June 14, 2007

YouTube Redesigns and Moves to Google Accounts

After updating their embeddable player, YouTube experiments with a new layout for the site. The new design places the search box in the center, moves the metadata below the video, makes it easier to rate the video and to find other related videos. There's also an option to embed a video using the old player.

To get the new interface, add &v3 at the end of a YouTube URL, like for this video.


YouTube also added to the homepage a list of videos that are being watched right now using active sharing, cleaned their search results and included a new option to view the results as thumnbnails.

But more importantly, you can now use your Google account to login to YouTube. You can link an existing YouTube account to a Google account or create a new one, but you'll still be able to use your YouTube credentials, so this is more like a temporary solution.


The login page proudly lists YouTube's features:
  • Upload, tag and share your videos worldwide
  • Browse millions of original videos uploaded by community members
  • Find, join and create video groups to connect with people with similar interests
  • Customize your experience with playlists and subscriptions
  • Integrate YouTube with your website using video embeds or APIs

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13 comments:

  1. UnknownJune 14, 2007 at 2:55 AM

    I prefer the existing layout. The new one just doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of YouTube.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Philipp LenssenJune 14, 2007 at 4:16 AM

    Lots of the videos being "watched right now" contain adult stuff...

    ReplyDelete
  3. James XuanJune 14, 2007 at 4:28 AM

    @ Philipp

    Yeah I got 5 porn vids in the first two transitions when I loaded. I never thought YouTube would be used as a smut-site

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJune 14, 2007 at 4:29 AM

    Hmm breaks my youtube download greasemonkey script, ah well some fun ahead fixing it when they roll out the new design :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. XsoftJune 14, 2007 at 4:46 AM

    Is there any way to link Google account with (old) YouTube account?

    EDIT: My bad. The way is: logout, click register with Google account and then on right side is Link accounts. Result: Your accounts have been linked.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Alex ChituJune 14, 2007 at 4:48 AM

    << Is there any way to link Google account with (old) YouTube account? >>

    Yes, in fact that's the only thing you are able to do. There are two possibilities:

    * you have a YouTube account and you can link it to a Google account, but you can use both logins

    * you don't have a YouTube account, so you have to create one and then link it to an existing Google account.

    So your Google login is more like a shortcut to a YouTube login than a replacement.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJune 14, 2007 at 6:17 AM

    Alex - do you think that Google will completely integrate the two IDs soon? I hate having multiple identity credentials. It interferes with my over-detailed brain disorders.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJune 14, 2007 at 11:56 AM

    does it support the video element in ff3/opera9.5 or at least put an oldschool embed tag in for those of us with flv capable media plugins?

    or am i going to have to update my greasemonkey script..

    ReplyDelete
  9. Alex ChituJune 14, 2007 at 12:02 PM

    There's no change regarding the player.

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownJune 14, 2007 at 12:47 PM

    Here's my thoughts on what Google's masterplan for video might be:

    I'm guessing Google Accounts will eventually replace the YouTube login system at which point all Google Video videos will be moved over to YouTube and GVideo will become simply a search engine.

    Sounds alright to me, as long as the YouTube player gets rid of the horible grey and replaces it with something smoother and lighter (maybe transparent over the video?)

    ReplyDelete
  11. James XuanJune 15, 2007 at 6:28 AM

    >does it support the video element in >ff3/opera9.5

    Opera 9.5?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Alex ChituJune 15, 2007 at 8:11 AM

    I think he talks about Opera's initiative to add a video tag that offers native playback. They released an experimental build, but this has nothing to do with Opera 9.5 (which wasn't released) or Firefox 3 (still in alpha).

    ReplyDelete
  13. UnknownOctober 24, 2007 at 3:10 AM

    I like the new interface except the "add video you are currently watching to group" seems to have disappeared. Any idea if this can still be done or not (and if so) how? If not, can I switch back to the old Youtube interface?

    ReplyDelete

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