YouTube launches HTML5-enabled mobile website, native YouTube apps soon to be obsolete

By on Jul 8, 2010 at 4:20 AM
General July 8, 2010

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YouTube announced on Wednesday that it has launched an improved mobile website with HTML5-friendly video. YouTube’s refreshed mobile web site, m.youtube.com, now offers faster performance and an improved touch-friendly user interface. Many of the popular elements of the full YouTube website are now available on the mobile site, including search suggestions, support for like/dislike buttons, and the ability to create playlists. Google takes a jab at Apple by hinting at the demise of native YouTube applications (like those found on the iPhone) by pointing out that the mobile site will see improvements more frequently than the native applications. Like an evil provocateur, Google is tempting us with the promise of a faster, bigger, and a better YouTube; if we consent to using our browser instead of the more convenient native application. For those that need a closer look at the new YouTube before fully endorsing the browser based offering, hit the jump for Google’s official video.

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  • Thablackguy

    that’s nice to have the option… but not sure who will win out exactly…

  • md

    why do the shots switch between iphone and nexus one? why didn’t they just pick one and stick with it?

    • John

      Because the whole point is that the new YouTube is platform independent. Android, iOS, WebOS, WP7, it doesn’t matter so long as it supports enough HTML5 for the site to work.

      • md

        Then why not have any other phones in the video aside from those two? The close crop shots almost seem as though it’s a mistake.

      • vzw rocks

        Because right now Google is trying to send a message to Iphone users that they dont have to use the native app to view youtube content and basicly trying to point out how nice it is to not have to use an app for something the web should be able to do for you. They switch to the nexus because of course they want to promote there own product. Google doesnt really want to have an Iphone in there advertisement but its a necessary evil.

      • MikeD

        Amazingly bias response.

        Google didn’t do this because of the iPhone.

        Question: How about answering how many phones out in the wild actually support HTML 5.

        Answer: very few. But at least the Android devices and iPhones are already compliant.

        The reality is, Google wants their products accessed by as many devices as POSSIBLE. Don’t start this necessary evil bullshit. ITS GOOD BUSINESS.

        See you very comment highlights the fanboy inside. So does Google prefer the Playstation 3 over the Xbox? and so on. don’t start the childish rant please. Its good business. Now Creative Labs and other device makers don’t have to depend on APP DEVELOPERS to access youtube or even for Adobe to create a flash player for their particular device. All they’ll need are the OPEN STANDARDS components of HTML 5.

      • vzw rocks

        @Mike D

        My point wasnt anything more than Google used an Iphone in the advertisement so that Iphone users will know that they can access this on there Iphone. thats it ritard. As far as me saying Google didnt actually want to use the Iphone in there video I dont see how thats being a fanboy either. Im sure they didnt want to use it but they had to again to let Iphone users know that they could access the mobile site. Last but not least and here the fanboy in me does come out, dont be jealous that you dont have flash on your phone. Im sorry your feelings got hurt.

      • MikeD

        @vzw rocks

        No hurt feelings here. I expressed pure logic. You Necessary Evil comment totally derailed your comment. You clearly do not understand Googles true goal.

        re-read @John’s Statement. He hit it right on the head. Your statement actually is the emotional one. Google is trying to send a message to the iPhone? Really?

        nuff said.

  • wanderer

    Thats a good thing, supporting all the popular platforms. Wish more sites like this.

  • Terry

    Wouldn’t it be a hit on iPhone if they left it in Flash? Apple wants/is for HTML 5

  • brandon p

    Thank god they are veering away from flash. All flash does is slow down the browser and eat up battery.

    • Apple Genius

      “All flash does is slow down the browser and eat up battery.”

      You sure it’s Flash causing that? It may be you are just holding your iphone in the wrong way.

    • vzw rocks

      yeah sure it slows the browser down. Thats why when they did the browser speed test between the Nexus 1 running 10.1 and the Iphone 4 the Nexus won. Geez what a douche, do some research before posting.

  • http://www.twitter.com/iAmMrHD Mr. Hi-Definition

    @ Kelly You need a space between be and obsolete. :)

    And I’ve used the mobile YouTube website and it much closer to the desktop YouTube experience than any YouTube app I’ve ever used on any platform.

    • http://www.twitter.com/iAmMrHD Mr. Hi-Definition

      Wow, whoever down ranked my comment because I corrected Kelly on grammar is pretty pathetic… I was just trying to help her and I’m sure she knows that. Good ole’ BGR commenters, you don’t know what to do with yourselves so you just prefer to down rank comments.

      • Matt

        No people just know this isn’t english class and could give a shit less some putz comes along trying to correct everyones spelling and grammar.

