YouTube on Android TV is testing a function that promises to be unpleasant – Frandroid

YouTube on Android TV (and Google TV) is experimenting with an automatic video playback feature on the app’s home screen… with sound enabled.

3D representation of the YouTube logo // Source: Shubham Dhage on Unsplash

Like the mobile app, Youtube on Android TV (and Google tv) regularly tries various tests in order to improve the user experience. Unfortunately, the last experiment marked by 9to5Google may be quite unpleasant.

Indeed, the site explains that from a handful of users, YouTube automatically plays videos on the home page with the sound activated. This happens as soon as you let the cursor stay on a thumbnail for a few seconds.

You can deactivate this option

Two things need to be known. The first is the most annoying. Those affected by this Google test will see this preview option with sound enabled by default. Then, unlike similar autoplay functions on mobile and the web, the preview offered by YouTube on Android TV only launches part of the video. You will not be able to view it in full from the Home screen.

If you are concerned by this experiment and it annoys you, you will have to deactivate the option from the settings of YouTube in the dedicated section “Preview with sound” which will probably result in “Preview with sound” on the interface in French.

Source: 9to5Google

As indicated 9to5Google, it is not possible for the moment to know to what extent this option under test has been deployed. However, the medium was able to replicate the experience on several devices, including one Nvidia Shield TV and one Chromecast with Google TV.

The deployment of the function is therefore linked to users’ accounts and not to their devices.

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