YouTube has long allowed its users to test new features and products before they go live to a wider audience. But in a recent change, YouTube\u2019s latest series of experiments are being limited to those who subscribe to the Premium tier of YouTube\u2019s service. Currently, paid subscribers are the only ones able to test several new product features, including one that allows iOS users to watch YouTube videos directly on the home screen.
\nThis is not the same thing as the Picture-in-Picture option that\u2019s become available to app developers with iOS 14, to be clear. Instead, YouTube says this feature allows users who are scrolling on their YouTube home page to watch videos with the sound on while they scroll through their feed.
\nTwo other experiments are related to search. One lets you filter topics you search for by additional languages, including Spanish, French or Portuguese. The other lets you use voice search to pull up videos when using the Chrome web browser.<\/p>\n
Image Credits: YouTube, screenshot via TechCrunch<\/p>\n
None of these tests will be very lengthy, however. Two of the three new experiments wrap up on October 20, 2020 for example. The other wraps on October 27. And they\u2019ve only been live for a few weeks.
\nIn years past, YouTube had allowed all users to try out new features in development from a dedicated site dubbed \u201cTestTube.\u201d In more recent years, however, it began to use the website YouTube.com\/new to direct interested users to upcoming features before they rolled out publicly. For example, when YouTube introduced its redesign in 2017, users could visit that same website to opt-in to the preview ahead of its launch.
\nNow, the site is being used to promote other limited-time tests.
\nYouTube says the option to test the features was highlighted to Premium subscribers a few weeks ago within the YouTube app. It\u2019s also the first time that YouTube has run an experimentation program tied to the Premium service, we\u2019re told.
\nThe company didn\u2019t make a formal public announcement, but the addition was just spotted by several blogs, including XDA Developers and Android Central, for example.
\nContrary to some reports, however, it does not appear that YouTube\u2019s intention is to close off all its experiments to anyone except its paid subscribers. The company\u2019s own help documentation, in fact, notes this limitation will only apply to \u201csome\u201d of its tests.\u00a0
\nYouTube also clarified to TechCrunch that the tests featured on the site represent only a \u201csmall minority\u201d of those being run across YouTube. And they are not at all inclusive of the broader set of product experiments the company runs, according to the company.<\/p>\n
YouTube Originals become ad-supported and free after September 24th<\/p>\n
In addition, non-Premium users can opt to sign up to be notified of additional opportunities to participate in other YouTube research studies, if they choose. This option appears at the bottom of the YouTube.com\/new page.\u00a0
\nYouTube says the goal with the new experiments is two-fold. It allows product teams to receive feedback on different features and it allows Premium subscribers to act as early testers, if they want to.
\nPremium users who choose to participate can opt into and out of the new features individually, but can only try one experiment at a time.
\nThis could serve to draw more YouTube users to the Premium subscription, as there\u2019s a certain amount of clout involved with being able to try out features and products ahead of the general public. Consider it another membership perk then \u2014 something extra on top of the baseline Premium tier features like ad-free videos, downloads, background play and more.
\nYouTube, which today sees more than 2 billion monthly users, said earlier this year it has converted at least 20 million users to a paid subscription service. (YouTube Premium \/ YouTube Music). As of Q3 2020, YouTube was the No. 3 largest app by consumer spend worldwide across iOS and Android, per App Annie data.<\/p>\n
YouTube Music and YouTube Premium come to India<\/p>\n
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