YouTube

The latest YouTube experiment looks to be trialling time-linked comments that will appear at the exact time you’re watching a video.

Google products have a large reach, and YouTube wants to use its platform to “encourage people to get informed about the vaccine.” YouTube’s COVID-19 vaccine info PSA is starting in the US and will expand to other countries.

YouTube TV is an excellent, though not cheap, option for cutting cable and instead streaming live TV, but it seems Roku users may soon lose access to the app as a negotiations battle goes on.

If you’re frustrated by the level of control offered by the YouTube mobile app with regard to video resolution, then the addition of even more precise options will be very welcome.

YouTube is now making it even easier to change your channel name without needing to make any sort of alterations to your associated Google account.

Back in March, Google hired an ex-Intel vice president to lead server chip design as part of a “doubling down” in custom compute. Google already has a history in the area, and this week detailed YouTube’s use of “Argos” Video Coding Units (VCUs) chips to massively aid transcoding.

A new YouTube experiment will occasionally play 15-second “media literacy” ads before videos to “prompt critical thinking.”

YouTube TV will now surface and let you watch the movies you’ve purchased across all Google services in its interface. Besides access, you can also search and buy/rent from one entertainment app.

Following a brief test earlier this week on the main website, YouTube Music for Android is now beginning to more widely see outline-style icons. 

A new YouTube experiment brings native video playback directly to your Twitter feed without needing to go to a web browser or the dedicated app.

After a preview in India, YouTube Shorts is rolling out in the US with a beta launch. Alongside the expanded availability, Google is making a number of updates to the short-form platform.

Move over Social Blade, as YouTube Studio has now finally added a real-time subscriber count for your channel, meaning third-party services may no longer be necessary.

Copyright is an issue that YouTube creators have had to deal with for ages, and in many cases, it can land them in hot water by mistake. Now, YouTube is rolling out the ability for creators to see if their video will have any copyright troubles at the time of upload with a new “Checks” step during upload.

Despite being the dominant streaming platform on the entire internet, YouTube is taking on TikTok directly with its own Shorts videos.

YouTube makes it fairly easy for anyone with talent and determination to make some cash off of producing videos, and many even manage to make a living off of the platform. This year, though, many creators may face issues as YouTube is preparing to deduct tax fees for the US for all creators, even those who don’t live in the region.

YouTube’s constant state of evolution on Android — and mobile generally — continues unabated with a new test of the comments section including what looks like a quick reply option.

The Analytics tool in YouTube Studio is adding new and returning viewer metrics to help creators better “understand different trends in your audience over time.”