Some YouTube users on Android smartphones have already introduced a new feature called smart downloads. It’s not available to everyone, but some videos can be downloaded automatically. In particular, this feature allows users to automatically download 20 videos per week when connected to a WiFi network. Offline content is displayed in the Downloads section of the Library section. This feature is similar to what is already available on YouTube Music and is useful if you have a low prepaid traffic plan or if you are in an area where your internet connection is unstable or nonexistent.
A special algorithm is responsible for selecting the videos to download. Users with low memory will be notified of additional steps required to continue the smart download. This feature works on the latest version of Android. YouTube has decided to limit the number of users who can try out the new features. Only available to some premium account users in Europe. To see if smart downloads are available to users, go to the YouTube app, click the avatar icon and select Settings and Try new features. Another option is to go to the Library section and click the Smart Downloads banner in the Downloads section.
Sources: youtube.com
Honestly, I think Youtube is barely hanging in there. Its most recent decisions have angered many people (Youtube Premium, double-unskippable adds, and so on), and using it now is almost like torture. It’s hard for me to cheer for it. Anyway, I don’t think this feature is going to help them raise consumer satisfaction…
This feature is nice, but if people want to watch youtube videos offline there are plenty of web-sides that allow you to paste in any youtube link and download an mp4 file. I think youtube should focus more on customer satisfaction rather than pushing harder and harder for youtube premium
I can imagine it being useful, but youtube is becoming worse and worse. There are other major problems to be solved, their focus should not be on smart algorithm downloading stuff, but on fixing basic stuff.
I do not think that such feature need the algorithm to work. If I’m given memeory of my phone to be packed with some youtube vidios, I personally would like to choose only videos I would love to watch or are interesting for me. Sometimes algorithm can estimate wrong my likes and i will end up with my memory card full and the go through the process of uninstaling videos. On top of that i think that releasing a new feature when there are bug sand stupied adds on every vido that angry people is not a very wise move.
I think few people nowadays have problems with internet connection and in the future, even fewer will have. I personally think about watching videos on YouTube only when I have an internet connection. If I don’t have I rather use different applications where I can download film that I want to see and watch later(Netflix for example). Youtube should focus on other things to change to get more users.