YouTube took to their blog today to announce a subscription-based model of monetization on some of their biggest channels. Everyone take a deep breath, the world is not ending. Now that we have all calmed down, let’s look at this rationally. YouTube’s post mentions that they were approached by many of their already money-making partners and asked for different ways to monetize and distribute content. Starting today with a select few channels, paid monthly subscriptions have come to YouTube.

Each channel comes with a two week free trial of the channel so you can decide if you want to lay down real money for the content. Prices range from $0.99 per month up to $5.99 per month. These channels will obviously be pushing quality content fairly often. For example, the Sesame Street channel will start posting full episodes to their collection and the UFC channel will host classic fights along with their newer ones.

Once you pay for a channel, it is linked to your Google account so you can watch it from your computer, TV, tablet or phone. YouTube says they will be rolling out more paid channels over the next few weeks so this is just the beginning from what it looks like.

Thoughts?

Via: YouTube

YouTube Unveils Paid Channel Subscription Service is a post from: Droid Life

Click here to view the embedded video.

I introduced Tim and Kellen to the Harlem Shake yesterday, which then led to us all scouring YouTube to find the dozens of lunatics taking part in the latest internet craze. It seems people in the Google office couldn’t resist getting in on the viral video movement as well. No one here may actually be doing the actual Harlem Shake dance move, but if you want to see some of the Google team going nuts infront of their iconic Android statues, you can’t pass up this video.

Google Office Does the Harlem Shake on the Android Lawn is a post from: Droid Life

Not Android related, but it’s worth mentioning that Gangnam Style is the first video in history to hit 1 billion views on YouTube. Not 1 million or 500 million – 1 billion. The previous record holder was Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” which as you can see from the chart above, can’t even compare to what Tim’s boy PSY was able to accomplish. In 5 months, this video hit 1 billion, while it took Bieber over two years to crack the 750 million mark. That’s nuts.

I don’t know if we should be ashamed as a society or pat ourselves on the back. Either way, here is the video one more time. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

Via:  YouTube Blog

Gangnam Style is First Video in History to Hit 1 Billion Views is a post from: Droid Life

This morning, an update to the official YouTube for Android application was released, bringing a brand new UI for 10″ tablets. If you open up YouTube every once in a while, then you will see that this is the same UI that has been pushed to phones and 7″ devices for the past month or so. Instead of having that revolving wheel type of layout, you now have a more “organized” view of your subscriptions and the content they publish. 

New | Old

We have been looking at that old UI ever since I can remember using YouTube for Android, so it will be sort of nice to look at something new for a while. Although, I use the YouTube app like crazy and if I find something I can’t stand, rest assured I will voice my opinion on it. For example, YT’s recommendations showing up in my sub-box? Not cool.

Play Link

Cheers Adam!

YouTube For Android Updated, UI Revamp For 10″ Tablets Has Finally Come is a post from: Droid Life

If you were as disappointed as I was to learn that the multi-window feature on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 from Verizon was limited to only a handful of select apps, then maybe this news will cheer you up. One of our readers hit up Samsung’s official support account on Twitter, asking why YouTube and Gmail were not yet available while using multi-window. Samsung Support’s answer – “That feature will be available soon.”

It’s tough to tell if this was simply a quick response to the “When is multi-window coming to my device?” question that we are sure they get asked numerous times throughout the day or if they actually are going to bring in additional app support down the road. It would make sense for them to fully open it up to app developers. How much better would it be if you could use Chrome, YouTube, Gmail, and a favorite Twitter app at the same time? 

On a related note (pictured below), Total Commander works flawlessly with multi-window. Once downloaded from the Play store, it automatically appears in the list of apps for use with multi-window. Does this mean that app developers can build in support without approval from Samsung? I’ll have to let developers answer that question.

In the mean time, feel free to share any other apps that you find to work with multi-window.

Via:  @SamsungSupport

Cheers Jess and Trey!

Samsung: Gmail and YouTube Headed to Verizon Note 2 Multi-window Feature Soon is a post from: Droid Life

Google has been trying to figure out how to invade your living room and big-screen TV for a while now, something they have proven by not letting Google TV die. The latest update to YouTube is aimed at making your switching between mobile and big-screen a little easier.

Mobile has been able to sync videos to Google TV for a while, but now as long as the two devices are on the same WiFi network, it will do it automatically. All you have to do is press the little TV symbol on the YouTube app and you can watch it in high definition. Your phone then becomes your remote and allows you to switch videos and play/pause while you watch. The update doesn’t seem to be live just yet but Google promises we will be seeing “this feature coming to more devices and screens in the future.”

Will any of you fire up your Google TVs to use this new feature when it does go live?

Via: YouTube

Google Looking to Sync Your Phone and TV With New YouTube Update is a post from: Droid Life

YouTube lovers, Google pushed out an update today that brings some little things to the already awesome application for Android. For Froyo (who’s still on Froyo?) and Gingerbread users, you can now experience the new UI which ICS and Jelly Bean users have been digging for a bit now. On top of that, you can also add videos to your YouTube TV queue and there are more channels to pick from in the Channel Store. 

Also, I have noticed there is a new “Recommended by YouTube” video at the top of my subscription list on the homepage. I do not care for this, but whatever. I’m guessing it’s YouTube’s way of trying to push their partners.

What’s in this version:

* New UI and Preloading now available on Froyo and Gingerbread devices
* New Watch experience
* Add videos to your YouTube TV queue
* More channels to pick from on the Channel Store

Play Link

Cheers Elwin!

