I used to observe YouTube all over the place—on my telephone, TV, laptop computer, and desktop. All of it feels the identical, proper?
Mistaken. It is time to ditch your smartphone and TV and watch YouTube on the platform it was designed for: your desktop.
4
TVs Do not Multitask, and Telephones Do not Do It Nicely
If you would like to observe YouTube whereas doing one thing else on the identical machine—as I usually do—you’ll be able to’t do it in your TV. And whereas multitasking is feasible on cell gadgets, it is not all the time handy. Sure, I can use split-screen or picture-in-picture mode, however the video finally ends up squashed right into a tiny nook of my display screen, making it laborious to see particulars.
In your desktop or laptop computer, you’ll be able to have YouTube open in a single tab or window whereas working in one other. I particularly love utilizing picture-in-picture mode in order that I can take a glimpse of what is going on on within the video whereas doing one thing else.
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Imprecise Video Controls on TVs and Telephones
One other main purpose I’ve stepped away from watching YouTube on my TV or smartphone is the fixed battle with imprecise video controls. On the telephone, it’s important to drag your finger alongside the tiny progress bar. Usually, your thumb blocks the video.
Amir Bohlooli / MUO
One other trick is to double-tap on the left or proper of the video participant to rewind or fast-forward, however that is not exact both. I’ve misplaced rely of what number of instances I’ve by chance tapped the following or again button as an alternative of forwarding or rewinding. The YouTube TV app is not higher, since utilizing a distant to ahead or rewind could be difficult, and also you usually end up skipping a lot additional than meant.
It is tough in the event you’re making an attempt to replay a single quote, and particularly annoying for longer movies, equivalent to podcasts or lectures, the place precision issues most. On desktops or laptops, utilizing a mouse or keyboard gives exact management.
2
TVs and Telephones Serve Extra Intrusive Advertisements
I’ve used YouTube for years, and what has turn out to be obvious just lately is that, with out paying for Premium or Premium Lite, advertisements have turn out to be insufferable, particularly on cell and TV. Initially, I assumed it was simply me, however I’ve since seen dozens of posts from customers complaining concerning the YouTube advert expertise on Reddit’s YouTube-related subreddit, r/YouTube.
In case you watch YouTube on TV, anticipate to see some non-skippable advertisements lasting 30 to 60 seconds, as per a Google Advertisements assist web page. On cell, you encounter customary non-skippable in-stream advertisements that run for 15 seconds or much less.
Nonetheless, in some instances, these advertisements now cowl your complete display screen. And as you scroll by way of your feed on YouTube’s cell app, advertisements seem after about three or 4 playing cards. Plus, after viewing an advert, there is a excessive chance of seeing one other static advert slightly below the remark part bar.
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I Love Watching YouTube, however It’s Getting Worse in These 8 Methods
YouTube simply is not what it was, regardless of what number of hours I nonetheless spend watching it.
So, at any second you watch a video, there is a seen advert overlaying a minimum of a 3rd of your display screen. In contrast to earlier ache factors, you’ll be able to clear up this downside by getting Premium, however that requires a $14 month-to-month subscription. Positive, you may get YouTube Premium for much less, however that might not be the case on a regular basis. Though I nonetheless encountered the identical subject on my laptop computer, browser extensions helped me resolve it without having to pay for YouTube Premium.
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You Cannot Customise the Expertise
One of many greatest causes I’ve stopped watching YouTube on my TV or smartphone is how little management I’ve. On my smartphone and TV, there’s nothing I can do to customise the platform. The apps are the de facto means you employ to observe YouTube, and apart from the essential choices the platform gives, there’s nothing you are able to do to enhance the expertise additional.
YouTube’s TV and cell apps really feel like a locked field, forcing you to simply accept no matter it thinks is finest. In your laptop computer, nonetheless, that is not the case. Due to the colourful ecosystem of YouTube-enhancing extensions, you’ll be able to set up completely different choices to make the expertise fit your liking.
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I Can’t Use YouTube With out These 6 Extensions
These YouTube browser extensions make your watching expertise so a lot better.
For example, there are extensions to dam advertisements, present dislike rely, tweak the structure, or conceal distracting suggestions and Shorts. Others make it easier to immediately know whether or not a YouTube video is value your time earlier than losing your treasured time. If it is a frequent ache level for a lot of YouTube customers, there’s most likely an extension that addresses the issue.
After years of watching YouTube on my TV and smartphone, I’ve realized the drawbacks simply aren’t value it. Intrusive advertisements, lack of customization, clumsy controls, and poor or non-existent multitasking capabilities made the expertise irritating. That is why I’ve since switched to watching completely within the browser on my laptop computer or desktop laptop, as a result of I can tailor the expertise and multitask with ease.
