Google has launched Play Store betas for YouTube TV and YouTube Music, in line with the main YouTube app. This would allow interested users to gain access to new and under-testing features before they are available for the rest.
There are currently no beta releases available for YouTube Music and TV. However, 9to5Google claims that joining the beta takes an awfully long time, reportedly keeping them stuck on the “Joining beta…” page for a few hours. It’s unclear if this is a common occurrence or just an isolated incident. Users can either join the beta on mobile or on the web using the dedicated Play Store beta links for YouTube Music and YouTube TV.
The inclusion of YouTube Music in beta is somewhat surprising given that the app usually gets new features via A/B tests. The folks at 9to5Google speculate that the app could offer previews of additional server-side features to beta testers.
YouTube Music could soon get a playlist redesign
Among the under-testing features of YouTube Music are a revamped playlist view and a collection of new colors on the home screen background. The latter is a minor inclusion to the app and adds a touch of color to an otherwise bland home screen. Curiously, the colors aren’t user-customizable, something that future versions could rectify.
Developers are now more comfortable releasing beta versions of their apps on the Play Store. This is a far cry from the days of manually sideloading apps if you wanted to become a beta tester. Even the main YouTube app has a beta version since 2018, giving users access to some of the features ahead of time.
But becoming a beta tester isn’t always fun. App developers often test out features that may not be fully ready yet. There’s also the likelihood of an app being unstable. This unpredictable behavior is pretty similar to the beta versions of Android but on a smaller scale. For companies like Google, having a beta version means it can get a ton of feedback on features that work and the ones that don’t. In the end, it’s a win-win situation for both users and developers.
2022-05-11 15:05:49