14 DAY TRIAL // Google has announced it is launching YouTube Red, a paid monthly subscription service that lets users watch YouTube videos without ads but also offers access to the company's Google Music service and the upcoming YouTube Music service.
YouTube Red will cost $9.99/month, but Apple users will have to pay $12.99 to cover the in-app purchase tax practiced by the company.
The service, which many users have requested for years, would first and foremost allow users to watch any video hosted on YouTube without seeing those pesky and annoying ads. This means regular YouTube videos and YouTube Gaming clips, regardless if viewed from desktop or from mobile devices.
Music lovers will have something to look forward to
While most users will pay for YouTube Red's no-ads features, music aficionados will also be interested in the service since the company has also announced a new YouTube Music app that would make it easier to discover new or old music in YouTube's huge library of music videos.
Additionally, any YouTube user that pays for Red will also get access to Google's Music service, also known as Google's iTunes clone. This goes the other way around too, with Google Play users getting access to YouTube Red. Regardless, music lovers will have something to look forward to when the service launches.
The biggest surprise is that YouTube, like Apple, managed to sign all major music labels to the deal, and there won't be any gaps in its song catalog.
Movies and TV shows are next
While this is all fine and dandy, consider this launch just a testing stage for YouTube's biggest move that the company is preparing for next year.
In its first phase, YouTube Red will be used to provide exclusive, member-only access to new, original shows and movies, from YouTube's creators.
As the service develops and music companies report on their earnings, expect movie and TV companies to flock to the service as well.
YouTube Red adds offline viewing and background play
Besides the aforementioned features, the YouTube Red service will also provide some cool new tools.
First and foremost, YouTube Red viewers will be able to save videos or entire playlists for offline view (& listening).
Additionally, the mobile app that will accompany YouTube Red will also allow for background play. This means that users can close the app interface but still be able to listen to the video's audio while using their mobile for other purposes.
YouTube Red is planned for launch on October 28, and will also be available for international users at a later, yet undisclosed date.
