Of course, keep in mind that our beta is very early. Things may change, or break, and we haven't finished building all the bells and whistles yet. For example, many of the editing functions aren't available yet, so you can't currently customize the order and selection of videos that show up on your channel (or choose which video is featured). And we'll probably tweak some of the UI as we go.
So why are we showing this before it's finished? Because we want you to be a part of it! If you're here, you probably care about what we build and what your channel looks like, and we want you to be involved along the way.
We'll use this blog to regularly communicate our latest channel beta launches, fixes, and releases - in other words, our release notes. And we'd like to hear your feedback in the comments section.
Why are we releasing new versions of channels in the first place? Well, here are a few reasons:
- A better channel experience for your visitors - folks can browse through and watch your uploads, favorites, and playlists without needing to leave your channel
- Help you enrich your channel - we'll help you customize and design your channel (and the videos on it) without ever leaving the page - and we'll give you some default themes to start with
- A design refresh - yes, our corners are now rounded in many browsers, saving valuable pixels
Enjoy the beta!
From the YouTube channels team,
-Nick, Michael, Gunthar, David, Holly, James, and Brian
Posts
I don't like it. YouTube was fine. The "Movies" and "Shows" Tabs are enough. Everything is fine.
ReplyDeleteI'd be lying if I said I hated it... there are a few good features (turning off some of the channel information) but I only feel it will have a negative effect in the long term. I hope I'm wrong...
ReplyDeleteITS UGLY, DON'T DO ANYTHING, KEEP IT LIKE IT IS! ITS FINE NOW!
ReplyDeletePlease dont change it to that
ReplyDeleteIt is disgusting
Stop trying to "improve" the site in design. Its fine as it is
I dislike it very much. The channels we have now are much more organized and they look better. Please don't make the channels look like this. They're ugly
ReplyDeletei hate it, please do not change the layout your pissing off alot of people
ReplyDeletei'm sorry, but i think that's dreadful. but of course, that's only my opinion...instead of forcing everyone to switch to the new layout, perhaps you could let users choose between the current and the new so everyone can decide for themselves?
ReplyDeleteits awful. please. just. please. leave it how it is. look what new layouts did to facebook.
ReplyDeletethe layout is bad... i don't like it.
ReplyDeleteew.
I hate it. But if you changed the design, that looks very dull. it needs more funk. and make it more use able because it looks harder to use. But youtube is fine as it is right now.
ReplyDeleteCan you PLEASE not change it. please. it looks horrible!!!
ReplyDeleteplease leave it the way it is. dont change it.
I have to say, its absolutely horrid, it seems so messy, its like you got rid of design completely.
ReplyDeletei like it, great job!
ReplyDeletei can't say i like it!
ReplyDeletesorry mang
:S I dont like it!!
ReplyDelete*the big video on top is good but I don't like the banner on top. it should be a block on the side like before.
ReplyDelete*the other videos from the user seem kinda hidden
*recent activity isn't that important, make that a hidden or optional feature
*please allow anmated GIF profile icons again
*THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON NEEDS TO BE YELLOW
clearly you can see all these negative responses. it really is ugly. either you keep the old style or show us something better than that.
ReplyDeleteThe old saying "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" comes into play now. We're all happy with our channels, the clean smooth layout is just fine, please leave it.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is happy with the channels we have now. Dont change it
ReplyDeleteNo Dont change it please. People dont want it to change. So leave youtube the way it is please!
ReplyDeleteit looks disgusting. thanks for your efforts, but no thanks.
ReplyDeleteOMG. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my.
ReplyDeleteif i wanted facetube, i would post videos on my facebook.
ReplyDeleteplease don't go that route. what you have now is simple and effective.
don't change.
How to we try the beta on our own channel??
ReplyDeleteI think it is actually kinda nice. I think two things need to be changed.
ReplyDelete1. Either lets us pick the color of the Subscribe button or make it Yellow again. I think making it gray makes it look too much like the rest of the page and harder for visitors or people new to the site to notice it. (Letting us pick its color would be awesome)
2. Make the thumbnails in the scrolling sidebar bigger for easier viewing for visitors to a users page. (I see the button to view them in larger thumbnails but I think it be nice if the ones in the scrolling sidebar were about double their current size.)
Other than that it looks very nice. The rounded edges are nice. I like how the pages aren't as long anymore. Less to scroll through is always nice.
Also, can I get the beta on my channel page?
Username: EricsEveryNewDay
I'm going to cry.
ReplyDeletei really just dont like it at all
ReplyDeletei kinda hate it
That layout is just blech!
ReplyDeleteIt's horrible!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's too flat, and too big. It's not neat, clean, it's just ugly.
I hope it'll look better after it's out of the beta.
I can't believe what you're doing to Youtube.
ReplyDeleteThis is a huge gamble. You will probably lose a huge chunk of users/traffic because of this.
Including myself, most likely.
Youtube is not MYSPACE. I hope this is an OPTION and that we are able to keep our old channels.
ReplyDeleteAside from the points everyone else has made, I'm really upset that you've changed the colour of the 'Subscribe' button. After all of the "Click the yellow button" and "Subscribe using the yellow button" mentions people have placed in their videos, I am kind of taken aback that you would switch to such a bland colour on us (on top of the REALLY ugly layout).
