Google

YouTube launches new features: Miniplayer, custom playback speed, sleep timer, and more

Published

7 months ago

October 15, 2024

YouTube has officially rolled out several new features that were recently in testing, improving the user experience on both Android and iOS devices. The updates include enhancements to the mini player, playback speed controls, playlist features, and more. Here’s a breakdown of the latest additions:

Redesigned Miniplayer for Mobile

The YouTube app now features a redesigned mini-player that resembles a picture-in-picture window. Previously, users saw a small bar above the bottom navigation with a cramped design. Now, the video floats above with a close button at the corner, while the controls for play/pause and 10-second rewind/forward sit just below. A key improvement is that users can now resize and move the miniplayer around the screen for a better viewing experience.

Sleep Timer for Better Control

YouTube has introduced a sleep timer for both free and Premium users. This feature can be accessed in the player’s settings menu, allowing users to set the video to stop playing after 10, 15, 20, 30, or 45 minutes, one hour, or at the end of the video. This update is especially useful for those who watch videos before sleeping, ensuring the app doesn’t run all night.

Fine-Tuned Playback Speed Controls

Another significant update is the new fine-tunable playback speed feature. On mobile, instead of selecting speeds from a rigid list (like 0.25x to 2x), users now have a slider for more precision. The speed can be adjusted in 0.05x increments, offering more flexibility. For quick adjustments, plus and minus buttons are also available, along with some preset speed options for convenience.

Playlist Enhancements

Several playlist features are also part of YouTube’s update. One of the most exciting changes is the ability to create custom thumbnails for playlists. Users can now upload their own images or use AI-generated ones to personalize their playlists. This feature is also coming to YouTube Music and will soon be available on the main site for web users.

Collaborative playlists are another upcoming addition, allowing users to create and share playlists with others using a link or QR code, which will be especially useful on smart TVs. Later this year, YouTube plans to let viewers vote on videos within these playlists, enabling better curation by ranking the most popular content.

YouTube Badges for Recognition

YouTube is rolling out special badges that celebrate user achievements. These badges will highlight unique milestones, such as being among the first paid subscribers to a creator’s channel or completing quizzes accurately. In YouTube Music, badges will recognize top listeners or those who have received hearts from creators on their comments. These new badges will appear in the “You” tab over the next few weeks, providing users with more recognition for their engagement.

Conclusion

These new updates from YouTube aim to improve the overall user experience with more customizable options, better controls, and enhanced playlist features. The ability to personalize thumbnails, collaborate on playlists, and earn badges adds a layer of interaction and recognition that makes the platform even more engaging. Whether you’re using YouTube to watch, listen, or curate content, these updates provide new ways to enhance your experience.

Android

Google’s May 2025 Android updates: better performance and messaging

Published

8 hours ago

May 8, 2025

Tom Carter

Google’s May 2025 Android updates bring exciting changes to improve how your phone works and how you message. These updates focus on making devices faster, safer, and more user-friendly.
One big change is to Android’s memory system. By increasing the memory page size from 4KB to 16KB on newer devices, apps can load quicker and use less power. This helps phones, especially those with modern chips, run smoothly and save battery life. Older devices will stick with the smaller page size to avoid issues.

The Google System Updates for May also add new features. Google Wallet now supports more card types and makes transit passes easier to use in apps like Google Maps. The Play Store now shows video previews of apps, helping you decide what to download. There are also fixes to improve battery life, storage, and network performance, making your phone more reliable.

For Google Messages, a new “delete for everyone” feature lets you remove sent messages from group chats within 15 minutes. This works for both RCS and SMS, so you can fix mistakes easily. Other messaging upgrades include better scam detection and the ability to send high-quality photos and videos. These updates show Google’s effort to make Android devices faster, more secure, and better for communication. Keep your phone updated to enjoy these improvements!

Google

Smart home and navigation upgrades for easier living

Published

8 hours ago

May 8, 2025

Tom Carter

Google Maps is making driving more fun with a new feature for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Now, you can pick different car icons to show your vehicle on the map. Choose from options like a sleek sedan, a rugged SUV, or a cool arrow.

This small change adds a personal touch to your navigation and is rolling out to all users soon. Meanwhile, Ecobee’s Smart Doorbell Camera is getting a big upgrade with Google Home support. You can now see who’s at your door right from the Google Home app, view live video, and even talk to visitors.

If you have a Nest Hub, the doorbell feed pops up automatically when someone rings. This feature, already available for Ecobee’s thermostat, makes your smart home setup smoother and is available now for all users. On the AI front, Google’s Gemini app is getting smarter with the Gemini 2.5 Pro preview.

This update improves coding skills, helping developers create better apps and websites. It also handles video and text tasks more effectively. The preview is out for everyone to try, with Google planning to share more at its I/O 2025 event. These updates from Google and Ecobee bring small but meaningful improvements, making your car rides, home security, and digital tasks easier and more enjoyable.

Google

Google updates Chrome, Search, and Play Store for better user experience

Published

17 hours ago

May 8, 2025

Tom Carter

Google is rolling out exciting updates to make browsing, searching, and downloading apps smoother and safer for Android users. These changes focus on improving Chrome’s security, redesigning the Google Search bar, and enhancing the Google Play Store’s download process.

Chrome’s Improved Security

Google Chrome now offers stronger protection with “Enhanced Safe Browsing” powered by Gemini Nano, an AI model that works directly on your device. This feature checks websites in real-time to spot phishing attempts and other online threats, keeping your data safe without relying on cloud servers. It’s a step up from the standard protection, giving users more peace of mind while browsing.

Redesigned Google Search Bar

The Google Search bar on Android is getting a fresh look. It’s now simpler and easier to use, with a modern design that fits better with your phone’s home screen. The updated widget lets you access Search, Lens, or voice commands quickly. The new layout is clean and user-friendly, making searches faster and more intuitive.

Better Play Store Downloads

The Google Play Store is improving how it shows app download progress. A new notification design displays a progress bar right in your notification panel, so you can track downloads without opening the app. This small but helpful change makes managing app installs more convenient.

These updates show Google’s focus on creating a safer, simpler, and more efficient experience for Android users. They’re rolling out gradually, so keep an eye out for them on your device!