The streaming website YouTube is still the number 1 public streaming service around -- and it has managed to improve its services, albeit slightly. In a post on one of its social media outlets, the streaming giant updated its iOS users that it will be completely removing any unused space in their videos, which are often referred to as black bars. This means that users will be able to maximize their screens with this new feature.
According to YouTube's main Twitter handle called Team YouTube, it posted the caption stating, "Bye bye black bars," as it updated the next step in improving its streaming services for its loyal users. This report has been specifically for iOS users, and the new feature will allow the videos to change automatically according to how the YouTube videos are being viewed by the users.
Some people have inquired if this feature will also apply to high-definition quality videos, to which Team YouTube replied that it might take a while before they adopt the new system for higher-quality videos. Although the improvement can be seen as a minor one by some people, it definitely addresses the concern of those who have been complaining about the unfilled areas of their screens -- which somewhat compromises the whole viewing experience.
However, the logical question would be: Is this the end for vertical videos? As of now, smartphones will have to adjust or be prompted for the videos to be viewed horizontally -- which is the typically preferred way of viewing YouTube videos. Given that the primary objective of YouTube is to eliminate all blank spaces in their videos, this is a natural concern that may change the approach of how smartphones are going to be manufactured moving forward.
CNet speculates that the videos could still be viewed vertically while still filling up the entire screen of any device being used. However, it is still safe to assume that most videos viewed vertically could come out awkwardly from a purely visual perspective.
