Google TV Updates YouTube App
February 13, 2012
By Monica Gleberman, Contributing Writer
Google TV announced via Facebook they would be releasing a new YouTube (News - Alert) app upgrade for users, allowing them to browse through videos easier, making the YouTube experience more seamless and faster. Google announced the upgrade to Google TV service first on their official Facebook (News - Alert) page and then later on their blog.
Google said users could expect the update to be released within the next few days, saying that the update will “make it faster and easier to find great content, adding YouTube channel pages, and giving you more control over your experience.”
According to Google (News - Alert), this update makes major renovations in navigation that users should notice after upgrading to the latest version. “First you’ll notice the app works faster with smoother navigation for a better experience. Next, we’ve added a new feature called Discover, which lets you browse YouTube channels by categories,” said Google.
Google said this new feature would let users search for specific content related to genre, like they can on Netflix. For example, if a user wanted to watch animated YouTube videos, they previously would have had to search by name. Now, users can click on the Discover button on the screen, which will list the most popular categories being used on YouTube.
Some of those categories include: Animation, Automotive, Beauty & Fashion, Comedy, Celebrities & Gossip, and Film & Entertainment. Instead of having to search for a specific video, users can now browse through millions of videos just by choosing a category.
Google goes on to describe more of its updates to the app including: showing related videos once a user has finished watching selected content, the ability to rate videos and add them to playlists, and access to a brand-new channel pages. All of these services, which were available to users on the YouTube website, will now be integrated into the Google TV YouTube App.
It seems like Google TV is prepping for the convergence between content on the Internet and live content on television. By updating their application and making it user-friendly, the assumption is that more people will use it. In a world where technology is constantly changing, this update might be what Google needs for more people to switch from Apple (News - Alert) devices and head into the Android market.
Edited by Rich Steeves