ReplyDeleteNOOOOOOOOO....please please don't do this...i can promise i will stop using youtube if you make stupid useless 'improvements' just like facebook...which i also quit using!
ReplyDeletei hate this. it's gross.
ReplyDeleteHow do I switch?
ReplyDeletethis is TERRIBLE!wowowow! it makes it harder to comment and ppl will prob. start commenting less. PLEASEEEE keep it the same :(
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, I know you must've worked hard on this...but I don't like it at all.
ReplyDeleteCan you customize the background? If so, can you even see it? What about channel banners, side pictures, and "other channels" lists for partners? Where would all that go?
I really hope we aren't forced to change to that.
Horrible. Some better color schemes should be used as the examples so the horrible colors isn't the first impression.
ReplyDeleteDO. NOT. WANT.
ReplyDeleteIt's absolutely horrid. It's ugly and clunky and not at all "user friendly".
You have all the relevant channel content pushed down at the bottom. Along with the comments section.
The text in that hideously styled and placed side bar area is tiny and difficult to read and is the text under the main video screen.
Overall it's just awful.
If you INSIST on making a change for the sake of change PLEASE at least give us the option to keep the "old layout" or switch to the new one. Even MySpace did that when they changed.
YT ID: Wiccanslyr
no. please don't make this change. it is absolutely horrible. i think the channel design is just fine the way it is.
ReplyDeleteI really don't like it. Please don't change it to that.
ReplyDeleteGuys, it's not THAT bad. I kinda like this one: http://www.youtube.com/glickinator
ReplyDeleteNo, please hear us and don't go forward with this. There are enough social networking sites, youtube doesn't need to be one!
ReplyDeleteIt's ugly I hate it
ReplyDeleteeverything seems too compressed and hard to make out
Normally I'm a pretty long-suffereing user. I know I'll get used to things when they change. But this. Wow. This is in no way an improvement to what it was. Quite frankly, it's ugly. Really ugly.
ReplyDeletethis seems to be a step towards a more generic and dull layout. Youtube's channel layout has always been non generic and thats a good thing! I'm not one of those internet junkies who instantly hates any change to a site without evaluating it, But The new design is awefull.
ReplyDeleteI like the current setup better
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteplease don't change youtube. it's amazing as it is.
ReplyDeletei'm not a fan of this new change =[
I can tell a lot of people don't like the new design... but I suggest at least testing out the customization and giving constructive feedback to YouTube before you completely bash it. I'll be posting more details... in less than 24 hours, of course.
ReplyDeletedont change it. i looks horrible. theres nothing wrong with youtube. i dont understand why you would change something that is fine the way it is?
ReplyDeleteits quite ugly. Please don't change it!
ReplyDeleteplease please do not change it.
ReplyDelete^_^
KOHPelord, I for one looked over the three examples and gave my bashing, yet constructive feedback.
ReplyDeleteI am not against change unless it's a) just made for the sake of change or b) is completely unhelpful and in no way an improvement on the thing it's changing. THIS qualifies as BOTH with the added bonus of being UGLY.
Everything looks disgusting on the page. There is no sense of organization like with the current channels.
ReplyDeleteThe "banner" on the top is too big and I can't even tell it's purpose. The sidebar on the right is also way too big, ugly, and out of place.
Hopefully you are not going to make every channel have this particular arrangement and still allow users to move around boxes, customize colors, etc. The Beta on /Chad just makes everything look awful, though.
EUGHHHH
ReplyDeletei hate it just like everyone else on YT.
=/
It sucks. Really.
ReplyDeleteIf you do that, everyone is gonna leave YouTube...
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT
ReplyDeletePlease don't change it. I've been on You Tube for a year now and I love it how it is. I'll definitely cry. It just looks so dreadful and bleck, don't do this to us.
ReplyDeleteARE YOU SERIOUS?!! that is one of the worst designs i've seen. Seriously, stick with how it is now.. gah horrid
ReplyDeleteThe new YouTube design... I hate it.
ReplyDeleteIt's just too... generic.
The subscribe button NEEDS to be yellow. And I really don't want my recent activity to be a HUGE focus of the channel – are all of those boxes going to be customizable, still? What happens if you're a YT partner? Do you still get a banner and auto-play? I'm so confused as to how being a partner will work in with this. I'm not a fan of the new layout, really . . . and I'll miss the square edges. I think square edges help maintain a "clean" look. And the subscribe button needs to be yellow. Thanks for the attempted well meant changes, I hope you'll take into account some of the suggestions us "nobodies" (a.k.a. the users and not corporations) have. Thanks for opening the blog for comments!
ReplyDeletexx mal
(http://www.youtube.com/malarayofsunshine)
@BOBJENZ
ReplyDeleteI seriously hope that was a joke.
I don't like it. At. ALL.
ReplyDeleteI basically agree with everything Mallory has said.
It may look "clean", but we don't want Youtube to be like that. We want it to stay vibrant and colourful and unique. Like it always has been. Always should be.
please please please dont change the layout!
