After giving up on Hulu during one of my recent posts, I headed over to YouTube trying to find a good playlist to occupy my speakers over the next few hours. Once the first video began to play I noticed a new button near the top of the player. I moused over the button and a “Turn Down The Lights” message appeared and as I clicked it the page around the YouTube player turned to dark gray.
The difference a darker page makes is amazing! After I left the page and went to a different video the “turn down the lights” icon was gone. Apparently this optional icon is available for use for videos published by “director” class users (anyone can be a director) and Youtube Partners. You’re not likely to see the feature showing up on any of your favorite shorter clips anytime soon.
Turn Down The Lights in action:
It seems the pace of YouTube’s evolution may be increasing. I am noticing small changes almost every week this summer. It almost makes their site interesting again.
Is YouTube taking advantage of the recent negative feedback hulu users have been posting on their blogs and message boards by releasing new features at the height of user frustration on other networks? Does all this work by the YT engineers somehow tie in with a plan to decrease financial losses in the 2nd half of 2009? Will YouTube ever find ways to solve their revenue situation? Are sponsored videos going to add any significant revenue? Wait and see.
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Great demo. I have seen YouTube pop up a couple buttons up as well. Let’s hope they have bigger plans on the horizon. Maybe they can improve their social network a little.