YouTube is testing a new UI called “listening controls” that will make it easier for users to listen to music in the main app. Instead of encouraging users to switch to YouTube Music, the company plans to improve the user experience in the main app.
Even though Google made a move by releasing YouTube Music, users still use the main app to listen to music occasionally. And Google’s continuous reminders to switch to the YouTube Music player don’t seem to be a deterrent for users to abandoning the main app.
YouTube might bring a new feature called listening controls
So, the platform is testing a plan b to meet the needs of users who prefer to listen to music on YouTube. The company is testing new listening controls to turn the app into a music player.
So they will replace the basic controls with more complete options. Of course, those features will only be active when the user plays a music video.
In that case, you will be shown an option saying “Show listening controls” controls. There will be options to fast forward and rewind 10 seconds, as well next and previous buttons to navigate through the songs. This new interface also adds the options to “Like“, save the video to the library or change the playback speed.
For the moment, this new dynamic is being tested, so we will have to wait and see if the company decides to implement it permanently in the future.
And on the other hand, a detail to keep in mind is that it will become a premium feature, so only subscribers will have these new listening controls.
