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.

[Oxyrt Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:36PM]

Wow. The new mobile site is miles ahead of the native iPhone app (which hardly ever works).

[refink Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:48PM]

@Oxyrt same goes for the Android youtube app

[KwietStorm Posted Jul 8th 2010 3:02AM]

@refink not really

[Hoppesangen Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:37PM]

Does this mean I can watch VEVO videos on my iPad/iPhone yet?

[mrfreshiight Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:42PM]

Hmmm i wonder why they censored apples logo???

[AbsoluteDesignz Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:44PM]

@mrfreshiight probably a legal thing...

[refink Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:46PM]

I just tested m.youtube.com on the HTC Incredible with no HQ videos available. or i am just blind?

[Spectrality Posted Jul 7th 2010 10:57PM]

@refink I'm getting the same on my Incredible. Hope they fix it soon.

[Tes Posted Jul 8th 2010 4:11AM]

@refink

On the HTC Desire it plays using the Flash player rather than launching the app like it used to.

Weak.

[Tes Posted Jul 8th 2010 4:15AM]

@Tes

No wait...looking again I'm still getting the old mobile Youtube not the new updated one here in the UK. I've tried switching from mobile to touch at the bottom but no luck.

[Slvrgun Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:52PM]

Youtube a gangsta and don't dance?

[ror Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:54PM]

lol. the suggestions were definitely on point. and now I feel the urge to satiate my Lust for Cubana.

[FritzJ92 Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:07PM]

LOOKS GREAT ON MY NEXUS..... now if someone would make a porn site this great to navigate.... they would hit riches lol

[hallucinogen52 Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:32PM]

I still get the old mobile site on my Pre. I don't use Youtube much but it would be nice if Google would include WebOS once in a while.

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

@hallucinogen52

Doesnt have anything to do with webOS. I dont know why you cant see it though.

[SFHandyman Posted Jul 7th 2010 11:51PM]

@hallucinogen52
Nothing has changed for me either on the Pre.

[delicatessen lama Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:35PM]

The end of the first video remind me of big bang theory.

[september11th Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:39PM]

DO NOT LEAN BACK. Google = racist among other things.
http://i.imgur.com/7ZHzh.jpg

[Frasier Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:48PM]

@september11th LOL!

[deepen03 Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:47PM]

How about a new Youtube app? Apple? the iPhone Youtube app is getting outdated fast.

[AiRSK Posted Jul 7th 2010 10:00PM]

Finally, I can watch high quality video on youtube over 3G. I don't get why the current youtube app on the iphone didn't have a simple HQ button.

[doasis23 Posted Jul 7th 2010 10:32PM]

@AiRSK
Because AT&T didn't want them to.

[ravissimo Posted Jul 8th 2010 5:15AM]

@AiRSK Finally, right?! Google added a feature Apple and AT&T didn't want you to have...

[fj2u Posted Jul 7th 2010 10:14PM]

Gosh I love Google. And what a great time to exist. It just gets better and better.

[uncola Posted Jul 7th 2010 10:27PM]

the mobile site is working great on my nexus one with froyo. better than the native app

[Urrl Posted Jul 7th 2010 10:49PM]

Youtube app is neanderthal in 3g.
I mean even vSNAX looks much better. I can't see AT&T allowing this for long.
I so wish I could just delete the Youtube icon off of my iP4!!! It's junk!!!
I am using Truveo video app instead and it is terrific.

[Ralven Posted Jul 7th 2010 10:50PM]

meh looks dumb like good old regular youtube

[Zorque Posted Jul 7th 2010 10:56PM]

Keyboard controls are cool, but what would be great is a desktop client that I could use a remote for more easily.

[Abyssul Posted Jul 7th 2010 11:12PM]

WebOS gets shafted again by Google. Am I surprised? Not really. How hard is it to add us as a compatible user agent...

[fastm3driver Posted Jul 7th 2010 11:15PM]

Pomplamoose FTW!

[niclet Posted Jul 8th 2010 8:18AM]

@fastm3driver
Yeah, best band ever!

[Raytem Posted Jul 7th 2010 11:43PM]

Apple sucks, Youtube is sold to Apple and that's why they are putting HTML5 in Youtube, Steve is a bitch and Apple, you know, its like bad and you know, it sucks.

[mustachioman Posted Jul 8th 2010 12:25AM]

So this is all leading up to Google TV? [Obviously]

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

What's really cool is that it uses the hybrid affect. If you have flash it uses flash to play the content (mainly because flash is faster at decoding video then HTML 5) and if you don't have it, it uses HTML 5 video.

[september11th Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:03AM]

I just did a test.
On the iphone4, the official youtube app has better quality video than the youtube web app with HD turned on. These are screencaps from the phone.

iphone: http://i.imgur.com/LCIZQ.jpg
webapp: http://i.imgur.com/DEaEr.jpg

I did the test with a few videos. Same results. Personally, I see no good reason to use the webapp, on an iphone at least.

[september11th Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:11AM]

@september11th

oh. now i read that the iphone quality goes down on 3G.

update to my research:

youtube webapp if you are on the go.
iphone real app if you are on wifi.

[GodFlow Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:41AM]

This is pretty neat if you mainly use youtube for music, or clips from your favorite show. If you just watch random videos, it's not that great.

As for the mobile deal, I think my phone is too old to support html5, so no opinion on that.

[gimmmick Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:42AM]

The m.youtube.com site is much better than the android app I have for youtube.

[xdeiri Posted Jul 8th 2010 3:15AM]

hey their is an apple on the back of your laptop.

[aliendude5300 Posted Jul 8th 2010 3:17AM]

I was disappointed when I found out Leanback is written in Flash, not HTML 5... surely Google, the creators of that pacman logo game could make a simple video player work in HTML 5?

[SkEvo Posted Jul 8th 2010 6:32AM]

Ok Leanback is personalised in terms of suggestions, but how do you get to your favourites?! - login screen please!? Unless I've missed it this is a major oversight!! At least youtubeXL let you check out your favourites.

[Nehebkau Posted Jul 8th 2010 7:11AM]

kinda funny that they showed it off on the iPhone instead of the nexus one.... i guess it's to *not* confuse people

[Drummertist Posted Jul 8th 2010 7:57AM]

Built in FLASH nonetheless. I thought Google was trying to YouTube to HTML5?

[DragonAsh Posted Jul 8th 2010 8:27AM]

I like how they blur the apple logo, but then when looking at the screen "MacBook Pro" is clearly visible lol

as if you didnt know what computer he was using anyway

[Sicarius123 Posted Jul 8th 2010 8:53AM]

Does this replace the awful YoutubeXL?

[Sugetier Posted Jul 8th 2010 4:22PM]

That's all nice and dandy, but the fullscreen mode has been lost! Which kinda goes against the purpose of it being a leanback thing, no?

[SkEvo Posted Jul 8th 2010 8:02PM]

@Sugetier

I dont understand your comment, the video plays in fullscreen , do you not experience this?

[pankomputerek Posted Jul 8th 2010 4:33PM]

Why aren't they using Chrome OS?
_____________________________
I understand it's in Beta but they could since it's almost finished...

[SkEvo Posted Jul 8th 2010 8:04PM]

What I want to know is... how do you get to your favourites?