Online platforms have to continuously evolve, because that is the only way to compete and thrive.
Sometimes, there are possible overlooked things, or that some features should be tweaked to meet the trends or demands. In one way or another, changing is the only way to thrive in the unforgiving world of business and tech. And YouTube knows this extremely well.
This time, YouTube is introducing features that should ensure it always has the ability to control the flow of information, and in turn improve the experience.
In an update, the popular video-streaming giant said that users that have turned off watch history and have no significant prior watch history, shall see a different homepage.
The homepage in question only has the search bar and the left-hand guide menu.
This allows users to see a much cleaner homepage, allowing users to use search more easily, to easily browse subscribed channels and explore Topic tabs.
This change aims to make it easier for users to find the specific content they are searching for.
However, the homepage has no feed for recommended videos.
This is because YouTube said that those users will experience YouTube with much less personalization.
For users with a watch history turned off, the lack of tailored recommendations could be seen as positive or negative.
On the positive side, it may allow more focus on subscribed content. However, on the negative side, it removes the chance to discover new videos.
The change that was announced on a YouTube support page, explaining that video recommendations rely on watch history data to surface relevant content. With watch history off, or when users have no significant watch history, users will see a mostly blank homepage with just the search bar and side menu.
The thing is, the change does not seem to impact logged-out users without accounts and watch history.
Recommendations are still shown to them.
Just before, this Google introduced a new 1080p premium video option for YouTube streaming on desktops and laptops, offering higher quality and clarity at a higher bitrate.
The feature that is being rolled out to YouTube Premium users on TV-based streaming devices, adds another option to YouTube's dropdown resolution menu on the web.
This enhanced bitrate, which YouTube describes it as a "version of 1080p which provides more information per pixel that results in a higher quality viewing experience."
The feature was initially introduced to Premium users on iOS.
While YouTube does provide the option to upload videos in much higher resolution, the enhanced bitrate allows YouTube to transfer videos with better quality, but without having to deliver a higher resolution. In other words, YouTube Premium users are not required to stream a larger file to see a higher-quality video.
What's worth noting, the 1080p option can still pop up on non-Premium users. But clicking anyone clicking on it without a paid subscription will lead to a notice that they need to sign up for the upgraded quality.
Other moves the company made, include cracking down on advertising blockers, charging more for its Premium service.