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YouTube is getting several new features, along with design updates, in the coming weeks. The video-sharing platform announced the "small makeover" coming to web and mobile, as it celebrates its 17th anniversary this year.
One of the updates that will give YouTube its new look is called Ambient Mode. The company says it uses dynamic color sampling to deliver a "subtle effect" that lets the app background match the color scheme of the video playing.
YouTube adds, in a blog post earlier this week, that the Ambient Mode was inspired by the light effect that a TV produces when playing a video in a dark room. That also means users will be able to see Ambient Mode's effect when using YouTube web and mobile in dark mode. To complement the Ambient Mode, YouTube announced it has also updated the platform's dark mode to make the UI appear darker. This update is expected to make the Ambient Mode's effect more visible.
YouTube Premium subscribers have access to the YouTube Labs, where the platform tests some features in development. Most recently, the company let subscribers in several regions test the pinch-to-zoom functionality. Now, YouTube is releasing this feature that allows viewers to zoom in on a video while it is playing without having to tap extra buttons.
The Precise Seeking feature has also exited the testing phase and it is now rolling out to YouTube users on mobile and desktop. Users can drag the progress bar or swipe up so that frame-by-frame thumbnails will be displayed. As the feature's name suggests, this should make it easier for viewers to find parts of the video they want to repeat, especially when they are watching tutorials and cooking videos.
Precise Seeking joins other YouTube features that made it easier for viewers to easily find certain parts of a video that they want to rewatch. Earlier this year, the company released a functionality that helps viewers find a video's most repeated segment.
The good news is YouTube users do not need a Premium subscription to access these new features and updates. "Over the next few weeks, these changes will gradually roll out to all users," YouTube UX director Nate Koechley wrote.
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