Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
If the API is public -which it is- you can pull the content with whichever client you like to use. A bank account is not a public API. It's a private account. You need a login. The bank doesn't expose account information on a public API. Major difference.
Youtube agreements with the labels are irrelevant to the end user. If google needs to enforce usage of their app (e.g. to comply with labels requirements) they need to close the API and require logins. Simple as that...

The YouTube API isn't public, it's locked behind a developer key that the developer of ProTube got by signing an agreement specifically stating that he would not use it to develop the functionality that he has developed.
 
As much as this sucks, it sounds like he directly violated their ToS, so he has no argument against them.

Funny thing is Safari gave you some of those features for a while since it played YouTube in QuickTime instead of the actual YouTube player, so you could play in the background and not have ads, but somehow this no longer works. I guess Google also complained to Apple.
[doublepost=1504574552][/doublepost]
Next Google will drop all iOS Safari support and require all videos to be played through their app.
I'm glad I'm finding more and more good video content that can be streamed from other video providers with better content than google.
There are reasons to complain about YouTube, but I haven't seen any site that's better. They all have some sketchy proprietary player, just like YouTube's but worse, and sometimes Flash-based. And YouTube has everything.
[doublepost=1504574653][/doublepost]
it's disgusting that YouTube charges $12 a month for BACKGROUND playback. Just disgusting.
I'd say they have every right to if it weren't for the fact that most music on YouTube is illegal.
 
Last edited:
That’s fair. I’m probably just angry my favorite ad-free client is biting the dust after purchasing it.
[doublepost=1504548075][/doublepost]
I think this will be moot soon anyway. Soon, Google will arbitrarily change some small setting breaking the API & the app, methinks.
Haha, thanks for being honest. Most people aren't. It does suck. I'm still irritated that I can't have PIP yet can leave it open taking up the entire edge of my iPad display. I wonder if it has to do with advertiser engagement. I bet it definitely does with audio only as advertisers would be upset if their ads were only being listened to. If YT changed the model to allow audio ads the CPM is probably a lot lower.
 
  • Like
Reactions: willmtaylor
How is it evil? YouTube is Google's service. The developer was charging money to access a service he doesnt own or have any right to. It would be like your neighbor charging people to use the power from your house. He should be happy he gets to keep the money he already made.
But by this same logic, if a developer sold a web browser or a device that includes a web browser, Google could demand it be blocked. Should Apple have to remove Safari from devices because it can be used to access YouTube content?
 
  • Like
Reactions: humann
Mmmm... If you bought the app, shouldn't it still appear in iCloud for you to reinstall? It may not be on the AppStore anymore, but because we have iCloud, we should still be able to access the app; or get your money back!

I have iCloud but have never seen it store apps there except within iOS device backups that aren't accessible that I'm aware of except to restore a device completely through iTunes. I've already hunted here among my backups and the most recent iPhone apps backup folder I have is from 2015. Maybe you know more about accessing backups of purchased apps that have been removed from the App Store? That would be great if there's a trick, thanks.
 
When Google and Apple cooperate together, the duopoly is capable of great evil. :p

What a load of crap; Apple is supposed to just sit there and accept being sued? If you want to know the true villain it is Google - something that was quite clear when Google refused to provide a YouTube app for Windows 10 Mobile even though Microsoft offered to pay for the cost of porting and maintenance.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: NetMage
How is it evil? YouTube is Google's service. The developer was charging money to access a service he doesnt own or have any right to. It would be like your neighbor charging people to use the power from your house. He should be happy he gets to keep the money he already made.
That's not why. It's because Google's API comes with terms of service that the developer clearly violated. In other cases, you can charge for an app that uses some website's API.
[doublepost=1504597608][/doublepost]
Imagine if we could get everyone to delete their YouTube app for a week that would send a strong message to google to stop bullying other developers or content providers.
I never had the app anyway. I still don't get what the point of it is when I can just play in Safari. It used to even be counterproductive because it would prevent background playback, but now Safari doesn't do it either.
 
Disappointing as Google keeps, for what must be strategic reasons, crippling their own app by not having features like PiP.
Even the webplayer for YouTube in Safari is horrible and won’t allow proper full screen.
 
it's disgusting that YouTube charges $12 a month for BACKGROUND playback. Just disgusting.

Still trying to find the use case for background video playback. Hated it on Apple's Podcast app - it's a video podcast I want to SEE it not listen to it. And if you want that for music playback, Google Play Music is $10/mo and gives you background playback too. I get PiP - that makes sense but background playback is kind of a niche.
 
It is iOS, you don't get control.

You can ignore this ignorant poster's comment above.

If you have already purchased ProTube, it will remain on your device(s).

The app will no longer receive software updates however (unless it returns to the App Store in the future), which means that, at some point, it might be broken by an iOS update.

