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:
Open the video playback page
Click the menu or gear icon in the upper right corner
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:
Open the YouTube Music app (supported on both iOS and Android)
Click "Ask Music" or the microphone icon in the search bar
Enter the scene or style description you want to hear
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?
