Abu Zar Mishwani
YouTube recently increased the subscription cost for YouTube Premium in certain areas. Premium subscribers get benefits like an ad-free viewing experience, the option to play videos or music in the background, and access to high-quality video streaming.
YouTube, a platform owned by Google, has disclosed a user base of 80 million, encompassing both paid and free trial subscribers for YouTube Premium globally.
The company has unveiled enhanced features for Premium users across various devices such as smartphones, smart TVs, and tablets. Among these updates, users can now experience videos with improved picture quality, with some features integrating AI technology.
YouTube has officially announced through a blog post that Premium subscribers can now enjoy streaming an upgraded bitrate version of 1080p videos on a wider range of platforms. Initially launched for iOS users, this feature is now accessible to Android users as well.
Premium subscribers can now take advantage of streaming high-quality 1080p videos not only on smartphones but also on smart televisions and other Android devices such as tablets. To access this enhanced experience, users can enable the 1080p High Bitrate feature through the Quality menu option.
A higher bitrate improves viewing quality by offering more information per pixel for clearer images. Google specifies that the enhanced 1080p Premium feature applies only to videos submitted in 1080p, excluding other resolutions, live streams, and YouTube Shorts.
YouTube has introduced Conversation AI, a tool that suggests videos related to the one you’re currently watching or relevant to your search queries. This AI chatbot can also provide answers to questions related to the video content. Users can access this feature by tapping the Ask button. It’s important to note that this feature is currently available to Android users in the United States.
Additionally, users can instruct the AI chatbot to condense lengthy comments into more concise paragraphs with distinct identified themes. YouTube recommends that content creators utilize this feature to gather ideas for their upcoming content.
Premium users can now seamlessly continue their video playback across different devices. If you pause a video on your phone, you can pick up right where you left off when switching to another device, such as your TV, as long as both devices are linked to the same account.
YouTube has enhanced the user experience by introducing a “Continue Watching” label that appears on the video, making it easy for users to identify and resume their videos. Initially, this feature was limited to users transitioning between phones and the web, but now it is accessible across all platforms.
YouTube is introducing virtual badges to acknowledge and reward long-term Premium subscribers for their loyalty. Users aged 18 and above can earn these badges by actively engaging with Premium benefits such as Afterparty, YouTube Music, Continue Watching, and more.
Users can click on the locked badges displayed on the Your Premium benefits page within their YouTube accounts to find out how to earn a specific badge.