The YouTube TV application is getting a major update with an improved interface and simplified access to the various interactive functions. Enough to make the service much more pleasant to use.
YouTube is constantly modifying the design of its application depending on platforms and screen sizes, in order to offer the most pleasant navigation possible. Last October, Google gave it a makeover by improving its interface on the Web, mobile and TV versions, and adding half a dozen functions (see our article). This time, the Mountain View firm is attacking YouTube TV’s weak point: comments. In fact, on your television, you are less inclined to view them, given that their display blocks half of the video you are watching. To remedy this problem, YouTube announced in a blog post the introduction of a new design that allows you to interact with videos without hindering viewing. The deployment of the update is underway, before crossing the Atlantic to arrive on our screens.
YouTube interface: more intuitive interactions
Employees were faced with the following question: “How do we bring the familiar features and interactivity of YouTube into the living room while ensuring video remains at the center of the experience?” Translation: How to make it so that you can interact with the video content while lying on your couch? The Internet giant has decided to give you the possibility of watching videos on TV in a smaller player, with the comments displayed on the side. Previously, comments and other elements were displayed on top of the player, making it difficult to see the entire right side of the video correctly. In short, it wasn’t very practical.
So the new display shrinks the video slightly to make room for comments and other elements around it. As a result, the video descriptions are also better highlighted. The new interface makes it easier to access certain functions, such as chapters, key moments and purchasing products. Indeed, a “Products in this video” section appears whenever creators indicate what is featured in their content. Afterwards, it’s not yet possible to complete a full transaction from your TV, but the app still displays a QR code that you can scan to complete the purchase of an item on your phone.
The TV app also now displays the number of likes, number of views and date the video was published. The video search window can also open when the player is in full screen mode. YouTube indicates that it plans to extend this function by adding other interaction possibilities, notably with multiple displays.
“What users will see on their TV is a design solution that keeps video front and center, while providing access to the features that make YouTube unique, all without interrupting the viewing experience.”, explains the firm. His teams tried several methods and concluded that “hiding the video would be detrimental to the viewing experience”. Ultimately, viewing time on televisions corresponds to more than a billion hours per day. No wonder Google is looking to better engage its users with content on the big screen!