YouTube Experiments with Swipe-Up Gestures in Full-Length Videos

YouTube is testing a new swipe-up gesture for its full-length videos, inspired by the popular feature on TikTok. TikTok’s swipe-up navigation has become a widely adopted interaction method, allowing users to move seamlessly through short vertical videos. YouTube has already implemented this feature in YouTube Shorts, as have Instagram Reels. However, this gesture is now being tested for regular, full-length videos in YouTube’s main video player.

This experiment was spotted by tech enthusiasts on Twitter/X and reported by Android Authority. The new swipe-up gesture lets users switch to a different video while in fullscreen mode. Currently, the swipe-up action on YouTube exits fullscreen mode, so this change might impact how viewers navigate content. However, users can still swipe from the sides or use the top-left arrow button to exit fullscreen mode.

YouTube has yet to confirm if this feature will be rolled out widely. User feedback will likely influence the decision, as it could significantly change how users interact with long-form content on the platform.

Android 15 Introduces Wi-Fi Ranging for Enhanced Indoor Navigation

GPS navigation is highly effective outdoors but often fails indoors due to signal interference from walls and ceilings. To address this, Android 15 is introducing support for a new technology called Wi-Fi Ranging, part of the IEEE 802.11az standard. This advancement aims to provide highly accurate indoor positioning, even in complex environments like shopping malls or convention centers.

Evolution of Wi-Fi-Based Positioning

Previously, Wi-Fi-based location tracking relied on measuring signal strength (RSSI) from multiple Wi-Fi access points (APs). However, this method offered limited accuracy, usually within 10-15 meters. To improve this, the IEEE introduced the 802.11mc standard, known as Wi-Fi Round Trip Time (RTT), which uses Fine Timing Measurement (FTM). Wi-Fi RTT tracks the time taken for a signal to travel between a device and an access point, offering much better accuracy, usually within 1-2 meters.

Despite this improvement, Wi-Fi RTT was not widely adopted due to limited support from access points. However, Android added support for Wi-Fi RTT starting with Android 9 in 2018. Although the technology exists, its full potential is often unrealized due to the lack of compatible access points.

Advancements with Wi-Fi Ranging in Android 15

The 802.11az standard, or Wi-Fi Ranging, refines this technology further, offering sub-meter accuracy, down to about 0.4 meters. It achieves this by utilizing more bandwidth, including the 6GHz band, and is designed to support a larger number of devices with enhanced security features. Android 15 includes hardware abstraction layer (HAL) support for Wi-Fi Ranging, making it easier for device manufacturers to implement this feature. This means devices running Android 15 and equipped with compatible hardware will be able to use Wi-Fi Ranging if nearby access points support the 802.11az standard.

Use Cases and Benefits

Wi-Fi Ranging offers several advantages over other positioning technologies like Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth. It provides better coverage, works across multiple Wi-Fi generations, and scales well with many connected devices. Practical applications could include enhanced navigation in large indoor spaces, such as guiding users to specific products in a store or offering more accurate location-based services in smart homes.

Most current smartphones lack the hardware for Wi-Fi Ranging, but this is expected to change as manufacturers adopt newer Wi-Fi standards. Qualcomm’s FastConnect 7900 chip, for example, supports Wi-Fi Ranging, and future devices with this chip will be ready to use the technology. However, updates to existing Wi-Fi access points will be necessary for widespread adoption.

Google Expands Quick Share to Windows ARM Devices

Google has expanded its Quick Share feature to ARM-powered Windows devices, such as Snapdragon laptops. Quick Share allows Android users to quickly transfer files between devices, similar to Apple’s AirDrop. Previously, this feature was unavailable on ARM-based Windows systems, limiting its usability on devices like the Surface Laptop with Snapdragon processors.

Quick Share vs. Microsoft’s Phone Link

While Microsoft’s Phone Link service offers a similar experience with deep system integration, Google’s Quick Share provides more flexibility by supporting file transfers across multiple devices, including those not directly owned by the user. This makes it a handy tool for Android users who want a seamless file-sharing experience across different platforms.

Google’s recent update now makes Quick Share available on ARM-based Windows devices running Windows 11 and above. However, early tests indicate that the app is still facing some compatibility issues, as attempts to install it on ARM-powered laptops have resulted in errors. This suggests that a new update may soon be released to fix these installation problems, paving the way for broader adoption.

How to Use Quick Share on Windows

For users eager to try Quick Share, Google’s manual download is available on its website. To use the feature, ensure that both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on your Windows PC. Quick Share aims to simplify file transfers between Android and Windows devices, filling a gap left by traditional file-sharing methods and catering to the growing number of ARM-based Windows laptops in the market.

Conclusion

With YouTube experimenting with TikTok-like features, Android 15 improving indoor navigation with Wi-Fi Ranging, and Google enhancing file-sharing capabilities on ARM Windows devices, it’s clear that tech companies are continually innovating to enhance user experiences. These updates reflect a broader trend toward seamless, cross-platform functionality and improved accuracy in location-based services, making everyday interactions more intuitive and efficient for users