YouTube on Android

[ReanimationN]

I recently bought another Nexus 7 to experiment with Android development after getting taught the basics at work. On the whole, Android has improved a lot since I last used it, however, there's one thing that's really bugging me that I find quite unbelievable- the 2013 Nexus 7 can't play 1080p videos using the stock YouTube app. The N7's screen is very nice, and is full HD, yet Google have crippled its ability to play 1080p YouTube videos, while offering the ability to choose whatever resolution you'd like (including 1080p) on their competitor's platform. I.e. on my iPad, I can select 1080p on any video that supports it, while on the N7, the best you can do is to toggle the 'HD' option, which gives you 720p- why on Earth would Google cripple their own service on their own platform like that?

I've tried a few alternative Android YouTube apps, which are, for the most part, quite poor (bar a couple) and also don't offer 1080p videos, whereas there's a number of high quality YouTube alternatives on iOS, such as McTube, that offer far more options and abilities that the official app is lacking. It's bizarre, you can get a far better experience using one of Google's services on their rival's platform, through both Google's own app and through the alternatives available, than on their own.

 

[Lloydbm41]

I recently bought another Nexus 7 to experiment with Android development after getting taught the basics at work. On the whole, Android has improved a lot since I last used it, however, there's one thing that's really bugging me that I find quite unbelievable- the 2013 Nexus 7 can't play 1080p videos using the stock YouTube app. The N7's screen is very nice, and is full HD, yet Google have crippled its ability to play 1080p YouTube videos, while offering the ability to choose whatever resolution you'd like (including 1080p) on their competitor's platform. I.e. on my iPad, I can select 1080p on any video that supports it, while on the N7, the best you can do is to toggle the 'HD' option, which gives you 720p- why on Earth would Google cripple their own service on their own platform like that?

I've tried a few alternative Android YouTube apps, which are, for the most part, quite poor (bar a couple) and also don't offer 1080p videos, whereas there's a number of high quality YouTube alternatives on iOS, such as McTube, that offer far more options and abilities that the official app is lacking. It's bizarre, you can get a far better experience using one of Google's services on their rival's platform, through both Google's own app and through the alternatives available, than on their own.

Don't ask me why, but Google crippled YouTube on Android when they updated to v5.x. If you can find the apk for YouTube that is prior to v5.x, you can play 1080p videos. Maybe Google was worried about streaming pixelization at 1080p or something on their Nexus devices (and I'm assuming they didn't care if Apple owners dealt with crappy playback or slow dl times, so left 1080p there?)

 

[JaySoul]

I've tried YouTube on 3 Android phones now, and none of them are as good as YouTube was on my old iPhone 5.

It's bizarre.

 

[The Game 161]

odd, it's great on my note 3 and note 12.2

 

[ReanimationN]

Don't ask me why, but Google crippled YouTube on Android when they updated to v5.x. If you can find the apk for YouTube that is prior to v5.x, you can play 1080p videos. Maybe Google was worried about streaming pixelization at 1080p or something on their Nexus devices (and I'm assuming they didn't care if Apple owners dealt with crappy playback or slow dl times, so left 1080p there?)

So it's a recent thing then? I've got no idea why they did it as 1080p videos on iOS look amazing.

I've tried YouTube on 3 Android phones now, and none of them are as good as YouTube was on my old iPhone 5.

It's bizarre.

It is weird, apparently there's a solution for rooted devices where you add a modded apk, but you shouldn't have to be doing anything like that on Google's own platform.

odd, it's great on my note 3 and note 12.2

Are you able to select 1080p as an option? Or are you getting forced into 720p as well?

 

[Fireblade]

No problem on my G2 either...

Give a link to a video you have tried.

 

[ReanimationN]

No problem on my G2 either...

Give a link to a video you have tried.

Any video that has an option for 1080p. There's no option for 1080p in the current YouTube app on my N7, all you get is an option for 'HD', which gives 720p videos.

 

[The Game 161]

So it's a recent thing then? I've got no idea why they did it as 1080p videos on iOS look amazing.

It is weird, apparently there's a solution for rooted devices where you add a modded apk, but you shouldn't have to be doing anything like that on Google's own platform.

Are you able to select 1080p as an option? Or are you getting forced into 720p as well?

Havn't checked my note 3 or 12.2 yet

but just checked my note 8.0 and it has the HD option on it as the default. But seeing as the note 8.0 is quite abit older than the other two models I don't know yet. Will check when I get home.

 

[scott craft]

So the iphone version of youtube has separate options for 720p and 1080p? I didn't know the hd youtube videos on my G2 weren't 1080p, but my eyes aren't that great.

 

[Sylon]

It shows the HD option, but doesn't specify what that is. It could be 720p, it could 1080p, we don't know. However, on the iOS version, at least on my iPad Air, it gives me the option to choose different resolutions, however on videos that I know have a 1080p option on a computer, it only gives me up to 720p on my iPad. On my Galaxy, it just says "HD or SD".