ReplyDeletei love the way my channel is set up right now,
if you go through with this, just be aware
that many people are going to search for other video hosting alternatives, please just leave things the way they are.. or make the beta version an option for those who like it, thanks
I think this is a fresh start and you guys need to chill! Can I try this out? http://www.youtube.com/tomandconnerfilms
ReplyDeleteWell if you are letting people try it out...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/user/Hooplaa10
I'm really not a fan of the change. Like, I get it that change is good and that I should be more open minded, but why fix something that isn't broken?
ReplyDeleteI don't like it at all. I can see how some people would though, so I think that it should be optional.
ReplyDeleteI don't like it. It may be just me, but I can't figure out how to access the users other videos.
ReplyDeleteI'm not for this new design at all, and I don't think I'm the only one:)
ReplyDeleteI think it's nice of you for trying to improve it,
but I really think we should all have the choice of which we'd like to have.
If some want to adopt the new style, then sure! Go for it! (Probably won't be many, though)
But DEFINITELY make sure the rest of us have the chance to keep our old layout, please God!
I like change but the template seems generally unattractive right now. I'm all for change but a few things to note:
ReplyDelete1) A Yellow subscribe button would be more appealing
2) Scroll bars on the recent activity and channel comments is unattractive to me, I'd rather scroll down the main page then boxes like this
However, I see where Youtube is going with this:
- Making everything visible on the channel page targets the in-video advertisements which have been successful since it's implementation. This is fine.
- Making the channels look like actual "profiles" so Youtube is more of a community will cause people to promote their channel to others.
Also, this new format forces people to develop their channel and use the playlist and favourite options more so that visitors will stay on their profile as long as possible.
***So a suggestion would be to add a chat feature on each channel so that visitors ultimately stay longer.
Once again, change is good, but I'd like to see this template evolve :) Best of luck, Youtube.
http://youtube.com/incorporatedfx
I really dont like it. It seems like your trying to make youtube into just another social networking site. And youtube gas always veen something different! And lus i think it looks ugly and confusing.
ReplyDeleteIt's very disturbing. Don't do it. Keep youtube the way it is.
ReplyDeleteI don't like this.
ReplyDeleteAt all.
I don't see why so many changes are necessary. ]:
So. Freaking. Ugly.
ReplyDeleteAs a partner, I would be horrified if YouTube changed to look like this for good.
Maybe I don't use my own channel enough to notice a huge difference - aside from appearance of course. It seemed pretty easy to figure out and navigate, and I don't think it's ugly.
ReplyDeleteSome people have constructive comments, but I think the majority of folks are just afraid of change. Forcing everyone to switch might be a bad idea, but leaving it open as an option to switch would be very nice.
@ConPAssioneDolce
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone is afraid of change. It's just the new design is really poor.
definately don't like it...instead of changing things that don't need fixing, how bout add some stuff to the site that's actually useful? it'd be great if the "my subscriptions" box coud be fixed - add a little cross in the corner of each vid so you can delete them if you dont want to watch them, or at least make sure videos that have been watched don't come back x___x
ReplyDeleteWhat a lot of people who can only view the channels can't see are the customization options (which I can see). While I don't like the overall look of the channel pages, the customization tools are actually decent for as early a beta as it is. I'd really like if we could keep the current channel design, but have the new customization features.
ReplyDeleteThe new layout really isn't necessary. It's ugly and most importantly it's not user friendly. It will scare new users from the site instead of inviting them. Changing the layout is a huge mistake.
ReplyDeleteHow does one get the updated beta version??
ReplyDeleteRight now, it's a major turn off.
ReplyDeleteEventually, I'll get used to it, but if you want my opinion right now?
EW.
YouTube Beta Blog,
ReplyDeletethe rounded corners are neat--it's about damn time. the "load-on-the-same-page" feature is also keen.
as for the rest of the "overhaul", please consider the following before making a site-wide update:
1) each section of the channel should a "module"; users should be able to position, align, and hide sections on their channels at will.
2) keep the topmost "YouTube Bar" the same as it is, pre-Beta. it's much cleaner and has a smaller footprint.
3) keep customization items like "transparency level", "organize videos", custom colors (links, text, boxes), etc.
and, most importantly
4) give users the ability to choose between "Classic" and "Neo" Channel Layouts.
whatever you do, YouTube, please, oh please don't pull a FaceBook! keep it real, like MySpace, and let the USERS DECIDE.
Respectfully Yours,
Russell Albert (invisyblninja)
It is especially rare I consider myself a conformist amongst others who reject a new change.
ReplyDeleteBut I dislike all of it, after actually looking through it. I believe the Youtube channel design is genius as it is now, and shouldn't need to be "improved".
I say no against it.
Can I try it out! I love how it looks for others...
ReplyDeletewww.youtube.com/user/h8thecause
OK. SO EVERYONE HATES IT (including me) AND YOU STILL GOING TO CHANGE IT.
ReplyDeleteyou're going to lose a lot of people.
I can tell you that much..
the thing is that youtube is an addiction just like facebook. you threaten to leave but you wont in the end.
ReplyDeletethe new changes are demoting the majority of viewers to consumers, and thats what you want. if you cant respect us as directors, and viewers, we will take our content somewhere else. can anyone else say vimeo?
