New features and an improved user interface are included in the latest version of VLC (2.5) for Android. Picture-in-picture mode is now supported in this version of the app, allowing videos to be played in a smaller window on top of another application. This feature is available on devices running Android Oreo and TV sets running Android 7.0 Nougat, but the user should enable it first in the app’s settings. Once it is activated, the video will be automatically shown in a smaller window after the user taps the home button. In addition, VLC is now compatible with Android Auto and motorists may use voice commands to open the application and search for specific songs, artists, or albums through the Google Assistant. This version of the popular Android app is now adapted to the latest version of the Chrome OS and it can also play 360-degree videos. Users may swipe across the screen or use the remote control’s arrow buttons to change their viewpoint in such clips.
The user interface of the app has also been modified and the background of the audio player now shows a blurred version of the album art of the file that is being played. In the previous version, the background stayed white even if an audio file was already playing. The video cards now show additional information about the media in addition to its cover picture but the card-like design for the audio players has been removed. Multiple files can now be chosen at the same time, which is useful when creating playlists or deleting items simultaneously. The Android TV interface has also been modified to show warmer colors while the background, like the audio player, now shows the album cover. The users may search the entire media library and the files that appear in search results will be grouped into videos, artists, albums, and other categories.
There are also a few minor features debuting in this update, including the new DayNight mode and custom equalizer presets. The volume of the music or video will now stay the same even if a notification appears and the app supports longer aspect ratios sported by smartphones like the LG G6 and Samsung Galaxy S8. Performance improvements include the new media library structure which should facilitate the process of searching for things. This feature is currently limited to the VLC app for Tizen, although the developers mentioned that it will appear in other versions of the app soon.
