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YouTube opens up mobile livestreams to more users
It hasn't been that long since YouTube rolled out livestreaming for those who want to broadcast directly from their phones. The caveat was that you had to have at least 10,000 subscribers to enable the feature. Today, however, the video service has made live video available to YouTubers with a smaller subscription base. If you've got at least 1,000 subscribers to your channel, you can go live on the go.
Vevo opts out of offline video on YouTube's mobile apps
When YouTube's offline viewing feature launches in November, don't expect to find Vevo on board. According to Variety, the music video service has opted out of the functionality, which will let users download videos on Youtube mobile apps for up to 48 hours of offline playback. YouTube reportedly gave Vevo and other partners a chance to opt out of the upcoming feature, so -- while Vevo is the site's biggest content supplier -- this news is hardly scandalous. It makes sense, too; the music video provider has its own apps to promote, after all.
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.
YouTube launches new and improved mobile site for cellphones
There's certainly no shortage of ways to get your YouTube fix on the go, but it looks like those options just got a whole lot bigger, as the company today launched a newly expanded mobile website that provides access to "most" of YouTube's catalog on any capable mobile device. That's quite the improvement over the version of the site that launched last year, which was also open to any device but only provided a select few hand-picked videos. What's more, the new site will also let users log into the site and personalize things a bit and, just as importantly, users will also now be able to upload videos straight to the site from their mobile device of choice. Of course, while the service itself may be free (and even without ads, for now), all that data floating about most definitely is not, and YouTube kindly provides a hard-to-miss warning about that before you're even allowed to enter the site. If that doesn't deter you, however, you can hit up m.youtube.com and watch you productivity hit the floor.
LG announces YouTube-enabled handsets
First there was Verizon, and while The Network certainly enjoyed its limited time engagement with YouTube, it's all fair game now. Following Apple, Helio, Nokia, Vodafone, and a couple more for good measure, LG has just announced that some of its future handsets will also be "YouTube-ready." The company claims that customers picking up the aforementioned units will be able to "discover, watch, and share originally created videos" on YouTube, decreasing the wait time between shooting that blooper short and uploading it to the world. Interestingly, LG failed to mention model names when referring to its impending YouTube-enabled lineup, but the elusive devices are nevertheless slated to land worldwide at the end of this year.[Via mocoNews]
Helio charging for access to YouTube Mobile, part of a bigger plan
Until recently, YouTube Mobile was the exclusive playground of Verizon subscribers -- but now, it's free for anyone with a sufficiently beefy data plan. Well, almost anyone, anyway; it seems that Helio, arguably the most multimedia-friendly carrier in the US, is charging to access YouTube's otherwise free mobile portal. The company's official stance is that the $5.99 monthly fee goes toward a new premium service called "Video Virus" that'll include access to YouTube, eBaum's World, and others, with two-click YouTube upload and a dedicated, exclusive YouTube app (packing some extra goodies not available elsewhere) all in the pipeline for later this year. To be fair, YouTube's clearly putting some kinks in every carrier's plans to monetize mobile video here, and we'd be surprised if others didn't follow in Helio's footsteps -- but that doesn't mean we're cool with it! Follow the link for a workaround that appears to be working for some folks.[Thanks, Jacob C.]
Verizon exclusivity ends, YouTube Mobile opens the gates
Alright, everyone go quit your jobs and pick up second (and third) batteries for your handsets: YouTube Mobile has gone live. As previously reported, YouTube was apparently merely biding its time while Verizon's exclusivity deal ran its course before flipping the switch, so now we can all enjoy several hundred editor's picks -- the supposed cream of the YouTube crop -- in mobile-friendly 3GP format (though word has it they're eventually planning a full mobile implementation). Initial testing on our Nokia N76 review unit suggests that 3G data is highly recommended, but we somehow suspect we'll still manage to sink our productivity to record lows even on crappy EDGE. Hit up m.youtube.com to check it out; we'll be on the couch with our eyes glued to our phones if you need us.[Thanks, David]
YouTube Mobile to launch in May / June?
For those of you looking to get in on the YouTube Mobile bandwagon without switching over to a Verizon Wireless handset, the wait is almost over. According to GigaOM, YouTube already has plans in motion to bring a cellphone-friendly rendition of the video-browsing website to more mobiles once the firm's exclusivity agreement with Verizon comes to a close. Apparently, YouTube engineers have already been "working closely with other mobile carriers and handset makers such as Nokia" in order to hopefully provide a seamless experience when it finally goes live. Initially, the site will be more of a "best of" gallery to work out the kinks, but it should eventually offer up the same content as its non-mobile counterpart. Expect a launch "around May" for European users, while we Americans will likely be waiting until June.
Nokia teams up with an unfaithful YouTube for Nseries vids
It looks like YouTube Mobile is going to be busting free from its Vodafone-owned carrier exclusivity sooner rather than later. YouTube and Nokia are bragging about the addition of Nokia as a YouTube "global partner" today at 3GSM, with no mention of nasty carrier agreements in sight. All new Nokia Nseries phones will be able to access YouTube Mobile from the built-in web browser -- which with its Safari / WebKit roots probably isn't much of a stretch anyways -- along with being able to subscribe to YouTube video RSS feeds with the new Nokia Video Center, which is designed to manage sideloaded PC vids, internet video and RSS video subscriptions all in one place on multimedia phones such as the N95 and N93i. The press release claims that YouTube Mobile, with the newly added AVC video format for Nokia compatibility, is available now, so fire up that S60 phone of yours and let us know how it works.
