New-look participant guarantees smoother navigation on huge screens; viewers complain of glitches
YouTube app. Picture: YouTube/BigBuddeTV
YouTube has begun rolling out a redesigned video participant for its TV apps, including new playback controls and interface tweaks that promise simpler navigation on giant screens however have instantly divided opinion amongst viewers already used to the outdated format.
The replace, previewed throughout YouTube’s twentieth anniversary earlier this 12 months, introduces on-screen play, pause and skip buttons, a completely seen Subscribe choice, and additional viewing instruments together with multiview for dwell sports activities and show controls for Premium customers.
YouTube says the redesign is supposed to streamline the expertise and cut back the variety of menus customers should click on by way of. Early suggestions, nonetheless, suggests the adjustments are proving removed from seamless for some households and gadgets.
A number of customers have reported technical issues following the replace. Steve Kaufman posted that “YouTube on Samsung Sensible TV is simply taking part in gray,” saying he had already tried unplugging the set and reinstalling the app, whereas confirming that rival platforms have been nonetheless working usually.
One other consumer, Signius, voiced related frustration, writing: “Not impressed with the newest replace to the YouTube app on my Samsung TV a great deal of movies glitching that by no means did earlier than,” including that the software program now repeatedly demanded reconnection.
Past reliability issues, some viewers merely dislike the brand new look. LaxerFL complained: “I HATE the brand new UI format. Please permit me to make use of the unique, completely tremendous for years UI! I’ve it memorised!” reflecting a broader resistance to visible change.
Others have referred to as for stronger content material controls reasonably than beauty updates. Ashish Nimrot urged YouTube so as to add a everlasting “Disable Shorts” choice on TV apps, arguing that the short-form feed encourages compulsive scrolling and is unsuitable for shared household screens.
Regardless of the backlash, the up to date participant is being rolled out throughout gadgets together with Google TV Streamer and Apple TV, with YouTube anticipated to observe suggestions and quietly refine any tough edges because the deployment widens.
Because the redesign reaches extra viewers, it underlines the tightrope dealing with tech platforms that rely upon familiarity but frequently reshape interfaces, typically pushing loyal customers to relearn habits that after felt easy on their living-room screens.

