Google, on the down low, has being working on the 5.0 YouTube update for Android users. This latest version of YouTube is being called the biggest redesign the app has seen yet. The hardworking folks over at Android Police was able to snatch up some details of the new update. Here’s what they have found:
- A brand new card-based UI – the app looks better than ever before. It’s like Matias Duarte has reached down from the sky and graced it with his magic touch.
- Previously rumored in-app multitasking that’s nothing like we’ve ever seen before. It really has to be experienced in person, but basically you can make any video you’re watching turn into a small window on the bottom right by swiping it down, pressing the down arrow in the top left corner, or simply pressing the Back button.
- You can then navigate the app while the video is playing.
- You bring it back up by dragging or tapping the small window and dismiss it by swiping it sideways.
- The really slick part here is that as you start sliding sideways, the sound volume starts to fade. This is some top-notch UX here.
- Interestingly, the swipe-down gesture works only in portrait mode on phones. On tablets, it’s available in both orientations.
- The slide-out navigation has been reworked with the latest hamburger-style guidelines in mind.
- Quick access to history, favorites, playlists, uploads, and watch later right in the slide-out menu.
- You can now search for playlists.
- You no longer need to tap the down arrow on the video page to give thumbs up, thumbs down, or flag.
- The HD and CC toggles have moved from the bottom left edge of the video to the menu.
- The G+ +1 Recommend button seems to be gone from videos.
- Update #1: A brand new app icon.
- Update #2: The landscape UI on 7″ tablets is now no longer just full-screen like it is on phones. Say hello to a fully-functional landscape tablet UI.
- Update #3: At last, YouTube now honors the global auto-rotate setting and doesn’t flip to landscape if auto-rotate is off. However, there’s now a button in the bottom right corner of the video to force the landscape full-screen mode if you want it. I think it’s the ideal solution to this previously controversial situation.
These are the details noticed by Android Police. I’ve been waiting for my update to hit my HTC One review unit, but it hasn’t yet. Thankfully, there is a few download links provided in the second source link below. So have at it! Let us know what you think?