Google has rolled out a new update for YouTube Android app, which includes a "card" interface, multitasking feature, new tablet interface and an app icon.
Google Inc. has revamped its YouTube app for Android with major changes. The latest update is the most significant one in a long time. It offers a range of new options to users simplifying the video watching experience and browsing all at the same time.
The previous version of YouTube app for Android was liked by many users for its smooth functioning and the latest update just makes it even better. Google introduced its standard "card" interface for YouTube, which allows users to watch a video while continuing to browse for others. In the previous version, users had to stop the video in order to browse through others.
The new YouTube Android allows minimizing the screen while browsing channels or searching for different videos. By fixing some bugs, Google has improved the performance of the app, which works faster and smoother.
Most interestingly, the new version allows users to drag a playing video to the bottom-right hand side of the screen while browsing through other videos. Dragging the small screen to the top, plays the video in its regular mode with the list of other videos displayed below. Swiping the small screen sideways dismisses the video, which was first cited by Android Police.
Users can also use this feature while watching a video in full-screen mode by tapping the arrow pointing downwards on the top left-hand corner of the screen.
Users of 7-inch tablets also get an updated fully-functional; landscape tablet user interface. The new version has eliminated the automatic switching to full screen even when device auto-rotate feature is off. Users can tap the two arrows pointing in opposite directions, placed at the bottom right hand side of the video to switch to full-screen mode.
The update is not released for all Android users but will slowly get updated. There has been no word on expanding the feature to other platforms.
