YouTube on TVs Now Supports iPhone Syncing for Easier Access to Commenting, Liking and More

[MacRumors]

YouTube today announced the launch of a new syncing feature that allows an iOS or Android device to connect to a TV that has the YouTube app, allowing the connected device to be used for commenting, liking videos, and more.

According to YouTube, people were already using the mobile app to engage with YouTube videos watched on TV sets, and the company decided to take advantage of that to improve the YouTube experience on the TV.

When watching YouTube on TV, users can open up the mobile YouTube app and then tap on "Connect" to sync the device to the TV. Using the feature requires being logged in to the same YouTube account on both the TV and the device that it is connecting to.

After connecting, the YouTube video being watched on the TV can be interacted with on the device, offering access to comments, likes, video descriptions, sharing tools, and channel membership options like donations. This adds to already available functionality that previously let the mobile YouTube app be used for playing, pausing, rewinding, and fast forwarding on the TV.

Brynn Evans, YouTube on TV head of design, told The Verge that remotes offer a poor experience for interaction with content on the TV. "The remote's clunky, every remote's different, there's a million different buttons. They're all bad," she said.

The feature is rolling out starting today, and TVs or set-top boxes must be updated to the latest version of the YouTube app.

Article Link: YouTube on TVs Now Supports iPhone Syncing for Easier Access to Commenting, Liking and More

 

[Macative]

I see absolutely no chance of this working consistently across platforms.

 

[nsayer]

The YouTube apps are a workaround for ad blocking browser plug-ins. Avoid them.

 

[aforty]

I only use browsers where I can block the ridiculous amount of ads.

 

[JaylenFast]

I feel like I've had this for awhile. But improvement is always welcomed.

If you use YouTube frequently, I can't recommend Youtube Premium enough. I haven't watched ads in years, on any device.

 

[macsplusmacs]

yah, rather than whine about ads... I paid for the membership and it's worth every penny to me.

I watch almost as much youtube as other streams. money well spent.

This addition will be great to like and get the description notes from the current video. going to update ASAP.

 

[antricparticle]

YouTube Premium seems silly in concept, but game-changing in execution.

 

[tothemoonsands]

Honestly, out of ALL my subscriptions (Netflix, Hulu, HBOMax, Amazon Prime, Youtube TV, etc etc), the last one to go would be Youtube Premium. I get the MOST value out of it, by far.

 

[T Coma]

After connecting, the YouTube video being watched on the TV can be interacted with on the device, offering access to comments, likes, video descriptions, sharing tools, and channel membership options like donations. This adds to already available functionality that previously let the mobile YouTube app be used for playing, pausing, rewinding, and fast forwarding on the TV.

Brynn Evans, YouTube on TV head of design, told The Verge that remotes offer a poor experience for interaction with content on the TV. "The remote's clunky, every remote's different, there's a million different buttons. They're all bad," she said.

TIL something.

Very true that the TV remote is not a good input device for youtube. I have multiple FireTVs in our home tavern mainly for a sports/dive bar ambiance, playing almost only live or classic sports and/or music video compilations in the background. Often we'll want to search something up to play for guests and the TV remote is always a challenge, especially considering how long the user has been, ahem, enjoying the rest of the ambiance. Fringe case, perhaps, but being able to control the TVs easily from the app is a plus in most situations vs. a TV remote. As long as the app will work for searching, this will be a boon to the bar.

 

[tkaravou]

yah, rather than whine about ads... I paid for the membership and it's worth every penny to me.

I watch almost as much youtube as other streams. money well spent.

This addition will be great to like and get the description notes from the current video. going to update ASAP.

It wouldn't be so bad if they didn't force YouTube Music on you. Remove the $10 for YT Music and I'm in

 

[macsplusmacs]

It wouldn't be so bad if they didn't force YouTube Music on you. Remove the $10 for YT Music and I'm in

I think i am a family plan. around $16?

But yes. i do not use the music at all.

The family plan is great since I have 4 other relatives using youtube ad - free now AND THE LOVE ME EVEN MORE!

 

[kiensoy]

yah, rather than whine about ads... I paid for the membership and it's worth every penny to me.

I watch almost as much youtube as other streams. money well spent.

This addition will be great to like and get the description notes from the current video. going to update ASAP.

I also have premium and I agree it’s worth it. I cannot see myself going back to watching ads. The included YouTube Music is pretty good too. They even have a nice Apple Watch app. I might even cancel Spotify.

 

[MrRom92]

I genuinely don’t understand how this differs from how the YouTube apps for TV and iOS have already functioned together, for several years by this point. What am I missing here?

 

[v0lume4]

I feel like I've had this for awhile. But improvement is always welcomed.

If you use YouTube frequently, I can't recommend Youtube Premium enough. I haven't watched ads in years, on any device.

yah, rather than whine about ads... I paid for the membership and it's worth every penny to me.

