Xbox One users should spend less time hunting and pecking and more time streaming videos to the big screen, thanks to a just-released update to YouTube’s app for the gaming console. And other set-top boxes and gaming consoles will soon follow suit.
YouTube announced Thursday that it would make its assortment of apps for streaming videos on TVs easier to use, starting with the release of the new YouTube Xbox One app. The new version features a one-click What to Watch guide on the left side of the screen. It’s similar to the YouTube channel guide already found on the desktop and mobile versions of YouTube, and it gives Xbox One users direct access to their video channel subscriptions and playlists. The updated app also features new channel pages.
“When you sign in, you can jump to all the latest videos from your subscriptions and recommendations in the What to Watch section, or pop on a playlist you’ve saved such as Blogilates’ Cardio AB Attack and turn your TV into a workout buddy,” according to the YouTube blog post announcing the Xbox One update.
One of the new channel pages in the Xbox version of YouTube’s app
The new YouTube Xbox One app is built using HTML5, which means you can see what it looks like online.
That’s fine for Xbox One users, you may be thinking—but what about those of us who use a different console or set-top box to access YouTube on our TVs? YouTube says it will roll out updates to other streaming devices in the coming weeks.