YouTube 10.09.11358
You can download YouTube for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPad. It used to be built inside iOS, but Apple and Google have had their rumbles, and the rest as they say is history.
Badly optimized for mobile
Google tried really hard (probably not) to deliver a compelling standalone YouTube app for iPhone customers, but the years went by and the client is still far from perfect. Its UI is intertwined with iOS (especially the status bar at the top), the minimize feature continues to be obnoxious lacking no close button for the current video, and navigating the service is a very frustrating experience.
The usual Google "perks"
The app does put YouTube in the palm of your hand, we’ll give it that. You’re pretty much forced to log in with your Google account to access all the features, but you can also browse without signing in. The search giant will nag you every step of the way to ultimately log in, which is what you’ll probably do eventually.
Browsing videos and you favorite channels is as intuitive as you are accustomed to the app. No newbie will know for sure how everything works until a few failed attempts are checked off the list.
Minimize function ruins it all
Probably the most annoying thing about YouTube is the constant need to minimize the current video in order to look for others. You can’t close the current video no matter what you do. You’re left with having to select a new one for watching, and when you want to go elsewhere, you have to minimize that one as well. Granted, it can be helpful if you want to leave it playing while you browse for other stuff. Logging in with your Google account comes with its perks.
So-and-so video quality
There’s a problem with the quality of the videos. It’s not always the right one by default (depending on your network settings and other preferences). The videos load half way and often stop, without continuing to buffer. And there’s no back button, which sometimes is a drag.
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0/5
Hits & Misses
hits
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misses
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Bottom Line
Design / UI5
Despite being designed for mobile use, YouTube lacks some of the desktop buttons that most of us are very accustomed to. Its UI conflicts with iOS (particularly visible in the Settings pane), and overall it just doesn’t seem to be made with the user in mind. Google doesn’t seem to care. |
Function6
Having to minimize the currently-watched video to go about your business is probably the biggest drag in YouTube. That, and having to constantly tweak video settings. Video playback not very smooth most of the time. |
Security7
Google nags you to log in with your account at every pace. Some of us really just want to watch video without having Google record our habits. |
Battery7
Draws a fair amount of power from the battery, but it’s nothing abnormal. |
Price8
There are no ad banners, but YouTube for iOS comes with the video ads we’ve all come to hate very dearly lately. We’re counting them in. |
Compatibility9
At least Google is thoughtful enough to let everyone in (of course, not without its eye on market-share). iOS 6 is the minimum requirement and all iDevices are natively supported. In fact, the iPad version is pretty decent. They should look at what they d |
Too bad we’re addicted to it
Specifications
- price:
- Free with ads
- current version:
- 10.09.11358
- reviewed version:
- 10.09.11358
- developer:
- Google Inc.
- category:
- VIDEO
- os version req.:
- 6.0
- age rating:
- 12+
- in-app purchases:
- No
- hits:
- 990