Kamis, 19 September 2013

YouTube’s New Offline Video Mode -- Not A Game-Changer, But Still Matters

YouTube yesterday announced a new feature that enables all of us to view videos offline -- when no wifi or network access is available.  They didn’t announce how they do it -- just that they can do it.

Todd Spangler of Variety wrote a piece about this news, in which I am quoted as being bullish on the development.  Bullish from a user’s and content creator’s perspective.

Why?

While we generally have “connected” access virtually everywhere these days, that simply doesn’t apply when -- for example -- you are 30,000 feet up in the air on an airplane.  And, that is one place where it is perhaps most important to be connected, because you are stuck in a seat for hours -- you are a captive audience -- and you (and your kids!) frequently want something to do.  Watching videos is an obvious “want to do” activity when no other activities are available.

Another example?  Road-trips.  Frequently there is no connectivity on long road-trips -- and that ain’t easy on kids these days (and the parents of them who are driving!).  I know, I know -- not much of a tragedy in the scheme of things.  Yet, connectivity -- and videos -- are a nice-to-have in such circumstances.  And, that’s where YouTube’s new offline feature may come to the rescue.

So, I agree with others quoted in Spangler’s piece that this new offline feature is not a game-changer.

But, it absolutely matters ....

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