New YouTube Logo: All the details on today’s YouTube redesign here

Google has launched a brand new look for YouTube, which introduces new features to the site and even includes a redesigned logo.

Video streaming platform YouTube has changed massively since it launched 12 years ago. Gone are the days when it supported just one video format (320 x 240); it’s now ranked by Alexa Internet as the second most popular site in the world, with one billion hours of content watch on the service every day.

To help with the ongoing modernisation, YouTube has introduced a new cleaner design and plans to launch a new swiping feature that lets you flick between videos – like Facebook’s in-app video player, but horizontally rather than vertically. The new changes are detailed in an extensive and comprehensive post on Google’s official blog.

“While the look may have changed, the mission hasn’t: we’re here to give people a voice and show them the world – no matter what device they use,” said a Google spokesperson, in a statement sent to Trusted Reviews.

Check out the launch video for the new look below:

Here’s what’s new:

New design: The header is now white to “let content take the lead”, according to Google. The navigation tabs have also moved to the bottom of the app, so that they’re closer to your thumbs. Oh, and there’s a new logo too – “a cleaned up version of the YouTube wordmark and icon, creating a more flexible design that works better across a variety of devices”, apparently.

Gesture controls: You can double tap on the left or right of a video to fast-forward or rewind. This was already available but soon, Google says you’ll also be able to swipe left and right between videos. Sort of like Tinder, but for cute kitten montages.

Video pacing: You can now speed up and slow down the playback of a video on mobile – a feature previously only available on desktop.

Adapt to videos: Soon, the YouTube player will “seamlessly change shape” to match the video format you’re watching – vertical, square or horizontal, for instance. This means you’ll no longer get black bars at the side of vertical videos.

Browser and discover while you watch: Google recently added the ability to let you view a row of suggested videos while watching in full screen. The area below the player will eventually been transformed so you can “browse videos in totally new ways”.

Check out this helpful animated gif that shows how YouTube has changed since 2005 (and then be thankful for modernised online user experiences):

“YouTube’s evolved…a lot. And we’re not even close to done,” says Neal Mohan, Chief Product Officer at YouTube. “Over the last few months we’ve started releasing updates and will continue to throughout the rest of the year.”

Mohan adds: “When all is said and done, we’ll bring a new level of functionality and a more consistent look across our desktop and mobile experiences.”

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