Among the many initiatives launched by Google at its September event in India was the unveiling of the YouTube Go app that can act as a data saver. It was announced that the app would be made available later, and now YouTube Go Beta (the testing version) is available at the Google Play Store.
Spotted by the website Android Police first, the app only works in India right now. Some users are currently seeing a message that says, "Our Test program is full right now." Fortunately, there is an APK file available that can be installed as well.
How does it work?
In principal, YouTube Go is built mainly for offline viewing. Many people in India consume content while travelling. So, the app is a stripped down version of the YouTube app. In order to sign up, you need to log in to your Google account and enter your phone number for verification.
The app has two tabs on the top — 'Home' and 'Saved'. If a user clicks on any video, she gets the option of saving it in different qualities as well as streaming it online. The home feed is based on the user's subscriptions and viewing history. One can search for videos but other advanced options are not there.
How long can I keep the video for?
You can watch a saved video without Internet connection for 29 days.
How can I share the video with another user?
Go to the 'Saved' tab in the app and hit send. The receiver has to go to the 'Saved' tab in her phone and hit receive. The app will form a hotspot and you will be able to exchange the video. The receiver would need Internet connection briefly to verify the video.
This is not YouTube's first product for India. Offline videos were launched earlier to help users save data.