A major YouTube mobile update allows people to browse other videos while watching, to search and watch playlists, and to queue videos on connected devices.
August 19, 2013 4:09 PM PDT
The new YouTube app for Android lets you minimize and play videos while browsing for your next one.
(Credit: Google)
Google began a slow rollout on Monday of a major update to its YouTube app for Android, with other mobile YouTube app updates are coming.
A Google representative told CNET that the slow rollout was intentional, and not a leak of the app's installer file, or APK.
[h=3]Related stories:[/h]
YouTube 5.0 for Android includes several features to make the app more like watching YouTube on the Web, and in some cases surpass it. Google confirmed that the updated YouTube app is expected to reach the Google Play store sometime Tuesday morning, Pacific time. YouTube for iOS is also expected to update soon.
In addition to the new logo and the redone interface that cribs heavily from Google's new "house style," the app features three main new features.
You can now swipe down while watching a video to keep playing the video while browsing for other videos. It shrinks the video to the lower right corner, while the main browsing interface takes up the rest of the screen. Swiping up restores the video, while swiping left or right will close the video.
Another major new feature is that you can finally browse and play video playlists in the app. As YouTube inadvertently became the Internet's unofficial jukebox, playlists have become one of the site's most popular options.
Also new in the YouTube app is that you can queue up playlists, just like on the Web site.
(Credit: Google)
Video queuing is now available on connected devices that use the Cast button, such as the new Chromecast, Google TV, and PlayStation 3. When you're streaming a video to a connected device with the Cast button, you'll be able to browse and either play your selected video immediately or queue up another one to watch next.
August 19, 2013 4:09 PM PDT 
The new YouTube app for Android lets you minimize and play videos while browsing for your next one.(Credit: Google)
Google began a slow rollout on Monday of a major update to its YouTube app for Android, with other mobile YouTube app updates are coming.
A Google representative told CNET that the slow rollout was intentional, and not a leak of the app's installer file, or APK.
[h=3]Related stories:[/h]
- Multitask with YouTube's picture-in-picture app update
- Revisit the amazing Internet the cool kids used in 1997
- Vine famous: Twitter's quirky app unleashes a new wave of video stars
- Microsoft vs.Google: When tech firms fight, you lose either way
- YouTube Windows Phone app stirs up trouble again
YouTube 5.0 for Android includes several features to make the app more like watching YouTube on the Web, and in some cases surpass it. Google confirmed that the updated YouTube app is expected to reach the Google Play store sometime Tuesday morning, Pacific time. YouTube for iOS is also expected to update soon.
In addition to the new logo and the redone interface that cribs heavily from Google's new "house style," the app features three main new features.
You can now swipe down while watching a video to keep playing the video while browsing for other videos. It shrinks the video to the lower right corner, while the main browsing interface takes up the rest of the screen. Swiping up restores the video, while swiping left or right will close the video.
Another major new feature is that you can finally browse and play video playlists in the app. As YouTube inadvertently became the Internet's unofficial jukebox, playlists have become one of the site's most popular options.
Also new in the YouTube app is that you can queue up playlists, just like on the Web site.(Credit: Google)
Video queuing is now available on connected devices that use the Cast button, such as the new Chromecast, Google TV, and PlayStation 3. When you're streaming a video to a connected device with the Cast button, you'll be able to browse and either play your selected video immediately or queue up another one to watch next.