Google Wallet vs. Samsung Pay: Which tap-to-pay system is best?
Ad-blocking Users Are Now Seeing Black Ads On YouTube
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL;DR
YouTube has been cracking down on viewers blocking ads in the last couple of years, notably implementing a three-strikes policy for viewers with ad-blocking extensions. It looks like the company is pushing ahead with another way to halt ad-blocking add-ons.
Several Redditors with ad-blocking browser extensions have reported (h/t: Android Police) that they're now seeing black screens on YouTube for several seconds before their video plays. Users are reporting that these screens last for anywhere between six and ~20 seconds.
It's believed that these black screens are ads that have been blocked by web extensions. This makes sense in light of reports that YouTube was working on server-side ad injection technology, effectively embedding the ad in the video itself to make it harder for ad blockers to skip them. So these extensions are presumably able to block the ad's content but are unable to skip ahead to the relevant content.
YouTube hasn't commented on this ad injection technology, but it did publish a post yesterday to claim that it was upgrading its "safety standards for browser extensions on YouTube." The company added that these changes were made to "safeguard viewers and creators from cyber attacks such as hijacking or data theft."
Some Redditors don't seem too fussed about looking at a black screen for a few seconds. But between this latest event, killing YouTube Vanced, and its existing three-strikes policy, YouTube really wants you to buy YouTube Premium.
Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at news@androidauthority.Com. You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.You might like
CommentsYouTube Quietly Rolls Out New Picture-in-picture Mode But Only On Android
Google is testing a redesign of the mini player that serves as an in-app picture-in-picture (PiP) on YouTube for Android.
YouTube is rolling out a significant update to its Android app to introduce a true picture-in-picture (PiP) mode within the application itself.
This feature, spotted by Android Police on a Galaxy S24 Ultra running YouTube version 19.29.37, allows users to minimize videos into a resizable, movable player while browsing the app.
Right now, YouTube only offers PiP functionality when users exit the app, a feature that debuted in the US in 2022, and later went global. However, within the app, videos have been stuck in a fixed minibar at the bottom of the screen since its introduction. This new update aims to let you move it around and resize it, offering a more flexible viewing experience.
Article continues after ad
Google Google has confirmed this change to AndroidPolice and said: "We're currently testing an update that lets viewers move and resize the miniplayer while watching a video. This is available to a small group of users across mobile, tablet and web at this time."
Article continues after ad
This means the rollout is happening in a phased manner and is only available to a select group of users. So, you might not see it even after updating your app to the latest version.
Article continues after ad
If widely adopted, this update would mark the most significant change to YouTube's mobile video playback since the minibar's debut in 2018.
It's important to note that this feature isn't part of YouTube Premium's offerings or experimental features. While we don't know when a wider rollout will happen, this change could greatly improve the user experience, making it easier to navigate your YouTube feed while keeping a video in view.
Article continues after ad
Google Tests Picture-in-picture Mode For Android Users Watching Videos In The YouTube App
Here's the thing. Ironically, whether you're a YouTube Premium subscriber or not, you cannot minimize a video in the YouTube app and be able to watch it in PiP mode. Instead, minimizing a video by pressing the small down arrow in the upper left corner while in portrait will create the minibar on the bottom of the screen. This is surely not the minibar you were hoping for (like the one in that hotel room you were in a few months ago). This minibar is at the bottom of the screen and shows a small thumbnail of the video running on the left side of the bar with the title of the video next and the video controls (play, stop, pause) on the right.
Red box shows you the minibar that is being replaced with PiP videos with the latest YouTube for Android update.Image credit-PhoneArena
In the U.S., Google is currently running a server-side upgrade rolling out now to some users with version 19.29.37 of the YouTube for Android app. Even if you are running this build on YouTube, you still have to hope that you are one of the lucky ones receiving the update. That's because it isn't isn't clear whether we should expect all Android users to get this update for the Android YouTube app or if this is a typical Google A/B test.
"We're currently testing an update that lets viewers move and resize the miniplayer while watching a video. This is available to a small group of users across mobile, tablet and web at this time."-Google
For example, even though my Pixel 6 Pro, with Android 15 beta 4 installed, is running version 19.29.37 of the YouTube app, I am still getting the minibar when I minimize a video on YouTube. Once you get the update, minimizing a YouTube video while on the YouTube app will put that video into PiP mode instead of creating a minibar. Google did say in a statement that only a small number of mobile, tablet, and web users have this update right now.
Comments
Post a Comment