YouTube launches Leanback, mobile site gets HTML5 revamp (video)

Looks like YouTube's having quite the day. The site has officially rolled out Leanback, its television-friendly interface first espied during Google TV's big unveiling. The interface works via keyboard arrow keys -- sorry, no option to use the mouse -- letting you scroll through your feeds / recommendations, categories, playback options, and search bar. Videos encompass the entire browser menu and will crank up the HD when available. So far, we're seeing snappy response with navigation, and some utter embarrassment at the (unfortunately accurate) suggestions YouTube is throwing our way.

Meanwhile on the handheld front, YouTube's also pushed live a new mobile site. New touted features include a more touch-friendly UI, further incorporation of the main site's elements such as favorites and ratings, and a generally speedier existence. YouTube also promises to work at bringing update parity across its desktop and portable kin, "unlike native apps which are not updated as frequently" (come on, tell us how you really feel, guys). Since the TV season is in a bit of a lull anyway, might as well grab your iPhone, Android device, HTPC remote, laptop, or whatever other screen you have and play catchup with your viral videos. Promotional footage after the break.

[theehokage Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:17PM]

thats pretty cool for those who use youtube A LOT :]

[Redyz Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:21PM]

@theehokage
thats pretty cool*

Fix'd

[annoyingposter4 Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:31PM]

@theehokage lol at loser in yellow at 1:37

[SolidSnake Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:41PM]

@theehokage
The video in the title pic is BOSS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qsWFFuYZYI

[HikaKao Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:01PM]

@Redyz That's pretty cool*
Capitalization and an apostrophe.

[ScottishDan Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:32PM]

@Redyz
Fixed
No apostrophe required.

[craigjc Posted Jul 7th 2010 11:04PM]

@annoyingposter4 hahahaha.

[nullifie Posted Jul 8th 2010 12:37AM]

@theehokage Anyone catch the brand of the laptop used in the first video? I love the glowing blurry white logo.

[MagnetMan Posted Jul 8th 2010 9:25AM]

@theehokage

The HTML5 mobile app is very cool as well. It ensures that users always have the latest version of the app as opposed the the horribly outdated iOS youtube app, or the need for an android youtube app.

The future == the web. With technologies like HTML5 and NaCl, 'traditional' app stores become irrelevant. Yes, irrelevant.

[Totoro Posted Jul 8th 2010 8:45PM]

@theehokage I just nerded out about this...High quality Totoro :) and other Youtube vids like Naruto ;) in HQ :) Quality FTW!

[eli Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:19PM]

So far I do like it more than the native iphone app...

[felixsauve Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:40PM]

@eli I like how Google isn't afraid of show it working on an iPhone. They don't seem to care about any free publicity they might give to it. Apple, on the other hand, would never dare mention anything positive about any android device.

[blindguymcsqueezy Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:00PM]

@felixsauve
Android has a porn store, sounds positive to me.

[KarlW Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:11PM]

@felixsauve

I think the difference is that Apple don't provide services to Android devices.

Also, whilst I'm commenting I might as well mention that I really hate the fact that the iPad's YouTube app doesn't let you turn HD off. I hope "will crank up the HD when available" doesn't mean you can't turn it off. My connection often can't handle streaming HD. I don't like waiting 3x the length of a clip just to buffer when SD plays without a hitch.

[DoorsnotWindows Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:22PM]

@felixsauve ehhh, or maybe apple doesn't produce things for several different devices, and so doesn't need to show it working on multiple ones in commercials?

[ChristianTexan Posted Jul 7th 2010 10:06PM]

@eli
Same here. I just replaced it on mine.
I noticed, even with the iphone4, the youtube app often takes forever to load a video, and often just stops working & I have to reload it.

Also, anyone know what song that was for the mobile video? or was it something that they put together for the ad?

[Schmich Posted Jul 7th 2010 11:34PM]

@felixsauve You do realize that the Apple logo on the back of the Macbook is blurred out? ;)

[Scrubs Posted Jul 8th 2010 12:14AM]

@Schmich
Its to stop the lawyers. They have bad eyesight and can't see through the 'naughty bits' filter

[shanklin89 Posted Jul 8th 2010 2:52AM]

@felixsauve dido that! I believe google is on the forefront of the future. Who would of thought that weird named search engine would have such a grab on what we want from technology. Keep it up google!

