Arrr, YouTube be tryin' out a newfangled contraption to make yer videos speedy, mateys! Watch more, savvy less!
2023-07-18
Ye YouTube be now bestowin' access to grand experimental quality-o'-life changes, but mind ye, only if ye be a Premium subscriber. Avast, ye landlubber, 'tis a treasure ye must pay for!
YouTube is testing out a new feature that allows users to double the playback speed of videos with just a long press on the video player. This upgrade eliminates the need to navigate through multiple menus to adjust the playback speed and will be especially useful for listening to podcasts on YouTube Music. The update is currently available on the mobile app and desktop version for YouTube Premium subscribers. To activate it, users can go to the YouTube Labs website or access it directly through the mobile app's Settings menu. However, this feature will only be available until August 13.In addition to the 2x speed feature, YouTube is also testing out other experimental tools. One of these is the Lock Screen feature, exclusive to the mobile app, which disables touch input while watching a fullscreen video to prevent accidental disruptions. There will also be bigger thumbnail previews on all versions of the platform to make it easier to find specific moments in a video. Both of these features, like the 2x speed feature, will only be available for a limited time.
There is also a potential fourth experiment called Stable Volume, which is currently only available to a select few users. It is speculated to be a normalizer and compressor for audio, potentially evening out volume levels between videos. However, it may have implications for music quality. Google has yet to provide more information on the official launch of these experimental features and whether Stable Volume will be expanded to more users.
Overall, these updates show YouTube's willingness to test new features and improve user experience. This is a refreshing change from their recent aggressive approach to stop ad-blocker usage on the platform. If you're interested in an ad-free browsing experience, you can check out TechRadar's list of the best ad blockers for 2023.