The YouTube app for Windows Phone developed by Microsoft has been updated to once again use the HTML5-based mobile website to watch videos, the latest stage in the troubled development of the app.
Microsoft first launched its native YouTube app for Windows Phone 8 in May to provide a high-quality video viewing experience to users of their platform since Google didn"t have plans to support Windows Phone. However, Google sent a "cease and desist" letter for removal of the in-house app from the Windows Phone Store. The app was relaunched once again with some changes, but the new app also didn"t comply with Google"s advertising policies and was ordered to be taken down.
It was reported that Microsoft and Google were working together on releasing the YouTube app back in May. Now, it seems that Microsoft has given up the effort to please Google and reverted to a basic app which accesses YouTube"s mobile website and opens videos as browser links instead of native playback. The updated app does not provide any additional functionality than the website and merely acts as a shortcut from the app list. It doesn"t look like there will be a YouTube app that uses Google"s APIs in the near future and users will need to rely on alternatives.
Source: WPCentral | Image via Microsoft