The OP is right though, Google's YouTube app on their own operating system is nothing compared to the app on their biggest competitor's. I never understood why it's so much more polished with better features on iOS than on Android. You would think it would be the other way around. Especially for a free app.


That being said, the app on Android has improved GREATLY over the last couple years though. It's getting better as things go along. It's just not on par with the iOS version.

 

[cynics]

YouTube on Android

Android and YouTube aren't one in the same even though both are Google owned.

Revenue generated by iOS users is just as important as revenue generated by any of its users including Android users.

I don't know the reason but we shouldn't question why iOS has it anymore then a PC or Mac. A better question is why doesn't Android have it anymore?

Btw I'm assuming it doesn't, I don't have an Android device handy to check out for myself.

I prefer most Google apps on iOS ironically enough.

 

[tbayrgs]

I recently bought another Nexus 7 to experiment with Android development after getting taught the basics at work. On the whole, Android has improved a lot since I last used it, however, there's one thing that's really bugging me that I find quite unbelievable- the 2013 Nexus 7 can't play 1080p videos using the stock YouTube app. The N7's screen is very nice, and is full HD, yet Google have crippled its ability to play 1080p YouTube videos, while offering the ability to choose whatever resolution you'd like (including 1080p) on their competitor's platform. I.e. on my iPad, I can select 1080p on any video that supports it, while on the N7, the best you can do is to toggle the 'HD' option, which gives you 720p- why on Earth would Google cripple their own service on their own platform like that?

I've tried a few alternative Android YouTube apps, which are, for the most part, quite poor (bar a couple) and also don't offer 1080p videos, whereas there's a number of high quality YouTube alternatives on iOS, such as McTube, that offer far more options and abilities that the official app is lacking. It's bizarre, you can get a far better experience using one of Google's services on their rival's platform, through both Google's own app and through the alternatives available, than on their own.

Well, I must be doing something wrong. I pulled up the same YouTube video (this review of the new HTC One) and while there is a 1080p option when viewed through a browser on my Mac, both my iPhone 5s and iPad Air offer 720p in the YouTube app as the highest resolution that can be manually selected. I also pulled up a handful of other videos that are 1080p online yet only offer 720p on both my iOS devices (understandable on the iPhone but not on the iPad Air). Haven't tried on my G Pad for comparison.

 

[ReanimationN]

So the iphone version of youtube has separate options for 720p and 1080p? I didn't know the hd youtube videos on my G2 weren't 1080p, but my eyes aren't that great.

The iPhone version only lets you choose up to 720p in the official app. Alternative apps will let you force 1080p on the iPhone.

It shows the HD option, but doesn't specify what that is. It could be 720p, it could 1080p, we don't know. However, on the iOS version, at least on my iPad Air, it gives me the option to choose different resolutions, however on videos that I know have a 1080p option on a computer, it only gives me up to 720p on my iPad. On my Galaxy, it just says "HD or SD".

Given that all alternative Android YouTube apps have had their 1080p options removed, in addition to discussion I've read over at XDA, all the evidence points to HD being 720p.

Other people using Android have been having the same problem- http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1u2xzg/1080p_youtube/

Android and YouTube aren't one in the same even though both are Google owned.

Revenue generated by iOS users is just as important as revenue generated by any of its users including Android users.

I don't know the reason but we shouldn't question why iOS has it anymore then a PC or Mac. A better question is why doesn't Android have it anymore?

Btw I'm assuming it doesn't, I don't have an Android device handy to check out for myself.

I prefer most Google apps on iOS ironically enough.

So do I, bar Google Now, which is pretty useless on iOS thanks to Apple's restrictions.

Well, I must be doing something wrong. I pulled up the same YouTube video (this review of the new HTC One) and while there is a 1080p option when viewed through a browser on my Mac, both my iPhone 5s and iPad Air offer 720p in the YouTube app as the highest resolution that can be manually selected. I also pulled up a handful of other videos that are 1080p online yet only offer 720p on both my iOS devices (understandable on the iPhone but not on the iPad Air). Haven't tried on my G Pad for comparison.

I have noticed that some videos that I know have a 1080p option for the desktop don't have it on the iPad, but for the most part, pretty much any video I want to watch on the iPad that has the 1080p option on other platforms will let me choose it on the iPad as well. And then, even if you can't get 1080p using the official app, there's a wealth of good alternatives that will let you choose it on any video that supports it, desktop or mobile, whereas the alternative apps on Android have also been limited to 720p.

 

[ReanimationN]

I went and checked the official iOS app, as I haven't used it in months, and tbayrgs was right, Google has removed the 1080p option from their official iOS app too. It seems this may be the cause- http://googlesystem.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/youtube-drops-support-for-1080p-streams.html

Although, the alternative apps on iOS still have access to 1080p videos.

 

[Abazigal]

I am not sure I can say the iOS youtube app is that all that stellar either. HD Videos are slow to load on the youtube app on my ipad, and the app itself seems a tad bloated.