YouTube, the Google-owned social network, has announced more than 20 updates and improvements. The people of Lithuania can already notice the innovations being implemented by YouTube in the apps for smart devices and televisions, the press release says.
YouTube is undoubtedly one of the most popular video content channels in Lithuania. More than 1,3 million people use it at least once a week. people in the country. Until recently, it was common to watch YouTube on a computer or phone, but recently, the number of people using the YouTube app on smart TVs is increasing rapidly. So it's no wonder that YouTube, which implements big updates every year, has not spared news for the TV app this year either," says Karolis Špiliauskas, "Bites Profas".
Practical features for greater engagement
Updates to the miniplayer feature should appeal to those who want to continue browsing YouTube in addition to watching or listening to a video at the same time. It is possible to change both the size of the mini-player screen and its position on the screen by easily moving it from one side to the other.
Another relevant function is the Sleep Timer, which until now was only available to Premium account users.
"Sleep Timer allows people to set how long videos should automatically pause after." So if it often happens that you turn on a video when you get ready to sleep, you can rest assured that when you fall asleep, YouTube will not work all night or wake you up unexpectedly by turning on another video," says K. Špiliauskas.
For those who like to create shared playlists with friends or family, it's now easier to share your favorite music or videos on YouTube. This will be done simply by creating a special link or QR code and inviting you to join in the creation of a shared playlist. It will also be possible to personalize playlist thumbnails using your own photos or creating new images with the help of artificial intelligence.
"Voting on shared playlists should be available in the YouTube environment later this year." In this way, it will be possible to add music and videos that the whole family or group of friends like to a common playlist. By the way, this function will also be useful for content creators, as followers will be able to rate their favorite shows and reviews of new products," points out an expert from the digital services company Bitė.
Another innovation in the YouTube and YouTube Music apps are badges for various achievements. They will be available not only for being among the first subscribers to the creator's channel, but also for activity in this social network, various quizzes, for a well-deserved "heart" from the creator of the channel, and so on.
More convenient browsing - also on TV
In today's age of high-definition and high-quality content, YouTube also offers videos ranging from HD to 4K, and in some cases, 8K. In order to stream videos without delays, maintain high video quality and ensure the best possible experience, you first need not only a fast, but also a very stable Internet connection.
"So, for such viewing, you should choose new generation Internet technologies, such as 5G connection. Also, with a TV that often connects via Wi-Fi, it's also important to ensure that the wireless connection is fast enough for its smooth operation. This can be ensured by the fastest and most stable "Bites" 5G connection, which allows you to watch high-quality YouTube content without interruptions", explains "Bites Profas".
Among YouTube's bigger updates, there are a number of new design solutions not only for smart devices, but also in the app for TVs. Fonts, element colors, thumbnail size are updated.
If you're watching YouTube Shorts on your TV, the updated user interface will make it more convenient. It will be possible to watch Shorts and read comments or browse e-mail at the same time. in the store.
"You can see how YouTube updates on TV right now. A new feature introduced last month is more immersive channel pages. Now, when any creator's channel is opened, YouTube automatically starts showing one of his videos, thus allowing you to quickly familiarize yourself with the content of the channel", says K. Špiliauskas.
