YouTube has announced that a series of new features and plans will be available for Premium subscribers. This includes the ability to better skip around to key moments, Shorts support for picture-in-picture, and more.
In a blog post, YouTube notes that new perks and benefits are arriving for Premium users on both iOS and Android. Some features will be launched in regions and platforms before a wider release. In Canada, YouTube Premium is available for $12.99/month for an individual plan or $22.99/month for a five-person Family Plan. YouTube also offers a $7.99 Student monthly plan. Premium offers perks like ad-free viewing, offline downloads, and access to YouTube Music.
The first new Premium feature is the ‘jump ahead’ button, which is designed to enable users to better skip ahead in a video. Using a combination of AI and viewer data, this feature lets users double-tap to skip ahead, bringing up the jump ahead button. Selecting this, users will be brought to the section of the video in which they’d like to go. The jump ahead button will launch in the US on Android first before coming to iOS “in the next few weeks” and other regions down the road.
To assist with multitasking, YouTube is enabling picture-in-picture for Shorts videos. Much like standard videos, Premium subscribers can leave the YouTube app to scroll social media, check an email, etc., while the video continues playing. As one can expect, the Short will minimize slightly to a portrait-sized window that can be moved to one of the four corners of the device. This option launches on Android. No word on when it’ll arrive on iOS.
YouTube Premium members will also be gaining early access to experimental features. YouTube announces this includes smart downloads for Shorts. For those familiar with the smart download feature, YouTube will automatically download a batch of Shorts that’ll sit ready to watch for when you’re offline or in Airplane mode. In the U.S., Android users will gain access to conversational AI features like being able to “ask” about a video or select a suggestion prompt. The watch page will also be getting a redesign that Premium users will see first.
In a separate blog post, YouTube teased that it will be introducing new plan options. “We’re committed to bringing members more plan options by expanding our existing offers to more regions, while also introducing new plans and exploring ways for you to share your benefits with friends in the future,” the company said. Unfortunately, the company hasn’t revealed what those plans may look like.
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