YouTube for Android updated to version 4.0, sporting revamped UI and remote function

Along with a ton of other updates today, the crew in Mountain View pushed out their latest update: YouTube for Android version 4.0. Announced on the YouTube Blog this evening, the update includes a load of new features. Most notably, YouTube for Android has a new, sleek user-interface. There is a guide on the left side of the app that lists your favorite channels, including a “feed constantly updating with new videos,” called the “Channel Feed.” There you will find the latest videos from your subscriptions, so you will never miss a beat. Another big feature in today’s update is the ability to cache videos over Wi-Fi, which allows for smoother playback and less loading time for later. The feature can easily be turned on through the Settings menu by enabling “Preloading.” The YouTube team made it clear that you will still need a connection to playback the video. This is not offline by any means, but load time should be noticeably improved.

Another cool feature the YouTube app gained is a remote functionality that allows you to send videos and control playback on your TV. There is no information about which TVs are now supported, but Google told us to “stay tuned for updates.” Hopefully we get a clear list soon, but we would say most Google TVs are supported for now. Are you ready to check the update out yourself? You can now hit up the update button right from the Web. Check out the full release note after the break.

Android 3.2+ devices: v.4.0
* New UI: Guide on the left side of the screen with instant access to channels
* Preload videos while on WiFi and charging for smooth playback on the go
* Turn your phone into a remote, to play YouTube videos on other devices
* Access your watch History across devices
Earlier Android devices: v.2.4
* Sign-in with Google account
* HD playback (on capable phones)
* Multiple bug fixes