ReplyDeleteVimeo sucks! Youtube is awsome and by doing these changes there just little changes.... LITTLE... stop freaking out.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, as a YouTube partner and a huge part of this community for over a year.. I will CRY if this is the future of YouTube. It looks horrible, unprofessional, and messy.
ReplyDeletePlease dont do this to us.
Change the way you make money, whatever, but dont change the entire layout of our channels. Give us SOMETHING to work with.
Honestly, I think that the real message here is clear; YouTube (Google) does not WANT non-professional, user generated content any longer because they can't monetize it.
ReplyDeleteI believe this is just one more step they are taking to "force us out" without having to deal with a PR nightmare.
I think the new layout is horribly ugly but i like the idea of being able to watch someones favorites or video uploads without having to leave their channel
ReplyDeleteUmm...Not even a "Subscribe" button on it. I changed my channel back. Just until further development. 8)
ReplyDeletei hate it why would you do this leave it the way it is OR BETTER YET GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL YOUTUBE BEFORE YOU GUYS BOUGHT IT AND KILLED IT
ReplyDeleteHey guys,
ReplyDeleteIf the goal of this redesign is to have the scrollable list of videos that play on the same page, i think a better idea would be to simpley keep to the original format and add a scroll bar underneath where the video is on the pre beta version. This would bring the awesome feature of being able to stay on that same page and play all the videos while still maintaing the already familer format we have all grown to love.
Thanks for listing
How do you switch to beta?
ReplyDeleteObviously this isn't a popular move on your part. There's only 1 out of the 104 who have commented so far that likes it. This is not myspace or facebook, which is what set it apart and made it appealing to people. If you are going to insist on making the change, you should at LEAST have the courtesy to make it an OPTION and let people CHOOSE if they even want it or not.
ReplyDeleteAFTER looking at sxephil's page and vlogbrothers... I LIKE IT hahaha, very nice. However, I'd like to see it evolve and improve :)
ReplyDeleteIt took me about three minutes to let my eyes get used to it and then I came to the conclusion that I actually quite like it. It looks neater somehow, and the videos look good next to the page's main video. My main concern would be that the name of the channel isn't the focal point of the page any more, so the banner will have to be put to actual use rather than something quirky, or as well as something quirky. Photoshop time!
ReplyDelete- Rosianna (missxrojas)
wtf is this.... change it back!
ReplyDeleteI really don't like it!
ReplyDeletei kind of have mixed feelings about this. i'd like to try it out for myself can you switch my channel to that??
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/hpnerdchad
i would like my channel to be like that too could you switch my page over to the beta design?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/vctknight
Everybody is giving bad feedback on the new beta channel just because they're used to it and to be honest, I don't think it's that bad. It's just really different, which obviously, everybody is going to be like "OMFG DATZ HORIBLE" but I think it's pretty cool, just hard to get used to. ;D
ReplyDeleteI don't like it at all, very unuser friendly its hard to navigate around a channel, leave the layout alone it was fine the way it was.
ReplyDeleteCould you please switch
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/prothiever
To that layout?
Looks cool :D
I'm sorry, but I don't like it. However, I do agree with others on here that maybe it should become an option? YouTube shouldn't become a complete social networking site, if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteI think it's safe to say that if over 85% of comments absolutely hate it, there might be something wrong with it.
ReplyDeleteThink it's great, just needs to be a LITTLE more organised and simple to use. I also think we should be able to link channels and it have a button to subscribe to any of the persons channels.
ReplyDeleteSomething at the top should say:
"Subscribe 'all' 'channel1' 'channel2' 'channel3' - 'favourites'"
etc.
I like the new look. I want to try it on my own channel. Can you please change it for me too? http://www.youtube.com/wexforfilms
ReplyDeleteI likes it :)
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, I do like the new layout, it looks very fancy. I just hope that, once it comes out of beta, users will have the ability to keep their current design and switch between the old and new interfaces (as we can now).
ReplyDeleteI LOVE being able to watch all of my, or other people's, videos in the channel. I just think the description box below the videos (or Uploads) needs a little work, because in some the text does not wrap around, and in other it just goes towards the bottom, and you can't see the rest of the description. This is just in my first few minutes of seeing this; I'll post more if I find anything else =)
Oww..come on!U improve channel designs instead of improving what u really need to..Can't u just delete that comment-limit-box?I am bored of it (like every1 i know)
ReplyDeleteLeave our channels as they are!U can't make us use it -____-
New layout design is great!
ReplyDeleteWhy does it need change?
ReplyDeleteterrible tbh.
If you could rate/comment from the channel, then it'd be perfect. Functionality before design, y'know.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you watch the videos from the channel page, not going onto the video page, would be a lot better if you could comment/rate/everything from there. As it is you're cutting out the feedback which is what makes youtube better than so many other sites.
ReplyDeletePLEASE Do not use these layouts, YouTube is FINE the way it is. It seems that every odd weekend YouTube does something to change it. These layouts are awful and disgusting. It looks okay on YouTube partner channels, but on normal channels its terrible. Just awful. PLEASE DON"T MAKE THE CHANGE
ReplyDeleteSome channels look better than others. Nerimon's green looks horriblle. IceflowStudio's looks great.
