YouTube gets better in two ways: first, YouTube has upgraded its mobile site, m.youtube.com, which now supports HTML5. So now the site sports better video quality and will soon add more content. Second, YouTube reveals Leanback, which is basically selection of videos modified to your interests, play as soon as you visit the site in full screen and high definition, that too continuously.
- What is Leanback TV?
Of course, this is something new. It’s a version of YouTube that’s optimized for watching content on your TV set, or when you’re sitting a few feet away from your desktop computer. So is this YouTube TV? Yes, somewhat like that. This feed is based on your YouTube settings and preferences, including content from your subscriptions and videos your friends are sharing on Facebook. You can also watch the most popular comedy, entertainment, news, or more continuously. In short, it will broadcast what you want.
- How to Operate on Leanback?
Well as I said above, you can operate even sitting a few feet away from your PC. The interface works via keyboard arrow keys, no option to use the mouse, letting you scroll through your recommendations, categories, playback options, and search bar. So if you don’t care for the video that’s playing, use the right arrow key on your keyboard to skip ahead to the next video, or try the up/down arrows to search, access player controls, and browse channels and videos. Pretty interesting!
- When is it scheduled for launch?
Leanback was first shown off as a preview at Google I/O, and will be integrated into Google TV when it launches this fall. The product evolved from YouTube XL, which launched in June 2009.
- Any improvements to be undertaken?
Yes, it will get HD when available. Even the project is still in beta, but it can be accessed from YouTube’s skunkworks side, TestTube. Somewhat interestingly, iPad users won’t be among the early testers, as YouTube decided to build Leanback in Flash for now. However, the idea is to make sure that Leanback works as a general concept before taking it to other platforms.
- What’s the aim of launching such an interface?
It’s all to boost traffic and engagement. The site obviously sees a huge volume of uploads and traffic, but it gets around 15 minutes of viewing time a day per user. That contrasts with the five hours of television that people watch on average each day.
- Will they offer rental subscriptions?
Rentals aren’t live for Leanback yet, but the YouTube team says that this is due to a technical issue, not a licensing one, and that it hopes to offer rentals in the next few weeks. And yes, ads will eventually make their way into Leanback as well.
- And what’s new about the new YouTube’s mobile site?
YouTube’s also gets a live new mobile site. New features include a more touch-friendly UI, further incorporation of the main site’s elements such as favorites and ratings, and a generally speedier existence. YouTube also promises to work at bringing update parity across its desktop and portable kin, unlike native apps which are not updated as frequently. You might just grab your iPhone, Android device, HTPC remote, laptop, or whatever other screen you have and play catch-up with your favourite videos.
Access your Leanback here.
Tags: google, Hd, html5, keyboard arrow keys, leanback, youtube