14 DAY TRIAL // A few days ago, we told you that YouTube’s Android app was finally allowing users to full screen vertical videos properly, a feature that has been long awaited.
But more nifty changes are coming to YouTube’s mobile platform soon. As a report coming out of CNET reveals, Google is in the process of re-designing its video streaming website, and in the near future, it might add the option to support three-dimensional, 360-degree video, thus opening the gates to virtual reality.
The feature might be incorporated into the app by the end of the year. YouTube’s CEO Susan Wojcicki discussed the upcoming implementations in a speech she gave at VidCon, a conference attended by key players in the online video industry.
The company is also expected to add Jump cameras, which are specialized rig equipment to capture footage needed to create virtual reality content.
YouTube wants to sediment its top position with new options
Furthermore, we’re also told YouTube is bound to add more tools to help users uploading video to the site create a complete product. This means the app will offer options such as the capability of trimming a video and the possibility of adding background music and filters.
Since phablets have been rising in popularity in recent times, mobile YouTube viewership doubled as of the second quarter on a year-over-year basis.
Wojcicki has revealed that YouTube beats every cable network in the US at reaching the 18-to-49 years old category of demographic.
By the way, YouTube recently rolled out 360-degree clips like Bjork’s latest Stonemilker video. It also debuted a few 360-degree advertisements for both Chrome and its mobile Android and iOS app. They work exactly as with existing 360-degree videos - users just need to scroll the mouse up, down, left or right to adjust the view. The new ad format is compatible with Google’s cardboard VR headset.
As you can see, YouTube is slowly moving towards Virtual Reality, aiming to offer an immersive user experience.
The video streaming service hopes to be offering the 3D feature before VR headsets hit the mass market towards the end of the year. We’re looking at pretty exciting developments in the next few months.