YouTube for Android Updated, New UI Arrives for Froyo and Gingerbread Users is a post from: Droid Life

Today, Google pushed out updated versions of the Nexus Q, YouTube, and Play Movies & TV applications. For the Q app, it now supports Android devices running 2.3.3+ which should make Gingerbread owners a bit happier once they receive their Nexus Q in the mail. As for the YouTube app, it has now spread Nexus Q support for Android 4.0 devices and earlier, as well as as allowing earlier versions of Android to use the app as a remote to play videos on other devices. Lastly, the Play Movies & TV app has been beefed up with faster downloads and a playback fix which plagued a few LG devices.

Go grab the updates in Google Play and enjoy your content to the fullest extent.

Nexus Q | YouTube | Movies & TV

Cheers Bob!

Google Pushes Out Updates for Nexus Q, YouTube, and Play Movies & TV App is a post from: Droid Life

Many of Google’s applications are receiving major updates starting today. Maps now has the ability to store offline data, which means no more worrying about having to rely on a steady data connection to have in-depth and highly detailed maps wherever you are. Chrome, as we suspected earlier last week, has officially dropped its Beta tag. Google+ was a main point in their I/O presentation, with its new “Party Mode” and the ability to view feeds all from your notification bar in Jelly Bean. They also released the special tablet UI.

YouTube has received a complete UI overhaul, with navigation now happening on the left side of the screen and the ability to download videos over WiFi in the background for smooth playback while you’re on the go. Google’s Books app has received a few new features and you can now tap the top corner of a page to set a bookmark, along with video and audio playback when they’re embedded in the books.

Maps | Books | YouTube | Movies | Chrome | Google+

Google Releases Updates to Movies, Books, Chrome, Google+, YouTube and Maps is a post from: Droid Life

The switch from the Android Market to Google Play was received with mixed reviews, but the one thing it did do, is give Google a place to sell multimedia under one unified brand. While “Google Play” still feels a little bit awkward to say out loud, Google is sticking to it and these new videos on YouTube show how Google plans to market their one-stop-shop for everything down the road.

True to Google fashion, they do their videos a little bit…different. It’s funny and catchy however, and even more important, it’s a good demo of what Play does. Their webstore for movies, music, apps and now devices is really key to Google’s plans moving forward.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Via: Phandroid

Google Begins Video Campaign for Google Play, Powered by Bananas and Mirrors is a post from: Droid Life

Over the weekend, the Google TV team mentioned via Facebook (of all places) that there were “big” announcements coming today. And then last night, they posted to their blog that a decent-sized Youtube update was in the works, which we are all assuming is the “big” announcement. And not that we are disappointed by this because the screenshots of it look fantastic, but “big” just seemed like it would be more. Anyways, jump past the break to see what you will soon enjoy. 

What do you get with the new YouTube?

• Overall, works faster with smoother navigation
• New feature called “Discover” was added. Allows you to browse by categories.
• New channel pages
• See related videos in channels and more videos by the same user

Via:  Google TV Blog

Google TV’s Big Announcement is Another Youtube Overhaul? is a post from: Droid Life

Since Google TV was updated to Honeycomb a couple of weeks back, their team promised to continue to produce updates that would enhance the experience. They appear to be living up to that promise as an update popped onto my Sony GTV box last night, bringing with it new YouTube and Photos apps. If the GTV team can produce new and useful features like this on a monthly basis, they’ll have at least one happy customer.  

YouTube App

Seems a little odd that the YouTube app would receive a complete makeover in such a short time, but we’ll take it. In this new version, you get playlists from your couch, subscription management, and the ability to add movies to your own channel.

New Photos App

I’ll admit that I had yet to play with the photo app before this update, so it’s tough to tell if the UI has changed or not. Google is telling us that they added a featured called “Discover” that pulls from your synced photo albums on Picasa and Flickr to create an animated and constantly changing collage. I’ve captured a collage in the making in the photo directly above.

Sorry Logitech Revue owners, still no word on when you will see any of these updates.

Via:  Google TV Blog

Quick Look at the New Youtube and Photos Apps for Google TV, Update Pushed Last Night is a post from: Droid Life

A new version for the YouTube app has just been released, bringing Google’s “+1″ button to videos.  Editing video information while uploading is also going to save you some time if you are constantly uploading videos of your precious kitty.  Don’t forget to subscribe to the Droid Life channel while you are there.

What’s in this version:

1. +1 button and annotations
2. ‘Watch later’ queue
3. Uploading while editing video info

Market Link

YouTube App Updated, Brings +1 Button And Video Info Editing While Uploading is a post from: Droid Life

You may have already noticed, but updates for both Flash 10.3 and Youtube went live over the last 24 hours.  Neither include anything major and are instead just meant to fix bugs and security issues.  There is a chance that the last Youtube update caused some problems with many of you; this new update should make your tummy feel much better.  Flash on the other hand is a typical “security” thing, meaning you won’t notice it at all.

Market Links:  Flash | Youtube

Cheers to everyone who sent these in!

Youtube and Flash Both Receive Minor Updates on Android is a post from: Droid Life

Youtubers, get over to the Android Market and update your favorite app.  If you wanted more control of your previously uploaded videos, you will be pleased to know that you can now edit titles, descriptions and privacy of them.  You can also create and edit playlists as well as enjoy a new UI for recently recorded videos that need publishing.  Seems like fairly minor stuff that simply added more polish to an already solid app, but we always love to see these once-native apps continue to get better.

Market Link

Cheers Joey!

YouTube Android App Receives Update: Edit Previously Uploaded Movies and Create Playlists is a post from: Droid Life