ReplyDeleteIf you want us to be able to browse through the videos of the user, I think it is important to add a comments section for that individual video. Otherwise, we're forced to click out of the channel in order to comment on a certain vid.
KEEP THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON YELLOWWWWWW! PLEASE! >.<
I like it but there is no way to send messgaes? well if there's anyrthing private i have comments pending approval. good feature guys keep it up
ReplyDeleteOh dear Lord.
ReplyDeleteIt's horrific.
Please don't change it. You'll just drive more people away, and they'll all sign up to Vimeo.
You wouldn't like that, now, would you?
PS. IT'S HAPPENING ALREADY so don't make it worse.
YouTube people. What are you doing, and why have you decided to rally against user-generated material and feedback? The point of YouTube is video SHARING, not promoting.
ReplyDeleteI can't work out how to change how I view YouTube, but from the beta channels I've already seen, I hate it. It was perfectly alright the way it was (/is for me, as it hasn't switched on my account). Oh, I give up, they haven't taken users think so far, they're not going to change now.
I have been (before this morning, that is) watching all of the back episodes of brotherhood 2.0. I just saved a link in my gmail of the page I was on, and opened a new tab with each video so it would load. Not anymore. I have to scroll through hundreds of videos and let them load individually?
ReplyDeleteI don't mean to sound like the typical youtube commenter, but.... WHAT THE BLEEPING HELL, GUYS? I really don't think whipping out half baked betas is a sound business idea, google/youtube team. Oy.
I'm usually pretty comfortable with new layouts, but this change is AWFUL. The new channel pages look corporate and impersonal. It made me want to gouge my eyes out.
ReplyDeleteHow do you make it like that?
ReplyDeletehow do you set this up with your channel?
ReplyDeleteThe change is horrible. Please don't do this Youtube!!!
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI dont think it is terrible
I dont like the way the videos are in a very small list to the side. I prefer them as a big grid view that we have at the moment.
I agree that it should be a choice.
iv got a different one to all 2 mines really good check it out
ReplyDeletewww.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
www.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
www.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
www.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
I truly hope YouTube will listen to the consensus of the community opinion on this one. Along with countless others, I am not at all happy with the new channel design. I feel as though it does not display the information most beneficial to the users in an easy to navigate format as is found with the previous format. YouTube has always exemplified the "less is more" benefits in terms of layout / design... but I'm afraid that is about to be lost.
ReplyDeletewww.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
ReplyDeletewww.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
MINE IS SO DIFFERENT TO ALL THE OTHERS
www.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
ReplyDeletewww.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
www.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
www.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
www.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
www.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
www.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
ReplyDeletewww.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
www.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
www.youtube.com/user/sportshighlightsday
I think the only way to solve this is to have a toggle switch on everyone's channels. So that people who like it can have it but those who hate it can stay using the basic layout. I also think we should have a toggle switch for the widescreen feature video on all youtube channels
ReplyDeleteOkay. I'm going to be honest here. I appreciate the work that has gone into these new layouts, and there are actually a few features I do like. Having all the videos in one long scroll box is kind of cool, and the layouts aren't as ugly as I was worried they were going to be (okay, that's not much of a compliment), but there are two specific things right off the bat that I absolutely hate:
ReplyDelete1) The fact that there are no pages of videos anymore. It's very overwhelming trying to sift through a lot of videos all in one little scroll box with no other viewing options. Even when you expand the box, it's still hard to find the right video when there are no pages for a sort of frame of reference. Please bring back the pages of videos. And, on that note, the video count. I like seeing how many videos a user has uploaded.
2) There's a link you have to click to see comments and related videos. Comments and related videos are practically what make YouTube what it is -- comments especially. As youtubers, we kind of need feedback, and we enjoy the community feel of it! When you make it harder to comment, you discourage people from commenting, and we lose our community and any feedback we once had. That makes us sad.
I'm not opposed to all change, but this is not a good change. Please, please fix these problems. I would much prefer the old layout, or a version of it, to this cold and impersonal idea of "YouTube".
Thanks.
Thanks for this blog. And thanks for offering an early look and inviting feedback.
ReplyDeleteYou added a cool bit of functionality (browsing videos in a scrolling list and playing them directly on the channel page)
But it comes at the expense of a much cooler bit of functionality: being able to comment. (now relegated to a tiny-type link that pops you over to the video page)
Shifting YouTube from a community-based environment, to a watch-only environment is a terrible trade-off. Yes, I'm aware that only a small fraction of viewers engage in conversations through the comments, but I'd be interested in growing that number, not shrinking it further.
I'm not pleased with this tradeoff. Have you considered opening up a window into comments under the video playing. That would be very neat.
Rounded coners? That's a step back. Rounded corners in your logo is a fine, nostalgic reminder of TV that was. Rounded corners on buttons and pop-up menus is a useful visual cue to users. But please. TV that is, is square cornered. Don't go retro on your basic design language.
The design isn't bad, I like that it is now easier to scroll through the back catalogue of the YouTuber, and the reduced scrolling is nice.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think you need to incorporate the comments for individual videos into the new design, as I would rather not have to go to a separate page to add comments, where the video I just watched started over again.
