I'm callling BS (again).
The latest version Jasmine had to have background audio removed at the request of Google's minions:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jasmine-youtube-client/id554937050?mt=8
This isn't something Google can't figure out, this is something Google doesn't want iOS users to be able to do. Quit while you're behind and stop making up excuses for them.
Why is video buffering so slow? My Internet connection is more than capable. iPhone 5 by the way.
So it was intention for Chrome to not allow me to play music while not being in chrome?! That's uncool and makes me pretty disappointed in Google.
Here's why I like the YouTube app:
It allows you to watch a video and scroll through comments or suggested/related videos at the same time.
On all other apps and even the YouTube mobile site through Safari, you can't do this. I enjoy clicking on a video and while the video rolls, browse all the view comments and contribute my own. It's more engaging than watching a video, then stop video to go read comments, see a comment that says "this part was great" or "time stamp X:XX is really good!" and having to go reload the video to see it again.
No other app does this. That is what made, IMO, the original Apple YouTube app great. And now this Google YouTube app has retained this feature.
Much better than some "in the background playing" feature. To me, YT is about interataction, and this is a key feature.
For Chrome, it's not under Google's control. UIWebView is the one responsible for media playback in an iOS "browser", and so if UIWebView does not enable audio playback in the background, it just won't happen in 3rd party browsers.
Mobile Safari does not use UIWebView.
I can play audio in the background with iCab. So clearly it's not a limitation to UIWebView.
On a side note, I wish Apple would let us uninstall apps that they include but I have no interest in using, Newstand, for instance. You can't even move it to a folder and hide the thing.
Has anyone noticed that the ads that play before the video always run at the highest quality possible even on 3G? And if you are in 3G the video that follows gets the quality lowered.
But I mean it's been in beta for ages now, I think they should be speeding it up and pushing it as a finished, default player now, it would be great.
Maps.google.com doesn't work?
Nevermind. No HD/SD switching. No background audio. The usual Googleplex half-measures.
What's New in Version 23.0.1271.96
Allow sound to play when app is backgrounded
WTF, Google? Chrome for iOS gets background audio, but the YouTube app doesn't?
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chrome/id535886823
WTF, Google? Chrome for iOS gets background audio, but the YouTube app doesn't?
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chrome/id535886823
Jasmine app is the answer
Release Notes: Jasmine 1.0.3
------------------------
✤ The Bad:
These changes were requested by YouTube/Google Inc.
x Removed Automatic "Background Audio" playback. Native to iOS, this can still be invoked manually by double-tapping the home button, swiping right and hitting play
x Removed customisable skip/rewind controls
x Switched to YouTube compliant playback (adds 1-2 seconds to video load times and limits refinement around playlist auto-queueing)