steven36 Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 YouTube launched its 'Leanback' interface in 2010, originally designed as an automatic playback client for when you didn't want to search and navigate through videos yourself. It later turned into a full-fledged web application for control with a remote, intended for use with smart TVs and other similar devices. Unfortunately, the Leanback web app is about to join the Google Graveyard. Visiting youtube.com/tv or youtube.com/leanback (which redirects to the former) now presents a message. "This version of YouTube will be going away soon. You'll still be able to view youtube.com, but you can get an optimized experience on a supported device." It seems likely that this is an attempt by Google to limit streaming boxes, home theater PCs, and other TV-based devices from accessing YouTube unless there is some of licensing agreement between the manufacturer and Google. Since the leanback interface is simply a web app, it could be used on Raspberry Pis, home theater PCs, smart TVs with a web browser, and much more. Leanback is what allowed Amazon's Fire TV products to still access YouTube after Google pulled its official app. Putting my tin-foil hat on for a moment, perhaps Google is doing this to prevent Amazon from retreating to unofficial TV apps if the companies' current partnership ever sours. Whether or not that's true, the fact remains that Google is still going to be developing Leanback (or something very close to it), since it's what powers the YouTube app on smart TVs and Android TV. It's annoying that Google is artificially restricting the TV YouTube interface to only 'supported devices,' but at least we'll always have the Kodi add-on. Source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhjohns Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 Well, it won't affect me. I took a regular flat screen TV (not smart) and hooked up a computer to it. How google gonna block that shit! Huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven36 Posted September 15, 2019 Author Share Posted September 15, 2019 2 hours ago, dhjohns said: Well, it won't affect me. I took a regular flat screen TV (not smart) and hooked up a computer to it. How google gonna block that shit! Huh? your just using a TV as a monitor with HDMI that's not the same as using the ‘leanback’ TV interface witch is remote optimized. After its shut down you will need a YouTube app or use the Kodi addon with your own YouTube api key so you don't need a mouse . Kodi addon and some apps have limitations with there built in api keys when they have heavy traffic they stop working for awhile so you need your own api key to remove them. The OP is talking about mouseless apps it's not about watching YouTube with a browser were you need a mouse.. most people who have TV Boxes don't use a mouse . Youtube.com is the PC version of YouTube to use with a mouse , youtube.com/tv is the TV-friendly version of the platform where Google doesn’t offer official apps. On my PC most all my media players play Youtube then i have FreeTube app witch play YouTube videos with out using YouTube , It use to use YouTube but the api keys limits max out so much ithey switch to and open source api to play YouTube videos . All YouTube videos are hosted on Google video you dont have to use YouTube API if you don't want .SMTube app for SMplayer dpon't use YouTube API ether .YouTube dont host videos they only and Google API that link to Google Video, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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