YouTube is updating the look of the video player to be “cleaner and more immersive” beginning this week. “This includes updated controls and new icons to make the viewing experience more visually satisfying while obscuring less content,” YouTube says. It started testing changes to the player earlier this year. A screenshot from YouTube shows how the new look includes rounded on-screen buttons with a little bit of translucency, though the effect isn’t nearly as intense as Apple’s Liquid Glass. YouTube says the new player will be available on mobile, web, and TV devices.
The company is introducing a bunch of other updates, too. YouTube says the double-tap to skip feature will be “modern and less intrusive to your video watching experience.” A new “structured system for comment replies” is intended to “provide a more focused reading experience within the replies panel.” And on some videos, hitting the like button will show a “dynamic” animation, like a music note when liking a music video.