I watch almost as much youtube as other streams. money well spent.

This addition will be great to like and get the description notes from the current video. going to update ASAP.

Honestly, out of ALL my subscriptions (Netflix, Hulu, HBOMax, Amazon Prime, Youtube TV, etc etc), the last one to go would be Youtube Premium. I get the MOST value out of it, by far.

Same here. I absolutely loathe the fact that I have to pay to remove ads on a platform that used to have none, but I have to admit, “they got me.” And it’s by far the most value I’ve gotten from a streaming service yet. Jumping from video to video without a single ad is a game changer. I watch more YouTube than any other service by a mile.

(Obligatory disclaimer: Yes, I know ad blockers on the computer bypass the ads, but I primarily watch on TV through the official app and that option isn’t available)

 

[v0lume4]

This is a welcome change because I find myself opening up the app on my phone to read comments or comment on a video I’m watching on my TV. I’d imagine this will require a couple of less taps than the current way of viewing comments, which requires: opening up the app, going to my history, tapping the video that I’m watching, and then tapping the pause button my phone.

 

[macsplusmacs]

I just tried it.

Did a like on the video I was watching, and then wanted to see the links associated with what the guy was talking about. Saw it right there on my phone.

A very nice addition indeed. two thumbs up!

 

[rgeneral]

Never use the app. You get everything with the browser and vinegar.

 

[bn-7bc]

The YouTube apps are a workaround for ad blocking browser plug-ins. Avoid them.

Or just decide that you really really l hate adds and soend the miney fire yotube oremium and avoid them wile still sending a bit of revenue ti the creators

 

[CarlJ]

yah, rather than whine about ads... I paid for the membership and it's worth every penny to me.

I watch almost as much youtube as other streams. money well spent.

This addition will be great to like and get the description notes from the current video. going to update ASAP.

The main downside would seem to be that this gives them even more reason not to improve the Apple TV version of the YouTube app. Baby steps.

 

[segundo]

TIL something.

Very true that the TV remote is not a good input device for youtube. I have multiple FireTVs in our home tavern mainly for a sports/dive bar ambiance, playing almost only live or classic sports and/or music video compilations in the background. Often we'll want to search something up to play for guests and the TV remote is always a challenge, especially considering how long the user has been, ahem, enjoying the rest of the ambiance. Fringe case, perhaps, but being able to control the TVs easily from the app is a plus in most situations vs. a TV remote. As long as the app will work for searching, this will be a boon to the bar.

You learned something? I feel like I just learned something. A "home tavern" as you described it sounds brilliant.

Please tell me more!

Is this like a basement you've mounted TVs in with their associated FireTV sticks? Have something set up for music too? Do you watch sports there? Have a beer or wine fridge? Have friends over a decent amount?

 

[x7wolverines7x]

YouTube today announced the launch of a new syncing feature that allows an iOS or Android device to connect to a TV that has the YouTube app, allowing the connected device to be used for commenting, liking videos, and more.

According to YouTube, people were already using the mobile app to engage with YouTube videos watched on TV sets, and the company decided to take advantage of that to improve the YouTube experience on the TV.

When watching YouTube on TV, users can open up the mobile YouTube app and then tap on "Connect" to sync the device to the TV. Using the feature requires being logged in to the same YouTube account on both the TV and the device that it is connecting to.

After connecting, the YouTube video being watched on the TV can be interacted with on the device, offering access to comments, likes, video descriptions, sharing tools, and channel membership options like donations. This adds to already available functionality that previously let the mobile YouTube app be used for playing, pausing, rewinding, and fast forwarding on the TV.

Brynn Evans, YouTube on TV head of design, told The Verge that remotes offer a poor experience for interaction with content on the TV. "The remote's clunky, every remote's different, there's a million different buttons. They're all bad," she said.

The feature is rolling out starting today, and TVs or set-top boxes must be updated to the latest version of the YouTube app.

Article Link: YouTube on TVs Now Supports iPhone Syncing for Easier Access to Commenting, Liking and More

Picture and picture is now gone for iOS YouTube and YouTube tv.

 

[macsplusmacs]

You sure? Still working on mine. Latest version. Of everything. But I am on the paid version.

 

[macsplusmacs]

It was also something one had to turn on as an experimental feature a while back. Which I did.

 

[x7wolverines7x]

Yeah, since I did the updates today it stopped working. The option no longer shows up in youtube or youtube tv settings. I have youtube premium as well.

 

[T Coma]

You learned something? I feel like I just learned something. A "home tavern" as you described it sounds brilliant.

Please tell me more!

Is this like a basement you've mounted TVs in with their associated FireTV sticks? Have something set up for music too? Do you watch sports there? Have a beer or wine fridge? Have friends over a decent amount?

yes, all of the above