Like it or not, more change is afoot at Google’s widely successful video site.
YouTube is following its controversial redesign of the home page with another channel-focused update, several video editing goodies, and some small concessions to member indignation Thursday.
In furtherance of its new-found channel-centric vision, YouTube has refreshed its video “browse” page with a new look and design. Should you dive into the categories from the left-hand menu, you’ll now find channels that YouTube thinks you should subscribe to. In the “Howto & Style” section, for instance, YouTube is prominently promoting user MichellePhan, a popular video blogger who frequently posts instructional videos on how to apply makeup.
While less drastic than the home page overhaul, the browse page alteration could have a sizable impact on the subscriber counts of featured YouTubers and brands.
On the practical side, YouTube has vastly improved its video editor to make for a richer editing experience. The most noticeable change is the video editor’s prettified interface, but power users will appreciate the new timeline for seamlessly weaving together clips and audio, and the improved video clipping features.
The video site has also responded to negative feedback from members about changes to its video manager — where members now go to mange their uploaded videos and access previously saved content — by backtracking a bit. The company has added back statistics for video likes and dislikes, and returned the ability to sort videos by popularity.
If anything, the changes should signify YouTube’s ongoing commitment to an experience centered around its most-prized possession: content creators.
[Image via korosirego/Flickr]
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