        Find something more productive to do with your free time loser!

      • MikeD

        It was you avatar. Put a Droid there and they’ll allow you to say anything you want.

      • vzw rocks

        MikeD says:
        July 8, 2010 at 8:47 AM
        Amazingly bias response.

      • MikeD

        LOL cute.

  • TheSemicolon

    I like the mobile site, but I have yet to see the option for HQ video on any of Tue pages. The other options are there, just not HQ. looks like I will be sticking to t-mobile app for now since I have default high quality there.

    I am using a VZW Incredible btw

    • Brandon

      if you hit the settings key a soft menu comes, click on more and it will give you “watch in high quality” as an option. Just like in the standard android youtube app.

      • Joshie

        That IS the standard Android YouTube app. On my Moto Droid the new site comes up, but videos play in the native app.

  • andyg8180

    I like the “how to be a gangster” at 1:00 but they chose bicycle kick…. boooo!

  • Jayhammy

    I’m not sure I like the browser-based option better. In fact, it seems choppy using the native and Skyfire browsers on my Incredible. The Youtube app is truly HD and quite nice.

  • PrivateBlinky

    I agree with Terry’s earlier comment. The REAL reason YouTube has switched to HTML5 encoding is to ensure that they DON’T get cut out from displaying their content on futer iterations of the iPhone, given Apple’s stoic stance of no Flash on their devices.

    The fact that YouTube/Google is poking fun at the old-style app, but covering their butt with actions that are being forced by their competitors is a little entertaining, to say the least.

    • Kevin

      Honostly I couldnt care less about the real reason why google did this because in the end the consumer wins. The Browser based youtube is far superior to the native youtube app in every way (well i can only speak for the iphone cause thats what im using). It loads much MUCH faster. I can FINALLY watch videos in good quality over 3g; watching videos on 3g in the app is just brutal. And plus google adds never bothered me, i just dont click them.

  • konklifer

    Much better than the native iPhone app. I can see HQ vids over 3G or WiFi without any choppiness at all.

  • Moncho

    HQ on 3g!!!! It lookks nice!!!! Its better than the iphone app, i recomend it

  • Shakir

    This works beautifully on my 9700 bold as well. No touchscreen, but videos play perfectly. I am not a huge fan of apps, so this is perfect!

  • Jesus H Christ

    I like the App on my Android phone.

  • kev

    anybody else totally unable to get this going on 1.6 stock android browser. :(

  • Perspective

    Didn’t Google tell us just last month Android was outselling iOS? So why would they care how those dwindling numbers of iOS users access YouTube? Wait, I know. It’s because 1) iOS ships more both globally and in the US (thanks to that iPod Touch), and 2) no one who has a life, a girlfriend or a clue cares about Android.

    • Jayhammy

      You’re kidding, right? At 160,000 new activations a day worldwide and an Android market at over 68,000 apps, you think nobody cares? You and the Apple fanboys will soon hear a sound and wonder, “whoa, what was that?” and someone will respond, “hey, man, that was Android moving to first place.”
      All the tech sites, including CNET and ArsTechnica (who are usually pro-Apple) have stated too many times to ignore that Android is a force to be reckoned with. It’s giving Apple a run for its money. And the latest from Arstechnica says Android is up to 5X faster and better performing than iOS. yeah, but “who cares?”. LOL.

    • vzw rocks

      nobody cares about Android? Thats funny cus OpenFeint one of the biggest mobile gaming developers is gonna start developing some stuff for Android. They are one of the big gaming devs for iOS as well so im pretty sure that if nobody cared about Android OpenFeint wouldnt be putting the time in to develop for it.

    • MikeD

      The Google Fanatics seem to be obsessed over the iPhone.

      What’s really at hand is YouTube is finally, truly platform independent in the mobile world too. It doesn’t really on a app or single OS to be viewed. Simple as that.

      So any OS, device can connect to YouTube with open standard components. And the big because is there are many many many more people viewing youtube than Android and iPhone users combined.

      Turning this in to a joking with iPhone blah blah is an emotional voodoo death wish. When people do that its invalidates their comments. Its business, pure and simple and has very little to do with the iPhone.

  • http://the-reviewer.com TheReviewer

    I might’ve missed something, so forgive me but, why would this be a jab at Apple?

  • Walt French

    “…if we consent to using our browser instead of the more convenient native application.”

    I don’t get it: the video shows how to create a “web app” icon on your phone in 5 seconds, and that is just as easy as hitting the old app. What’s more convenient about the old way?

  • http://alghienkad06.student.ipb.ac.id/ thea

    I’m not sure I like it

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