Apple’s desire to remove as much of Google as possible from their iOS devices has taken another step overnight with the release of the latest beta build of iOS 6, the still developer-only version of Apple’s cross-platform operation system.
The result? Yesterday’s beta release kills off the somewhat aged and tired YouTube app from the iPad and iPhone home screens, leaving the only current option that of browsing to YouTube’s mobile site via Safari, the included web browser.
It’s not ideal, but it’s not as terrible as you might first think.
“Our license to include the YouTube app in iOS has ended,” says an Apple statement on the matter. “Customers can use YouTube in the Safari browser and Google is working on a new YouTube app to be on the App Store.”
Google are happy to reinforce this notion. “We are working with Apple to ensure we have the best possible YouTube experience for iOS users,” the company said. Presumably then this’ll mean more frequent updates and tighter integration, something the built-in app never really managed.
Apple removed Google’s Maps app at the start of the iOS 6 beta run, replacing it with one of their own which includes clever 3D cities, but no StreetView.
KeRaSh
The iOS Youtube app was/is quite shoddy anyways. Youtube on an Android is great but that’s what you expect considering it’s part of Google. Hopefully they release a similar version on iTunes.
The Lone Steven
If it results in an improved version then i suspect many people won’t mind waiting for the new version to come out. If possible, bookmark YT. :-) Am a bit surprised Google is working with Apple as they are rivals. That said, i wonder if Google is charging Apple for the new app? Or if Apple plans to sell it and then take their cut of the profits?
Awayze
I don’t want to wait a year for Google to develop a YouTube app for iOS!
Now I’ll have to watch adverts in Safari to watch a YT video.