[RincewindWiz Posted Jul 8th 2010 4:13AM]

@DoorsnotWindows I can't imagine Apple ever doing an advert showing iTunes running/crashing on Windows!

[TinWard Posted Jul 8th 2010 7:05AM]

@felixsauve "I like how Google isn't afraid of show it working on an iPhone. They don't seem to care about any free publicity they might give to it. Apple, on the other hand, would never dare mention anything positive about any android device."

Yeah but Google hasn't mentioned Apple's search engine once. Oh right.

[MadSkillz Posted Jul 8th 2010 6:43PM]

@felixsauve

What a Fanboy response.

They are two different businesses. Googles main goal is to have the most people see their ads and use their services like google search and gmail. What drives Apple is different. They want to sell hardware.

Google doesn't want a the millions of potential viewers on other platforms including iOS, WebOS and others not to be able to view their Ads. Plain and simple.

Keep fanboyism to yourself. It just make people look foolish.

[Psychosoldier Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:20PM]

Nice, but I wonder if this can make a difference on my PS3.

[hellfroze Posted Jul 8th 2010 4:17AM]

@Psychosoldier

That was my first thought, and at first glance, it looked like it was working... so stoked! The YouTube experience on the PS3 (where you can watch on a large screen with friends....) has been so shoddy that this seemed so promising.

BUT. While the D-pad mimics the arrow keys just fine, I don't think there's any thing on the controller that maps to "Enter". And I quickly found it's ridiculously tricky to navigate without that. And no hope of performing a search at all.

Here's hoping YouTube engineers address this shortcoming...

[KGBSmurf Posted Jul 8th 2010 12:35PM]

@hellfroze
"X" is mapped to "Enter" key

[hellfroze Posted Jul 9th 2010 2:06AM]

@KGBSmurf

Ha, that was the first thing I (and probably every other PlayStation owner) tried. Are you saying that worked for you??

[theehokage Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:20PM]

btw does youtube have something against Adidas?

[pintonion Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:20PM]

A MORPHING PHONE?! BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!

[N900 Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:38PM]

@pintonion iNexus 3G ftw

[Gaucho85 Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:21PM]

I like how they blurred out the Apple logo but left "Macbook Pro" under the screen.

[Gad Get Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:30PM]

@Gaucho85

I was about to say the same thing.

[liftedngifted1 Posted Jul 7th 2010 10:52PM]

@Gaucho85 Most likely becuase Apple would sue them I heard they like to do that...

[saspr Posted Jul 8th 2010 12:38AM]

@Gaucho85

I was going to say the same thing before I saw your comment.

[goldman60 Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:26PM]

@liftedngifted1

I recommend you read up on the 1st amendment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

[djsiek Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:22PM]

HQ youtube on my iPhone via 3G = WIN!

[doasis23 Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:47PM]

@djsiek
How long until AT&T has apple block the site?

[iucidium Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:51PM]

@djsiek got it on my G1 native app, welcome to 2009

[RatioTitle Posted Jul 8th 2010 12:11AM]

@djsiek Both phones in the video were on wifi...even though he's standing in the middle of a remote field with full AT&T reception. So yeah, this is pretty amazing if they'll allow HQ over 3g but I'm not too optimistic about it :-/

[djsiek Posted Jul 8th 2010 12:23AM]

@RatioTitle tested and it works on my iPhone over 3G :)

[RatioTitle Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:49AM]

@djsiek Mind = BLOWN o_O
thanks for the update!

[liquidkernel Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:22PM]

Go Webkit browsers!

[Apple Legal Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:23PM]

Guess we'll have to block m.youtube.com on safari for duplicating phone functionality.

[Fr3sh2De4th Posted Jul 7th 2010 10:29PM]

@Apple Legal I lol'd

[FILA Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:25PM]

that kid in the yellow shirt in the first video at the end is homo

[dave95 Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:29PM]

Keyboard on the couch was so disturbing and a step backwords imo. I would rather use my iPhone or iPad (if possible).

[maattp Posted Jul 7th 2010 10:26PM]

@dave95
There are many apps that turn your iPhone/iPod Touch into a wireless keyboard/mouse. Try one out.

[bpuff Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:30PM]

Oh goody!

[ossger Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:31PM]

haha why blur out the apple symbol in the video but not the MacBook Pro text...

[Psyclotr0n Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:32PM]

@surinderoberoi28
your cross dressing is not my concern

[Frasier Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:34PM]

AWESOME re-design of the mobile Youtube. But still no history. Bummer.