YouTube's new TV app feature helps you find the good stuff faster

Image: YouTube

Navigating YouTube with a TV remote can be a pain point compared to the ease of a touchscreen. So, the latest TV update is aimed at conquering those long intros. Forget guesswork with the progress bar—the app will now auto-generate key moments in videos. You shouldn't confuse this with the AI-powered recommendations for YouTube Premium, though.

Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube, announced the update on X (formerly Twitter). This means you might soon see white markers appear on the progress bar when watching videos on your TV. (Don't worry if you haven't spotted them yet, the rollout could be ongoing.)

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YouTube Music now lets you download songs for offline listening on web

Image: Android Authority

YouTube Music, Google’s dedicated music streaming service, is making offline listening more accessible with the rollout of offline downloads for its web app. This welcome feature brings the website in line with its mobile app counterpart, allowing users to save songs and playlists for enjoyment even without an internet connection.

YouTube has been testing this feature for a while now, but it seems to have gained wider availability as of March 29. While the feature isn’t showing for everyone yet, some users are being greeted with a “New! Download music to listen offline” message beside their Library tab.

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YouTube Music gets personal with new Activity feed

Image: r/YoutubeMusic / Reddit

Since early 2024, YouTube Music has been ramping up notifications, and now they're taking it a step further with a dedicated "Activity" feed in the mobile app. Look for a new bell icon next to the search bar. Tapping it reveals a feed of recently released music from artists you follow, conveniently organized by "This Week" and "Earlier."

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YouTube Music gains long-awaited Hum to Search feature

Image: u/Izmir_Stinger / Reddit

Great news for music lovers who struggle to recall song titles! YouTube Music is finally rolling out the "Hum to Search" functionality, similar to the one available in the main YouTube app since October. This feature utilizes artificial intelligence to recognize melodies you hum, sing, or play on another device. On Android, you'll find a dedicated "Song" button next to the search bar for quick access, while iOS users might already have the feature through an earlier update.

While it doesn't automatically save identified songs to a playlist like Spotify, finding that catchy tune you can't remember is now a breeze. This addition brings YouTube Music more in line with its predecessor, Google Play Music, and offers a convenient way to discover music.

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