Mountain View, California — In an attempt to captivate the parting audience days before iOS 6 lands on iPhones without the familiar pre-installed YouTube app, Google has unfurled a new version with some significant upgrades.
An updated version of YouTube app for iPhone is currently pre-loaded on all iOS devices, which would empower users to enjoy tens of thousands of additional videos, including prominent-label music videos. Google has made it possible by posting advertisements, which was not shown in Apple-designed app.
However, Apple and Google recently confirmed that they did not renew their pact for iOS 6. As a result, when Apple rolls out its refurbished mobile OS in the coming weeks, the dedicated YouTube app will be gone, so Google had to develop a standalone app for inclusion in the App Store.
The new YouTube app makes it easier to find major-label music videos, which will be supported with advertising. (Credit: YouTube)
The search giant assured to deliver some novel features on the app, including access to more videos, suggested search results, and a menu that users can swipe out to view subscriptions.
Apart from numerous features, the latest YouTube app makes it easier for users to scan-through channels they have subscribed to. All they need to use is swipe right from the left side of the screen to check out the list of the channels. YouTube also promised more options for sharing videos with the revamped app, with friends on social media networks including Twitter, email, text message, Facebook, and – of course – Google+.
“The new iPhone app is available worldwide and unlocks tens of thousands of official music videos, as well as delivering loads of new features to improve finding and sharing awesome videos and channels,” writes Andrey Doronichev, head of YouTube mobile, in a blog post. “It is a new app built by YouTube engineers, to give our iPhone users the best mobile experience.”
YouTube’s new iOS app boasts an upgraded channel guide. (Credit: YouTube)
“Over the years that resulted in a more limited experience for our users, and lots of frustration,” said Francisco Varela, global director of platform partnerships at YouTube. “We are going to get rid of that.”
Varela then put it another way: “You are now going to be able to watch your Lady Gaga video on your phone.”
Describing the features in detail says, “Swipe your finger from the left edge of the screen to reveal a guide with your subscribed channels on YouTube, giving you instant access to everything from Alli Sports to YOMYOMF,” Doronichev wrote.
Doronichev said that although its app will also work on the iPad, but the company is working on a special iOS YouTube app that will be optimized for the iPad with more functionality, which should be available in the coming months.
Above all, the popular Google’s suggested searches, which appears as a user types, will also be included in the YouTube app, as will the ability to sort through videos or channels. “Flip through related videos, comments and more info, all while watching a video,” Doronichev wrote.
The YouTube app is not the only Google service that will be missing from the iOS 6 home screen. At its Worldwide Developer Conference, Apple demonstrated a new maps application that will replace the Google-powered app now in use on iOS devices. Google, however, has its own brand-new 3D mapping app that was included in Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
As the Apple-Google relationship has soured considerably since the launch of the first iPhone, mainly, in view of the fact that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs took Google’s development of its own mobile operating system, Android, as a great affront — and an infringement on Apple’s intellectual property. Patent lawsuits are now playing out around the world, and Apple has made a series of moves this year to push Google out of its operating system.
“We basically transformed the mobile ecosystem with our original partnership,” Varela said. “This is just the next phase of it.”
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