YouTube Unrolls New Changes to Its User Interface

YouTube and its parent company Google have just announced several exciting new changes to their popular video-sharing site. These changes were implemented on January 26, 2012. They include visual updates and new features that will affect viewers and content creators alike.

These changes include updates to the:

• Browse Page
• Video Editor
• Video Manager

Changes for Users and Browsers

The browse page or default homepage where all users are directed has received several important updates. In addition to updating the front page to match the site’s new look and feel, the new browse page features content categories in the left-hand sidebar and video recommendations based on a user’s history in the right-hand sidebar. A comprehensive list of the most viewed videos and most popular videos of the day is prominently displayed in the central area of the updated browse page. Popular categories include people and blogs, comedy, pets and animals, and entertainment. These new features are designed to simplify the browsing process and match users with video content that interests them. In addition to sorting content by categories, users also have the option to play all videos from a selected channel.

YouTube’s Video Editor Gets a New Face and New Features

Image Source: TechBits

Since YouTube incorporated a video editor to the site in 2010, the brand has added a variety of user-friendly features. The latest series of updates includes several visual changes to streamline the page and match the site’s newly updated look. The YouTube video editor was also updated with several new features, including a storyboard timeline, a handy clip trimmer and a user-friendly playhead. These changes are designed to enhance the user experience and align the features with other audio and video editing programs, such as Apple’s iMovie video editing software.

Video Manager and User Upload Section Receives Improved Features

The latest series of YouTube updates is also affecting content creators, music publishers and users who upload videos to the site. Like other newly updated pages, the video manager and user upload area have received a new look to match the site’s updated aesthetic. In addition to visual changes, the video manager now has several new features and improved functionality. Following updates to the video manager that were implemented in December, YouTube collected user feedback and has decided to bring back popularity statistics. These statistics enable users to sort their videos by the number of likes and dislikes the content receives. Other new features in the video manager area include a search history tool and improved content management functions that allow users to view scheduled uploads and claimed videos with greater ease.

Image Source: SEOMoz

YouTube isn’t the only video sharing site to update its aesthetics and functionality. Earlier this week, Vimeo unveiled a host of new updates representing the biggest changes to the site’s aesthetics and codebase in the past five years. There is currently no information available on what changes YouTube users can expect in the future. However, YouTube remains focused on creating product updates and new features that enhance the user experience. The company is very good at listening to user-submitted feedback and implementing appropriate changes. Users have the option to try new features in the site’s TestTube area, which currently includes several exciting features that are great for visitors and content creators. Users are free to submit suggestions and improvements for these new features.

Harrison L., is an author for Bonsai Tree Gardener and has recently published a new post about the tools for bonsai and how you can take care of your own bonsai tree with the proper set of tools.

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