Also, I noticed on missxrojas' page that the actual name of the account is not shown in the "favourite channels" section, just the channel title, though this is not the case with Vlogbrother's channel, possibly due to a different positioning.
I actually like that the subscribe button now gets the same colouration as the channel that it's on, it's still clear and easy to see and in more or less the same place.
To the future.
Just a few more points on NuTube, I'm unable to expand the video description, so it cuts off after one line, is there any intention to change this?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'd like to keep the option to search within specific users videos.
Community is such an important aspect of YouTube, and is really what makes the site more than just a piece of technology. By hiding the comments, you are doing users a huge disservice. I see that you have provided a link to view comments, but it takes you to a new page and restarts the video. Please make it so the comments section will just appear right below the media and shift everything else down, without interrupting the video.
ReplyDeleteThe same thing applies to the Related Videos section. That's one of the best ways to discover new people and learn about interesting things that you would have never searched for yourself.
I really do like the design, and the fact that you can view a succession of videos from a YouTuber all on the same page, but the comments and Related Videos sections are a MUST!
Why mess with something that's not broken? YouTube has a strong community that has been there from the beginning because we liked the platform. Do we own YouTube? No. But we sure make it what it is. Why change what we've all grown to know and love? I think it will only alienate your users, and eventually one change will be a change too many, and people will leave.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I don't think the redesign is ALL bad; I just don't see what warranted it in the first place. Facebook made the same mistake.
The channel/user information needs to be at the top. When I see a video I like, I click on the username to find out more about the person's channel. I can scroll down if I want to see more videos; I want to see what the channel is about first! It should be where it was, or to the right of the featured video. The scroll box thing can go below.
I... wow. I just feel like it was so perfect the way it was. I literally had to SEARCH for the comments after I watched a video, which means that those who are new to the community aspect of the site will either be lost, or won't bother. Autoplaying a friend will no longer direct people to their channel. The new design also does no favors for those who still use the 4:3 ratio. And those aren't just noobs-- sxephil and whatthebuckshow don't use widescreen. And the comments are, frankly, the most important part of the community.
ReplyDeleteOK; basically scratch the good things I said in my last comment. I just tried watching some videos with the new layout instead of just looking at the aesthetics.
ReplyDeleteClicking on a video doesn't take you to a video's specific page like it did before. This is a horrible idea.
It took me quite a while to even figure out that I could still comment on a video.
This is a HUGE step backward from a community-oriented site where commenting and interaction was a huge part of the concept, to, like someone above said, a "watch only" site where figuring out how to comment and interact is harder to do and more involved of a process.
Not only does this deter people from interacting, it also makes it harder for new users to get recognition and grow their subscriber/fanbase. The cool part of YouTube WAS that anyone could sign up, post vlogs or videos or whatever, and gather a following. Now, people can find your page but will they really bother going the extra few steps to open a different page to comment or be able to copy/paste the URL to share your videos, and thus give you publicity?
I'm switching back to the old layout. And I sure hope you don't ever make this design mandatory, because I will be forced to use a different video-hosting Web site, and I have talked to other users who will do the same.
Without the users, you are nothing.
I do NOT like the new channel layout. It's missing features that the old layout has and it doesn't look like youtube. I don't think there was anything wrong with the channel layout. I understand why you want to change youtube (although I don't think you should) but I think the new channel layouts are... a mistake.
ReplyDeleteI really don't like the new channel designs. I think they're EXTREMELY ugly and really annoying. I really wish youtube would stop trying to change things...
ReplyDeleteI like the concept of not having to leave someone's channel when you are checking out their videos. This is useful when you're trying to decide whether to subcribe or not. However, a good Youtuber tries to comment and rate on every single video they watch and in order to do this they still must leave the page. If it were possible to comment and rate without leaving the channel, that would be handy, but otherwise this change really isnt much of a change. IMO.
ReplyDeleteThe changes are nice. A few things:
ReplyDelete1. The main info should be up higher. I shouldn't have to scroll down to see who made the video I'm watching.
2. There need to be better controls on which videos show up on your channel page, the way there were before. I liked the choices I had before, now I have none. I can't even switch which playlists are listed first unless I revert back to the old format first, and even that's not working for me.
Hi Youtube i would just like to tell you i love the new layout beta for channels i think that they are awesome so mine is staying like this forever now thanks :)
ReplyDeleteIf this had less bugs..and maybe the ability to move around stuff...I would like it more. But I think its best for us to have an option to change weather its the beta or the original, since most people hate it.
ReplyDeleteSomethings that could be changed or some bugs that exist are:
1. We should have the option to remove our featured video if we want to...and probably add a feature that lets us choose to have the featured video play when you enter the channel, or not play.
2. Make the comments box bigger...I hate scrolling down to look at comments rather than just scan through.
3. Probably let us make all of our backgrounds customizable since there are a few more...
4. Allow hyperlinks to be added to the profile incase our website isn't enough.
5. Add More controls...most of the controls that are given to us don't work as well. (Like some colors)
6. Color Mixer to make our own colors?
And thats all I can say.
