YouTube recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and introduced a series of upgrades to its platform across various services. Some of the enhancements include the ability to create custom multiviews for non-sports content on YouTube TV, expanded voice replies for creators, and a new user interface (UI) for the YouTube app on televisions. These updates reflect YouTube’s commitment to evolving its platform to enhance user experience.
In addition to these changes, desktop users have begun noticing a revamped video player UI reminiscent of Google Drive’s design. This shift marks a significant departure from the familiar user interface many have grown accustomed to over the past decade. The new design incorporates Material Design 3’s pill-shaped controls and moves the volume slider to a vertical orientation on the opposite side of the screen.
While the changes do not drastically alter the layout, they certainly present a different aesthetic. User reactions to the updated UI have been mixed. Some users appreciate the modern look, while others are resistant to the change, particularly given the breadth of the updates.
While YouTube’s blog post provided limited details on the desktop enhancements, user reports on forums such as Reddit indicate that the transition to the new design draws parallels to changes seen in other Google-owned platforms like Google Drive and Google Videos. This new player UI aims to streamline the viewing experience, though it has also sparked conversations about usability, such as the loss of the horizontal volume slider and the possibility of reduced functionality for adjustments. Overall, while many users are excited about the modernization of the platform, there are understandable concerns about adapting to such a significant shift.
What are your thoughts on the new UI?
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