Player for YouTube 1.3

There’s no shortage of YouTube clients in the App Store, and TapMedia has one on offer free of charge, with the option to make a small IAP and remove the ads. It used to be a great alternative solution to the built-in YouTube app in iOS, but not anymore.

After kicking out YouTube from the list of stock apps on iPhones and iPads, Apple agreed to accept Google’s third-party YouTube app on iTunes, allowing everyone to piece back together a familiar configuration. Sadly, the current official YouTube app leaves much to be desired.

But Player for YouTube is not an alternative

Sadly, TapMedia’s app is even worse. Its ancient design is no longer relevant in a sea of flat apps, and the functionality is just as crippled. Last updated in September 2013, Player for YouTube offers the same popular and trending videos as it did back then. Such as Charlie Bit My Finger.

Worse still, half of the videos you’ll see listed there don’t even work. While the search function does seem to be up to date, many of the videos don’t play.

A thick interface

Player for YouTube had an old design even back in 2013. It’s heavily inspired by the skeuomorphic iOS 4, iOS 5 and iOS 6, much like TapMedia’s other apps. This not only makes the UI feel like a solid, it’s also non-responsive because of the discrepancies between its code and iOS 7 and iOS 8.

Either needs an update or be put to sleep

As it stands, Player for YouTube is unusable. And this is the case with numerous titles in the App Store, which is really unfortunate. What’s the point of bragging to have the most apps if you also have a lot of junk?

TapMedia is a decent developer with a hefty portfolio of software offerings. We wish they’d live up to their name and just carry out some maintenance every once in a while. They clearly get the App Store model. Why not show the users some love as well?

Add to watchlist:

StreamingPlayer

• Wordeo 2.2
• YouTube 10.09.11358
• Viki 3.9.1
• MusicTube 4.0