HOW DID YOU GET IT
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I almost puked as soon as I saw this.. I'm not kidding, it almost makes me feel sick.
ReplyDeleteNow that I look at it...
Eh... it still looks ugly. It's okay.. (I did not say -good- in anyway though.) ..I guess, but it doesn't stand a chance compared to the current channel design.
Either leave the design how it is, or make this an OPTION.
Blah, blah, blah, yes I know it's still a beta, but come on... ugh. Still, just looks... messy.
And please, please, PLEASE just fix what's broken first, the channel design is fine, fix the comments section, fix the subscription's box (put a little x on the thumbnail or something, so you can delete videos from your subscription box if you've already seen them, or fix it so they don't come back.) seriously I'm begging you:
FIX. WHAT. IS. BROKEN. FIRST!
how do I OPT IN!?
ReplyDeleteI like it but you should be able to personalise it a bit more. Possibly on the level where it says subscribe you could put a banner or something?
ReplyDeleteIts really good! Make sure the subscribe button is the same old yellow button ;)
ReplyDeleteBring back these 2 options.
ReplyDelete1) Being able to change your featured video
2) The Opacity/Transparency level option for your page design
I like it, it would be better if the channel name could be bigger so it's more noticeable, and if the video icons were bigger. Also, it needs the original yellow subscription button :P
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I DON LIKE EET WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA DON'T CHANGE WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WAAAAAA
ReplyDeleteOH Belt up, Accept change, this is good and nice so stop whining.
oh dear me. its so bad. put it back!
ReplyDeleteyoutube should not be about how colorful your profile page is; we have myspace and facebook for that.
youtube is about the people and the content!!!
*Also,
ReplyDeletethe banners and boxes the partners had ere really cool.
put the old layout back!
as long as you dont change the main page im find with that..... also make the sub button the way it was b4..... JUST WHAT EVER YOU DO DONT DONT DONT CHANGE THE MAIN PAGE
ReplyDeleteNo thank you.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I preferred the old layout; this new one is just... no.
ummm i wanna try this out really bad. Youtube.com/bigrdcool5 but how????
ReplyDeletePlease do not change the channel! Your new one is horrible and ugly. It looks like YouTube, with a random flash 'widget' in the middle of the page. YOUTUBE IS NOT A SOCIAL NETWORK AND SHOULD NOT BECOME ONE!
ReplyDeleteDo not try to phase out small YouTube channels and replace it with a social network based around TV shows and movies. Trust me, it won't work. The reason I use YouTube for my videos now is because of the community. Don't start trying to improve it because it is good now. DON'T FIX WHAT ISN'T BROKEN.
Things I like about it:
ReplyDelete++The big video at the top
+++The list on the right-hand side of the previous posts (I really like this, and it's perfect in its current location
Things I don't like about it:
--The user info seems too disconnected. It feels as though it's unimportant and has been shunted to the bottom of the box.
--There's something not quite right about having the Links box where it is, as though it's just filling space.
Miscellaneous comments:
I'd like to be able to expand the description of the big video at the top of the page.
Generally I think it's an improvement -- it feels less myspace-y.
I would like to change my layout to the beta.
ReplyDeleteCould you please change mine to the new layout?
Username: RazorStarProductions
this is a very silly idea and I loooove the channels as they are. However, I am interested in TRIALING it. I have a question for youtube- Can you please set me up with a trial for the beta channel design? Only for a week though, thats all I want to use it for. If I am happy with it, then I will email, but for now i only want a 7 day trial of it =)
ReplyDeleteUsername: homersours
What you should do is instead of changing, make the old one more customizable like put gradients as your backgrounds and switch the boxes to different positions!
ReplyDeleteit's so ugly - please don't change it!!!!!
ReplyDeletei dont like it, and also if you go to another website, the video audio track still plays in the background...
ReplyDeleteI SAY DESTROY THIS NEW CRAP AND LET US USE HTML
HATE IT!!! i tried to go back to my old channel but the ''revert'' button isnt working. OMG IM STUCK WITH THIS CRAPPY BETA VERSION FOREVER!!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely hate it. The changing of the tabs to "Movies" "Music" etc., was enough. The channels were fine. There's not much user information now. But I guess we're stuck with it now. ]=
ReplyDeleteI quite like it - one thing I would suggest is including the ability to leave a comment on the video you're watching in the big box.
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't have to have a list of all the comments the video has, just a (perhaps collapsible?) box that would allow me to leave a comment on the video I'm viewing. I think the functionality of being able to load the different videos into the main player (without leaving the page) is great, but if I want to leave a comment, I then have to navigate off to a different page, which is a bit irksome...
I don't hate it, in fact I really like the look of it and the "play within channel" feature is one I've wanted for a VERY LONG time.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see related videos/comments show up within the framework of this new channel layout as well, related videos could easily show as a new little tab at the top along side "uploads, playlists, favorites, etc." whenever there is a video playing, thus loading the related videos in the section that now houses the users other uploaded/favorited videos.
The Subscribe button should always be yellow, the unsubscribe button can blend into the channel color layout, but I think the yellow button is a hallmark of the site and to change it at this stage in the game is a mistake.
