YouTube Speed Controls & High-Quality Audio

YouTube Enhances Premium Experience with New Features

YouTube announced on Wednesday the introduction of several new, experimental functionalities designed exclusively for its Premium subscribers.

These enhancements include improved audio quality, an expanded playback speed range for mobile devices, and a “jump ahead” capability on the web platform.

Enhanced Audio and Playback Options

The company consistently evaluates new features through its experimental portal at youtube.com/new. Users can now activate a setting that enables higher audio bitrates – up to 256kbps – for music videos.

Notably, YouTube Music already provides this audio quality when settings are adjusted to High within the playback options.

For mobile users, a faster playback speed is now available, allowing videos to be viewed at up to 4x the normal speed. Previously, the maximum speed was limited to 2x.

Improved Mobile Functionality

The utility of picture-in-picture mode is well-established for quickly managing tasks like responding to messages or emails while a video continues to play.

A new test extends this functionality to YouTube Shorts on iOS, enabling playback within the picture-in-picture window.

Furthermore, iOS users can now utilize smart downloads for Shorts.

When activated, this feature automatically downloads videos of potential interest during periods of strong internet connectivity, facilitating offline viewing.

This functionality was previously available to Android users.

“Jump Ahead” Comes to the Web

Introduced on mobile last year, the “Jump Ahead” feature utilizes machine learning and user feedback to identify and allow skipping to the most engaging segments of a video.

This feature is now being extended to Premium users accessing YouTube through web browsers.

Expanding AI Capabilities

Google is also broadening the scope of two AI-powered features related to YouTube.

The “Ask Music” feature within YouTube Music is now available in the U.K. and Ireland.

Users can request playlists based on prompts like “upbeat workout tracks” or “relaxing jazz,” and the app will generate a customized radio station accordingly.

Competitors such as Spotify and Amazon Music are also exploring similar functionalities.

A conversational AI feature, allowing users to ask questions about videos or receive recommendations, which debuted in 2023, will soon be accessible to iOS users as well.