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YouTube app updated for iPad Pro; still lacks support for Split View and Picture in Picture

iPad Pro YouTube

Today Google pushed a long-awaited update to its YouTube app, which adds support for the iPad Pro. As you might imagine, the additional resolution makes the app look much more at home on Apple’s super-sized tablet than before. Unfortunately, outside of a few additional bug fixes, no other big features made the cut for today’s update. In other words, support for key features like Split View, which makes it possible to enjoy true side-by-side multitasking, and Picture and Picture mode are still missing in action.

Google has been slow in general when it comes to rolling out support for the iPad’s headlining features. It’s been over three months since the iPad Pro launched, and users are still unable to view videos with the official YouTube app using the handy Picture in Picture mode, not to mention Split View.

What’s New

  • Native resolution on iPad Pro
  • Fixed bug that caused the keyboard to freeze while commenting
  • Fixed bug that caused a crash after adding an account on iOS 7

The good news is that there are iPad apps available that allow you to enjoy YouTube videos with both Split View and Picture and Picture support in tow. In fact, CornerTube and YouPlayer are two helpful apps that come to mind. CornerTube focuses primarily on Picture in Picture mode, and YouPlayer is an outright replacement for the YouTube app, bringing Split View, Picture in Picture mode and other handy features to the fore.

If you’re looking for the best YouTube experience, then I recommend checking out some of the third party offerings, starting with the apps mentioned above.

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Comments

  1. PMZanetti - 8 years ago

    Netflix hasn’t even gone that far.

  2. darwiniandude - 8 years ago

    At least Google make iOS apps, they don’t make Windows Phone apps at all.

    But seriously, poor form Google, poor form. Get with the times. Leaving this functionality out will not make people buy Android tablets.

  3. eDDie (@GuyBey0ndC00L) - 8 years ago

    Tubex App is Best YouTube alternative I found so far. It has Split View, Picture and Picture, Audio Only Mode, and Audio Background Playback. For playing YouTube from your lock screen.

    • Jeff Benjamin - 8 years ago

      Hey eDDie, good to see you ’round these parts. I’ll have to try Tubex. I thought YouPlayer was pretty good, so if this is better, it must be something special.

    • Robin (@pacorob) - 8 years ago

      I still think ProTube is the best out there because it also doesn’t show the ads besides all the above which Tubex, YouPlayer can. There is also CornerTube and Moldavite but they only offer Picture in Picture (PiP) as an extra feature.

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Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Jeff Benjamin

Jeff is the head of video content production for 9to5. He initially joined 9to5Mac in 2016, producing videos, walkthroughs, how-tos, written tutorials, and reviews. He takes pride in explaining things simply, clearly, and concisely. Jeff’s videos have been watched hundreds of millions of times by people seeking to learn more about today’s tech. Subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube to catch Jeff’s latest videos.