YouTube goes widescreen

YouTube goes widescreen

Andrew Lyle on 25 November 2008 - 08:12 · 25 comments & 9801 views

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YouTube rolled out an exciting change to all of its users today, by expanding the width of their videos to widescreen (16:9), from the previous standard format (4:3), making the player 960 pixels wide.

A post, in the YouTube Blog, confirmed that all previous 4:3 aspect ratio videos will all still be watchable, and play just fine. This highly anticipated update to go widescreen comes as a surprise to many, as some dislike the change to the player going widescreen, where most think the change was needed to the aging player. This update could be the start of more changes to come, after YouTube announced it will be selling keyword searches to users and businesses.

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#1 excalpius on 25 Nov 2008 - 09:16

It's about friggin time. Now we can put up some high quality content and watch it in the aspect ratio that god intended. 8D

#2 +accesser on 25 Nov 2008 - 09:20

Excellent going to check it out now

(3 replies) #3 The Tjalian on 25 Nov 2008 - 09:32

I wish they'd retroactively apply this all of the videos I uploaded in widescreen, but got converted to crappy 4:3. All my 16:9 videos are now shrunk to 4:3, but then have those awful black borders. At the very least, they should have let you have a scale option so you can adjust the width of the video yourself.

EDIT: Also, I don't like how the right "column" on youtube is now squashed, either, they should have modified the actual page width along with it (seriously, I'm getting so annoyed with this "fixed with" design trend, this isn't the bloody 90s, if you have a small resolution its your own damn problem).

#3.1 cJr. on 25 Nov 2008 - 11:24

I'm getting so annoyed with this "fixed with" design trend, this isn't the bloody 90s, if you have a small resolution its your own damn problem).

Some of us have very good resolutions with very good sized monitors. We just like to see out beautiful Windows Vista glass and some of our gadgets in the background; therefore we do not maximise our windows often!

#3.2 MiG- on 25 Nov 2008 - 12:47

cJr. said,

But that wouldn't affect you. The page would still say the same size. Thats the beauty of non-fixed width pages. If the design is done properly then if you are viewing on a big screen the page will get bigger. Rightly so IMO.

#3.3 +statm1 on 26 Nov 2008 - 14:33

Fixed width designs NOWadays are not about function they are about design. I happen to add fixed width designs to all my sites, because I personally think they look better than being stretched and pulled to fit both sides of a widescreen monitor.. It makes a sucky design.

#4 max-pain on 25 Nov 2008 - 10:02

making the player 960 pixels wide

Not the player but the YouTube page. I think the player window is 640 pixels wide.

(2 replies) #5 cJr. on 25 Nov 2008 - 11:25

This is a fantastic update! The other day, I saw a blogger embed a 720p YouTube video in a CNET blog post and it looked outstanding! I was wondering when widescreen videos would come to YouTube and was pleasantly surprised by this today!

I just hope the majority of videos out there now become 720p

#5.1 Revolution. on 25 Nov 2008 - 11:30

are your kidding me, just imagine the download size for just 1 video if it was 720p, i have 25gb of downloads and no way i could last especially when i dont even last a month without getting capped!

but i like this update

been wanting this for ages

fantastic idea youtube!

#5.2 theyarecomingforyou on 25 Nov 2008 - 14:06

The download size isn't an issue for those of us without bandwidth caps. It's hard to go back to YouTube quality after watching the HD videos over on Gametrailers - the difference is incredible and it still streams perfectly.

#6 ThaCrip on 25 Nov 2008 - 11:47

i suppose this is good if you got bandwidth to burn... but since my internet connection is generally on the slower side for 'high speed' (i.e. 40KB/s) i would rather keep video files on the smaller side cause it's just youtube not a fricking movie etc. lol

(1 reply) #7 Pygmy_Hippo on 25 Nov 2008 - 12:49

Does anyone know of any way to revert it to 4:3? I work with people with autism and i've had merry hell this morning with a client as his video's are "BAD". :s

#7.1 LTD on 25 Nov 2008 - 13:11

Pygmy_Hippo said,

Does anyone know of any way to revert it to 4:3? I work with people with autism and i've had merry hell this morning with a client as his video's are "BAD". :s

Thank you for not saying "revert it back" "or revert back."

I hate hearing that. It's common in idiotic business-speak. Along with "irregardless."

#8 duneworld on 25 Nov 2008 - 14:39

Is there a particular reason why this took so long?

(1 reply) #9 afusion on 25 Nov 2008 - 16:15

trying to compete w/ Hulu's 480p

#9.1 +Ned on 26 Nov 2008 - 01:32

...and failing.

#10 Magallanes on 25 Nov 2008 - 16:29

Welcome to Youtube's lag.

#11 qdave on 25 Nov 2008 - 17:22

i like this new change.

#12 kingofthecarts on 25 Nov 2008 - 17:24

when 1080?

#13 devin- on 25 Nov 2008 - 17:24

&fmt=22 enables 720p for recent HD uploads if you didn't know.

#14 DigitalDude on 25 Nov 2008 - 20:41

I use a widescreen on my laptop and I think they should let you have the option to get rid of the side black bars and just stretch it on all old 4:3 videos because it's sort of annoying. Great update though.

#15 fourinjuly4ij on 25 Nov 2008 - 21:51

I noticed this at like 2am this morning. I thought that was new, but it didn't phase me much. About time though.

(1 reply) #16 s0nic69 on 27 Nov 2008 - 03:01

do they have an option for widescreen and regutal screen?

#16.1 +Loveheart on 01 Dec 2008 - 21:11

s0nic69 said,

do they have an option for widescreen and regutal screen?

Agreed. Wide screen on my '22 inch is great, but now most videos I browse/submit on go widescreen, even if they are not.

#17 HalcyonX12 on 29 Nov 2008 - 16:41

Hey come on, why go widescreen if you don't even do high res?

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