Google has started rolling
out a staged YouTube for Android update, and it's
probably the biggest redesign the app has seen yet.
We've gotten a hold of the APK with exact version
5.0.21 (the previous version is 4.5.17 ), and after
playing with it for about 30 minutes so far, I can
definitively say that it's hugely improved.
The biggest new features I've spotted so far are:
A brand new card-based UI - the app looks better
than ever before. It's like Matias Duarte has
reached down from the sky and graced it with his
magic touch.
out a staged YouTube for Android update, and it's
probably the biggest redesign the app has seen yet.
We've gotten a hold of the APK with exact version
5.0.21 (the previous version is 4.5.17 ), and after
playing with it for about 30 minutes so far, I can
definitively say that it's hugely improved.
The biggest new features I've spotted so far are:
A brand new card-based UI - the app looks better
than ever before. It's like Matias Duarte has
reached down from the sky and graced it with his
magic touch.
Previously rumored in-app multitasking that's
nothing like we've ever seen before. It really has
to be experienced in person, but basically you can
make any video you're watching turn into a small
window on the bottom right by swiping it down,
pressing the down arrow in the top left corner, or
simply pressing the Back button.
You can then navigate the app while the
video is playing.
You bring it back up by dragging or
tapping the small window and dismiss it by
swiping it sideways.
The really slick part here is that as you
start sliding sideways, the sound volume
starts to fade. This is some top-notch UX
here.
Interestingly, the swipe-down gesture
works only in portrait mode on phones. On
tablets, it's available in both orientations.
The slide-out navigation has been reworked with
the latest hamburger-style guidelines in mind.
Quick access to history, favorites, playlists,
uploads, and watch later right in the slide-out
menu
nothing like we've ever seen before. It really has
to be experienced in person, but basically you can
make any video you're watching turn into a small
window on the bottom right by swiping it down,
pressing the down arrow in the top left corner, or
simply pressing the Back button.
You can then navigate the app while the
video is playing.
You bring it back up by dragging or
tapping the small window and dismiss it by
swiping it sideways.
The really slick part here is that as you
start sliding sideways, the sound volume
starts to fade. This is some top-notch UX
here.
Interestingly, the swipe-down gesture
works only in portrait mode on phones. On
tablets, it's available in both orientations.
The slide-out navigation has been reworked with
the latest hamburger-style guidelines in mind.
Quick access to history, favorites, playlists,
uploads, and watch later right in the slide-out
menu
You can now search for playlists.
You no longer need to tap the down arrow on the
video page to give thumbs up, thumbs down, or
flag.
The HD and CC toggles have moved from the
bottom left edge of the video to the menu.
The G+ +1 Recommend button seems to be gone
from videos.
Update #1 : A brand new app icon .
You no longer need to tap the down arrow on the
video page to give thumbs up, thumbs down, or
flag.
The HD and CC toggles have moved from the
bottom left edge of the video to the menu.
The G+ +1 Recommend button seems to be gone
from videos.
Update #1 : A brand new app icon .
Update #2 : The landscape UI on 7" tablets is
now no longer just full-screen like it is on
phones. Say hello to a fully-functional landscape
tablet UI.
now no longer just full-screen like it is on
phones. Say hello to a fully-functional landscape
tablet UI.
Update #3 : At last, YouTube now honors the
global auto-rotate setting and doesn't flip to
landscape if auto-rotate is off. However, there's
now a button in the bottom right corner of the
video to force the landscape full-screen mode if
you want it. I think it's the ideal solution to this
previously controversial situation.
global auto-rotate setting and doesn't flip to
landscape if auto-rotate is off. However, there's
now a button in the bottom right corner of the
video to force the landscape full-screen mode if
you want it. I think it's the ideal solution to this
previously controversial situation.
Update #4 : The TV Queue UI got updated as well.
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