However, before that happens, it will likely be broken somehow by Google via a change to the Youtube services.
[doublepost=1504635956][/doublepost]
That's not why. It's because Google's API comes with terms of service that the developer clearly violated. In other cases, you can charge for an app that uses some website's API.
[doublepost=1504597608][/doublepost]

I never had the app anyway. I still don't get what the point of it is when I can just play in Safari. It used to even be counterproductive because it would prevent background playback, but now Safari doesn't do it either.

a) If it is a violation of Google's API, then apparently not all APIs include those terms. I don't see Twitter suing the developers of all those 3rd party Twitter apps on the App Store.

b) Playback in Safari is fine, if you don't care about background playback and PIP (picture in picture) features. But many, many users do care about those things.
 
  • Like
Reactions: willmtaylor
Whilst I agree with others that YouTube were within their rights to have the app removed, I also think that they should implement some of the features of that app in their own YouTube Red service so that people don't feel the need to go elsewhere, that and launch YouTube Red worldwide so that everyone is given the opportunity to pay for the features they don't have third party apps to give away for free or a one off cost.

If they aren't willing to give their paying customers features that third party apps are offering then their service isn't worth it. It's already way too overpriced compared to popular streaming sites like Netflix.

I'm not a fan of YouTube personally and I find it hypocritical they bully third party developers but don't impose strict controls on copyrighted films and music on their own site which is a major source of traffic. Just films alone there are probably thousands of copyrighted works available from various countries and genres with no way to flag them unless you yourself are the copyright holder. It's like a 'legal' hub of piracy.
 
Really? A paid app? Which one?

Likely. I'm sure that as we speak they're working hard on breaking compatibility.

But I still want to know what app he's talking about. Bought apps are bought afaik.

Didn't realise it was a paid app. Probably still be available for those that have already purchased.

No, they are not. And this is typically US behaviour. In Europe the app would have remained in store. Why? The App is property of the dev and doesn't violate any law. To access web content you may choose any browser you like. Including a browser that supports or incoporates ad blockers. This app is no different to browsers. It's not Apples duty to enforce ToS of any website (which are irrelevant to Apple). Taking opportunities from this dev like that is abuse of their market position and should be subject to a few million dollar fine + compensation to the dev.
tl;dr: Youtube needs to enforce a login if it wants users to buy their sh**y service/app. Guess why they don't do that...

It violates the developer agreement which is associated with the APis which the entire app is built around. There is nothing that the EU or anybody else can do about that.

But by this same logic, if a developer sold a web browser or a device that includes a web browser, Google could demand it be blocked. Should Apple have to remove Safari from devices because it can be used to access YouTube content?

Isn't analogous to web browsers. Most web browsers are free to install and aren't entirely built around APIs which prohibit the resale of the content they are calling.

To give a specific comparable scenario. Imagine I wrote an iOS app which invokes Musickit which allows access to the entire Apple Music library, added functionality that Apple doesn't provide and tried to sell it on the app store with a private subscription which undercut Apples pricing.

Would you think that was ok? Do you think Apple would allow that? Do you think all of the people in this thread who are outraged by google "bullying" developers would think it was ok for me do that? Of course they wouldn't, they would be cheering Apple on as the app got pulled from the App Store.

As for Google not wanting this competing with Youtube Red I'm not sure how that is any different that Apple banning the open source version of F.lux just before the introduced Night Shift.
 
Incredibly sad to see ProTube go. It was my favorite YouTube app and I recommended it heartily to everyone I met.

Unfortunately, it's only a matter of time until ProTube quits working even for people who were lucky enough to purchase it before it vanished. Google just needs to update their API (which they've done quite frequently) and the whole app will break forever. So it's only a matter of time until it's truly gone...

Therefore, I needed a replacement that does everything that I've been using the ProTube app for. So I've spent all day experimenting and creating a bunch of brand-new, never-before-seen techniques for the normal iOS Safari and YouTube.com that finally gives us Picture-in-Picture videos, background playback (via either PiP or audio-only), real fullscreen playback, 1080p, AirPlay, sleep timer, and so on! No special apps required!

And I am giving it all away for free (unless you feel like donating, in which case you're totally awesome):

https://stevejobzniak.github.io/ios_safari_youtube.html

Have fun, everyone! :)

roll.png
 
Last edited:
and where is my money now? I have paid the app for two weeks ago.

One of my favorite apps of all time.

I always wondered how it remained available for so long on the App Store.

Especially after Google's assault on plugins for the official Android app recently.

Now if YT's app didn't suck as much as it does I'd not be worried at all, but to think that eventually I won't be able to watch YT in PiP on iOS anymore is pretty stupid.

Background audio is for music subscribers I get it, so split it out and make the various other stuff I watch on YT available to be played in the background. Jesus Christ...

Glassed Silver:ios
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.