I'm sure that future plans for this new layout is to include customizable "modules", moving them around the page, taking certain modules off by request, that sort of thing. I just wanted to be sure I mentioned them in case, for some odd reason, that wasn't in the later development stages.
Something else I'm sure is in the works is a way to change the featured video, other people have mentioned it so I'll leave it at that.
The Youtube branding box at the top of the channel page is a bit too large, I definitely preferred the old layout for that feature, when you were anywhere that wasn't a main portal of YouTube the navigation at the top became much smaller, giving the content of the channel more prominence overall. I understand the desire to let people know they are still on YouTube, but eating up the screen real estate like that is a bit tacky.
I'd like to at least see that stats for the videos on the channel page, having to click isn't a terrible thing, we already have to do that with the old layout, but knowing how many comments, video responses, ratings, and views a video has received, with links to the individual pages of comments & video responses is something I don't think should be gotten rid of.
I don't think this redesign is "the death of community" in fact I see very little that has changed my experience so far, I still get the videos in my subscription box (although it is still quite buggy, but this isn't the place to complain about that yet), still view the video on it's own page and pretty rarely ever actually interact with the users channel page as it is. However with these few small changes I think the whole thing would be a more pleasant experience for us all.
please youtube! change whatever this is back to normal!
ReplyDeleteAnyone figure out where the private message button is?
ReplyDeleteI kinda like it from my first look. Could use some improvement, background is completely shunned and hard to see/appreciate. Needs more options like transparency like the old layout. I wanna see how this is gonna develop. I'll try it out myself though, to see how it is.
ReplyDeletewww.youtube.com/user/PKLucas531
i dont know how to send those people private messages now :(
ReplyDeletehow do you get the profile 2.0
ReplyDeleteis it for partners only?
youtube has become like tv, full of commercials no one gives a shit about.
ReplyDeleteIts fine as it is
ReplyDeletethe new features ok nice but I absolutly hate the layout of it
ReplyDeleteit looks like crap
For the love of sweet feathery onions please do not impose this change on us. If you want to have two layouts that is fine and let us choose, but please don't take away the old layout. We love it.
ReplyDeletei really and truely hate it. with 98% of my heart! i REALLY hate it. sorry
ReplyDeleteI really like it.. KEEP IT!!! people are saying its horrible because there not used to it!! It HOT!
ReplyDeletebut one thing.. how do send other people with the new version private messages because i cannot see a button to do it??
ReplyDeleteThey are sooo incredibly ugly!! OMG!! its burnin my eyes! for god's sake!!
ReplyDeleteI love it- it's awesome. Breathe a fresh new life into youtube. People cant expect youtube to stay the same while every one else is going beta. Get with the times!
ReplyDeleteim sorry, but it feels horrible, if we can at least change it back like, myspace when they changed their layout it would be much better, like the long time users are used to that, the format that we are in i mean
ReplyDeleteIt has some good features like how you don't leave the channel when you watch a user's video and the big featured video BUT
ReplyDelete- it looks kind of messy
- some of the video description doesn't show if it's a longer one
- a user's recent activities are not that importtand, so that box should be smaller
- the users videos should be the most important and most visible thing on the page
AND
- THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON NEEDS(!!!)TO BE YELLOW!
Wasn't "Broadcast Yourself" the whole point? And what have you done now? You've hidden away the user-generated videos, a whole tab for the entire Youtube community.
ReplyDeleteYoutube is NOT a site for movies and songs and commercials and political campaigns. Sure, it had that feature, but it WAS a site for people to BROADCAST THEMSELVES, make their selves known. Now you've turned it into a Hulu or a SurfTheChannel. It's terrible.
I hate it, and so does everyone else.
stop mucking around with a good layout
ReplyDeleteMake the title of the video playing on the channel AND ACTIVE LINK TO THE PAGE FOR COMMENTS
ReplyDeleteTHX :)
I think it would be good to have those little buttons appear on videos if you look at someones channel (show all uploads / grid view) so you can add them to a qicklist. Or do I just not see that option?
ReplyDeleteThere are things I love and things I hate.
ReplyDelete-Love
That clicking "view all" actually lets you view all in the videos section.
-Hate
That the above is still not the case for the comments. Though this more relates to the general need to revamp the comments system to cater more to discussion.
-Love
The user option to view the videos as either a list or thumbnails.
-Hate
Featured Video Autoplay, this still shouldn't be an option.
-Love
Visible ratings and description for featured video.
-Hate
The video ratings are missing from the rest of the videos. I don't see a point in having a rating system if you have to watch a video to find out what the rating is. But number of views are still displayed, which tells us nothing about whether or not we would want to watch the video. I can't see why views would take precedence over rating.
I like it, it looks cleaner
ReplyDeletehow do I get it ?
ReplyDeleteAll I really want to know is how do I change the featured video?
ReplyDeleteAnd as long as you keep it where I can change back I’m ok with it.
Found some more...
ReplyDeleteFor some reason everything that shows up on my Recent Activity box, has a duplicate. (it shows two times the same thing)!
When the description of the featured video in the channel is really long, the text cuts off.
I'll update more as I keep using this!
SHA!