YouTube on Wednesday launched several new experimental features for its YouTube Premium subscribers. The platform states that the features are designed to improve content consumption, providing support for enhanced audio quality while viewing music videos and the option to adjust video playback speed. At the same time, YouTube Shorts for iOS now supports picture-in-picture mode and smart downloads. Additionally, the company has introduced a new plan for subscribers in the US, making YouTube Premium subscriptions more cost-effective, although with some restrictions.
YouTube Premium Users Now Receive Enhanced Audio While Viewing Music Videos
In a blog post, YouTube outlined the new features being introduced for premium users. It notes that they can now benefit from audio improvements while streaming videos, which includes audio playback at 256kbps. The ‘Jump Ahead’ feature, which was earlier restricted to mobile devices, is now being made available for web browsers as well. This feature allows users to skip to the most exciting moments of the videos they are watching.
Users on iOS can also utilize picture-in-picture mode on YouTube Shorts, enhancing their multitasking capabilities. Meanwhile, the smart downloads function will autonomously select recommended shorts and save them for offline viewing. The playback speed options will also be increased to a maximum of 4x speed.
It is important to highlight that all the features mentioned above are experimental and users must opt in to experience them.
The video-streaming service is also broadening some features to additional platforms and regions. YouTube Music’s Ask Music feature will soon be accessible to Android users in the UK and Ireland. It enables users to describe the type of music they want to hear, like “upbeat workout tracks” or “relaxing jazz,” and this feature will create a personalized radio station with similar music, according to YouTube.
Meanwhile, the conversational AI tool, which effectively serves as a chatbot for discussing videos that are currently playing and suggesting related content, will also become available on iOS. Currently, it is restricted to YouTube Premium members who use the English language in the US.
YouTube states it is launching a new offer in the US that allows users to save more when they enroll in a Google One Premium or higher subscription. With this promotion, they will gain access to ad-free YouTube, 2 TB of Google One cloud storage, and various other Google One member perks at a reduced cost.
