Did YouTube Get a Face Lift Today?

yep, new looking is good, but it is not aligned properly in firefox. I am seeing a big blank space on the right side

I notice that too and was wondering if my system was going wacky.

Not sure what the improvements were ...

Yes, got an email from them last week stating that changes would be made soon. Alignment wasn't correct in Safari last night, but seems to be working fine now.

The biggest change is that the videos are now aligned in the center of the screen as opposed to being on the left side. This is supposed to make it easier for the viewers to watch videos and hopefully keep them there longer (watching each video longer, and watching more videos).

I think the change is good so far! I also like how they updated the comments section. Makes it much easier to read and respond!

Here is the email that I got from YouTube:

Dear Creator,

Soon you’ll see an improved YouTube, one you helped us build. The new site design will help you build a bigger, more connected audience by improving new channel discovery, simplifying subscriptions, and keeping your fans plugged in and aware of your new videos no matter where they are.

Over the past seven years, YouTube has grown incredibly fast, driven by you -- your creation, your uploading and your engagement with your fans. Together, we’re changing the face of entertainment, education, news, sports, and media.

Last year we launched the Guide on the YouTube homepage, to help transition YouTube from a video-to-video experience, to a place where you're programming the channels of the future. We’re always listening to your feedback on how we could make this experience even better. For example, we’ve heard a lot about how the subscription box could work, and what the home page could show for people who aren’t signed in. You’ve also suggested that we make it easier for people to find your channels, and for your fans to be alerted when you’ve released new videos. We’ve used your input to improve how people find, watch, and stay connected to the channels they love.

Here’s how we’re changing the site to support your channels:

The Guide on the YouTube homepage is now more current and makes subscriptions more meaningful. It will eventually appear everywhere on the site, as well as on mobile and other devices, helping your subscribers see all your new uploads no matter where they are.
Your video takes center stage on the video viewing page. By moving all the video information and engagement below the video player, the cleaner experience will encourage extended viewing.
We are making it easier to subscribe with enhanced channel recommendations.
We know change isn’t easy, so we don’t take it lightly. Our experiments show that the new design drives subscriptions and keeps fans better connected to their favorite content.

There’s more to come in 2013, including improvements to channels, commenting, and more. As always, we depend on your input to guide our thinking and planning.

Let’s keep building the future of video together.

Best,

The YouTube Creator team

I really like the new design. But just my opinion.

I like the new look. Looks awesome.

I've seen this change for over a week or so ago. I like it.

YouTube defiantly followed Google in terms of a nice creative design that's easy to navigate through. Thankfully this redesign doesn't effect the way I use YouTube which is a general good thumbs up.

I saw the split testing a couple weeks ago. I thought my PC was acting weird as it would switch back and forth from the new and old look.

Overall I like it. There still is a large blank white space on the right side.

Anyone noticed they've faded out the links in the description box.

That won't help the CTR, that's for sure.

But apart from that... It does look a more cleaner and simpler layout.

James Scholes

Looking like Dailymotion now. Though it is looking much cleaner than before.

Before the screen is further down, so you have to scroll down to align to watch it, now it's right at the top so you can watch it without any scrolling.

I think that it looks a lot better, too! I like it!

Cleaner look but mine is still aligned on the far left of the page with big white space on the right in Firefox and Chrome - wonder if they have something planned for that part or the alignment is still a bit off.

I actually hate it. Im very resistant to change though, I get used to where buttons are and stuff so after I post a video I could pretty much blindly like, share on fb, share on twitter, share on tumblr, share on blogger, share on stumbleupon, etc. Now its a diff layout and I'm not quite as quick. In time I'm sure I'll grow to love it and then hate when they change to a new layout a few months down the road.

Loving the new design! Thanks YouTube!

Yeah, I like the new layout. Very cool

Michael

It also made YT marketing a little different...now the use of channel with multiple videos became extremely important!

Some of the changes they made to this new Youtube design, resembles what Windows 8, Hotmail and Skype have done recently.

Getting rid of most Gradients and Glossiness; keeping a more Flat/2D appearance.

I'm really hating the alignment, it's messing with user experience. But one thing that I really like is that you can see user avatars is comments. It can help get more people on your channel, if you have something that catches their eye. Overall this seems like a update that will stay besides a few fixes.

Yeah it's the new Youtube layout. Some people got it a few weeks ago and some go it this week.

I like the Clean look. I noticed it last night

I hate it! I think it looks plain and awful, and some of the elements that I enjoyed from the last layout are no longer there anymore. Should have just left well enough alone.

Looks a mess in firefox

yea looks a lot better to me. I'm not a youtube partner so I didn't notice the changes until now. I vote yes, keep the new layout!

To all the people saying that it looks messy in firefox, Please evolve with the rest of the internet and move to chrome. Thanks. Btw, I'm just playin