Hasta La Gadget!

It has been rumored multiple times this year that Google might launch a YouTube music streaming subscription service. It was initially believed that the service would be launched this summer, however that didn’t happen. Then we heard that the service might be launched by the end of 2013, and according to the latest report by AllThingsD, that’s not going to happen. Citing people familiar with the matter, the report claims that YouTube’s music streaming service has been delayed until early 2014.

An exact release date has not been rumored, though according to the report, the company is looking at a possible launch in Q1, 2014. Apparently the company isn’t satisfied with the service despite the fact that it already has licenses from record labels, obtaining these licenses is a titanic task in itself and vital for the existence of a music streaming service. The YouTube team is said to be working on a method to integrate content generated by users, such as mashups or lipsyncs, alongside conventional songs and music videos. Hints of the YouTube music streaming service were recently discovered in the updated YouTube app for Android, despite that, the company hasn’t officially confirmed that it is working on such a service.

YouTube Music Streaming Service Reportedly Delayed original content from Ubergizmo.

In case you do not have access to your smartphone, computer, tablet, smart TV, Xbox 360, PS3, Boxee Box, PS Vita or any of the other countless connected devices, you can now watch YouTube on a Nintendo 3DS.

Nearly 2 years after its launch, the 3DS now has a YouTube app. The top screen plays back the video while the bottom serves up touchscreen controls. The shoulder buttons control navigation and the directional pad provides scrolling options. Or, use a stylus to control everything. Essentially, the app performs as expected.

Ironically, the app does not support 3D YouTube videos.

The app is now available through the 3DS eShop in North America and Europe, joining Netflix and Hulu which launched just last month.

(In case it’s not obvious, YouTube is not available on a Game Boy Color, nor does it ship in cartridge form. But these mockups, like the one featured here, are pretty awesome.)

For an app to remain the same without receiving any updates or upgrades at all from the developer does not bode well for its future – in fact, it would mean the app would have a relatively short shelf life since competitors would have far outstripped it in terms of progress in the long run. Having said that, popular mobile app YouTube is in line for yet another update, where a recent APK teardown points (APK stands for Application Package File, and is a file format for the Android ecosystem) to the very real possibility of a Music Pass service.

This Music Pass service is said to be a streaming music service that will also be accompanied by offline video playback, where the latter feature would definitely be more than welcome for most mobile users. Snippets in the code teardown revealed the future “Music Pass” feature, where it references both background music playback in addition to having “no ads on millions of songs”. As for offline video, it does seem as though one is able to save their videos for offline viewing later in either low-quality (360p) or high-quality (720p). It remains to be seen just when will these features finally make their way to the masses.

YouTube App Teardown Points To Possible Music Pass Service original content from Ubergizmo.

Rumors of a YouTube-based music service just got some credibility thanks to an Android Police teardown of the Android app’s most recent code. The site has found references to a Music Pass that would let subscribers listen to “millions of songs” ad-free, even with the app running in the background. Customers could also pin content to the device for offline listening, although it would expire if the device stayed offline for too long. There’s no guarantee that Google will launch the Music Pass soon (if at all), but don’t be surprised if the YouTube app becomes your personal jukebox in the near future.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Google

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