenberg, who is a pioneer in the field of entertainment and Meg Whitman, an experienced tech player, Quibi looks stated for success. The application centers around mobile phones and was built for use on mobile devices, rather than desktops or laptops. The application brought in over $1 billion in investment, which includes attracting significant stars for their new original content. Finally, the app is out, and the creators will get to see whether the app is worth the $4.99-with ads and $7.990 without ad package they are giving it out for.

Boon or Bane?

The main USP of the app is that it specializes in content that lasts 10 minutes or less. Since there is no TV app for the same, Quibi will have to be enjoyed solely from your mobile phone. Since most people are at home now, due to the COVID-19, this might be something that will work against the application. Whenever people are at home, they tend to prefer to watch content through larger screens, such as laptops and TVs. However, since this app is made specifically for mobile devices, users will not be able to enjoy the comforts of a larger screen. The application is also not available via a website and does not work fully optimized on tablets either. Therefore, this rules out the possibility of teaming it with Chromecast or AirPlay. So it is safe to say that it is built for your phone and nothing else!

How is the Quibi Interface?

Quibi is an app that works fine. It is reliable, though the user experience needs to be a little more intuitive and fluid. Other streaming giants such as Netflix have been able to do so well for themselves as their interface is extremely user-friendly. So, this is one area that the makers really need to focus on when it comes to updates and improvements. However, the app supports auto-rotate, so the images flip into landscape and portrait as you rotate your device. Both these orientations have been completely optimized, which makes the viewing experience a lot better.

The features which allow the camera shots and text to realign itself as per the mode is Turnstyle, and it serves as Quibi’s main feature. As per Katzenberg, Turnstyle will help bring in the third generation of film narrative. While the function might not be as revelatory as it is made to sound, it does help in making it easier to watch shows on the app. The main homepage resembles Instagram, more than it does Netflix, as it makes use of vertical cards. Lingering on any card for a few seconds automatically starts the autoplay of the video, while every time you pass through, you receive vibratory feedback. The video begins playing on full screen if you press it, and delayed holds will present more options such as download, share and information regarding the show. You also have the option of enabling notifications which will allow you to stay updated with regards to new releases and so on.

Playback and Quality

During playback, users get access to controls such as play, pause, fast-forward, share and rewind. It also includes a Left-handed mode which makes the app very easy to use for lefties around the world. The app also has shortcuts in place for muting the audio and switching on the subtitles. The Turnstyle feature works by involving two different video streams and one audio track simultaneously. The mode in which you are watching the show runs on higher resolution, while the other keeps running in the background. Whenever you rotate, the stream also changes instantaneously and therefore, there is no loading issue, quality degradation or buffering issues. However, using dual-stream video makes the app use 20% more data than YouTube or Netflix.

The major misses when it comes to the app are as follows. It does not have a family option wherein various members can stream content from one account. Not accounting for multiple people in the same house might not end up working for the app in the long run. Furthermore, since it works on a single concurrent stream, password sharing is also not an option people have. However, the short content that it features makes it the perfect app for content on-the-go. It provides excellent, no-commitment entertainment that people can enjoy while traveling or waiting for an appointment. However, the fact that they chose to launch it at a time when everyone is at home could harm the app’s impact. We will be able to gauge its real success and effect after this challenging time passes, and people start traveling once again. For now, it looks like Netflix and Amazon do not have too much to worry about.

Athulya

Being a cinephile with a love for all things outdoorsy, Athulya never misses a chance to chase inspiring stories or poke fun at things, even when the subject is herself. Currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, she is someone innately interested in technical and scientific research. Music reviews and op-eds define her as they allow her to explore different perspectives. Though sometimes she thinks she makes more sense playing the guitar than she does while writing.