YouTube turns 20! New features launched to celebrate

YouTube is marking its 20th birthday with a slew of features and add-ons to help users take part in the wider celebrations.

This update brings the following features:

• TV side ushered in a new interface + multi-view function 

• Premium users unlock 4× times the speed of playback 

• Music users ushered in AI-driven Ask Music personalized radio

1. TV interface upgrade: easier browsing, smoother playback

The new TV interface revolves around three keywords: easy to use, smart, and immersive .

Clearer navigation logic

• Channels, playlists, and search portals have been adjusted to make operations more intuitive

• New users can also easily find frequently viewed content

Dynamic preview + Picture-in-picture playback

• Thumbnails automatically preview the content dynamically, so you can choose the right movie without any mistakes

• The current video is automatically zoomed out and played without interrupting the browsing process

Recommendation system understands you better

• Time period recommendation mechanism launched (early morning news, late night entertainment)

• Prioritize channels or creators you watch frequently

2. Multiview function

What is Multiview? What scenarios is it suitable for?

The newly launched Multiview feature allows you to watch up to 4 videos on the same screen , which is particularly suitable for the following scenarios:

• Watch sports events in parallel (e.g., follow multiple NBA/NFL games at the same time)

• Play the podcast on the left and the explanation video on the right

• Share a TV with your family and watch your own content

The image quality and subtitles of each video in multi-view can be adjusted individually, and main audio switching and single-screen zooming are supported.

How to use Multiview? Teach you how to enable it step by step!

Currently this feature supports most smart TVs, Chromecast with Google TV, and some Apple TV users.

Step 1: Open the YouTube TV App

Make sure the app is updated to the latest version (you can check it in the TV App Store)

Step 2: Enter the "Multiview" area

• "Multiview" recommendation will appear below the homepage or sports channel

• You can also search directly for keywords: "Multiview" or "Multi-game"

Step 3: Select the videos you want to watch simultaneously

• Usually provides multiple events, multiple anchors or multiple angles to choose from

• After confirmation, click "Enter multi-view playback"

Step 4: Remote Control Tips

• Use the arrow keys to switch the main audio window

• You can long press the "OK" button to enter the independent full-screen playback of this window

• The back key can exit split screen mode

Practical tips

• Combined subtitle and translation functions : Multi-language videos can be watched on the same screen, suitable for foreign language learning or cross-cultural viewing

• Share content with your family : Watch dramas on the left and nursery rhymes or food videos on the right, achieving "harmonious viewing"

• Match score comparison : Watch the data commentary channel while watching the live broadcast to improve the viewing experience

3. Premium exclusive: mobile phone supports 4× times faster playback

In addition to the TV update, YouTube also launched a mobile "fast-forward tool" for Premium users:

Supported Platforms:

• The latest YouTube App for iOS and Android (Premium required)

Usage scenarios:

• Want to quickly scroll through long videos, lectures, or live broadcasts

• Quickly review a podcast, vlog, or in-depth content

How to use:

1. Open the video playback page

2. Click the menu or gear icon in the upper right corner

3. Select playback speed > Switch to 4×speed

Tips: It is more efficient to use it in combination with subtitles, especially suitable for learning videos!

4. Ask Music: Customize your music station with just one sentence!

YouTube Music has launched a new feature - Ask Music , which allows users to create AI music stations with their own unique style through text commands!

Example command:

• "Play indie pop songs perfect for a rainy day"

• “Some electronic music for a night run”

• "Give me a light jazz background station for coffee shop writing"

Ask Music will automatically analyze your commands and combine your historical preferences to generate a set of AI radio stations that are played continuously in real time . Each experience is different but always suits your taste.

How to use Ask Music:

1. Open the YouTube Music app (supported on both iOS and Android)

2. Click "Ask Music" or the microphone icon in the search bar

3. Enter the scene or style description you want to hear

4. The system will automatically generate your station and start playing

Conclusion

For content creators, this also means the need to rethink the visual layout and look and feel design on large-screen devices.

Have you tried out the new YouTube features yet? Which new feature of YouTube do you like best?