YouTube

Now Shazam can name songs even when you wear headphones

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Shazam app
Now Apple's Shazam functionality can identify songs even when you wear headphones.
Photo: Apple

Shazam, Apple’s popular app that can name any song in seconds, added a cool new feature Thursday in version 17.3 — it now works even when you wear headphones.

And that’s true for music playing around you or within apps like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, Apple said.

Block all YouTube ads with the best Safari extension ever [Awesome Apps]

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Vinegar running on iOS
No ads. Picture-in-picture. Background play. All in one extension. Perfect, no notes.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Awesome Apps

If you love YouTube but hate YouTube ads, Vinegar is the best Safari extension you can download. It blocks all ads on YouTube and restores many iOS-native features like playing videos in the background, picture-in-picture, and more on iPhone, iPad and Mac alike.

YouTube ads are freaking insufferable. But if you don’t want to put down the dough for YouTube Premium (currently $13.99 per month), you can pay a one-time fee of just $1.99 to buy Vinegar for all your Apple devices.

If you ever watch YouTube, Vinegar is life-changing. Get it now on the App Store for iOS, iPadOS and macOS.

How to watch Apple’s ‘Scary Fast’ Mac event

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Scary Fast event logo superimposed on aerial photo of Apple Park
Apple’s “Scary Fast” event is a surprise event coming this Monday.
Photo: Arne Müseler/Wikimedia Commons/Apple

 How can you watch the Apple Mac event today? You can stream the event on YouTube, on the apple.com website or on your smart TV.

This week, Apple is expected to debut the M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max, roll it out in the 24-inch iMac and MacBook Pro and potentially update the Magic Keyboard, Mouse and Trackpad to USB-C. It’s less likely we’ll see any new iPads or AirPods at this event.

Here’s how you can watch it all live.

Judge blocks government from pushing social media censorship

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Social Media
A federal judge blocked federal government contact with social media sites.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

A federal judge in Louisiana issued a broad injunction Tuesday limiting federal government contact with social media sites over what the Biden administration may see as disinformation spreading out of control.

The ruling is one of many upcoming that frame a fight over the constitutionality of curbing social media’s influence in light of the First Amendment’s right to freedom of expression.

Today in Apple history: iTunes ditches movie trailer downloads

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Apple's iTunes movie trailers go dark as streaming supplants downloads.
iTunes movie trailers go dark.
Photo: Tookapic/Pexels CC

May 24: Today in Apple history: iTunes ditches movie trailer downloads May 24, 2013: Apple begins phasing out the option for users to download movie trailers from its once enormously popular trailers.apple.com website.

The move signifies a major change taking place in the way customers consume digital content. Downloads will continue to decline as streaming services like YouTube and Netflix pick up steam.

This expert advice will show you how to win YouTube

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Get over 50 hours of YouTube advice from the experts for only $49.
Learn to create viral YouTube videos with this $49 master class bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Social media channels come and go, but there’s a reason YouTube has not only endured but thrived. Animators, comedians, athletes, singers and teachers can all find an audience on this free-form video platform — but that doesn’t mean all of them will. Making a viral video and, ultimately, a successful YouTube channel, is equal parts art and science, and the 2023 All-in-One YouTube Masterclass Bundle can teach you both.

Even better, this educational bundle is now only $48.99 (regularly $2,400). It’s never been more affordable to learn the tips and tricks of seasoned YouTubers to get a head start on your own goals on the platform.

YouTube Premium getting SharePlay support for watching with friends

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YouTube Bundle
Google is adding a collection of new features and enhancements for YouTube Premium.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

YouTube will soon get support for SharePlay, as well as videos with higher bitrates. And queuing up videos and jumping between devices will get easier, too.

The enhancements are part of Google efforts to get more subscribers for YouTube Premium.

Here’s your chance to talk directly to Jon Stewart [Updated]

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Apple TV+ said you can ask this guy questions on Thursday. No, seriously.
Apple TV+ said you can ask this guy questions on Thursday. No, seriously.
Photo: Apple TV+

Jon Stewart, longtime host of The Daily Show and current host of The Problem with Jon Stewart on Apple TV+ — and to many folks a sort of comedic conscience of the nation — will take your calls on Thursday, February 23.

That’s the same day the streaming service said six new episodes of Stewart’s show would air weekly starting Friday, March 3.

Meanwhile, he’s doing a livestream on the The Problem‘s YouTube channel at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. “He’ll be taking your calls,” the show tweeted.

This is your key to YouTube success, and it costs less than $49

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Get this YouTube masterclass on sale for less than $50 today.
Become a successful YouTube creator with this top-rated master class.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Creating a successful YouTube channel is no small feat, but it’s one of the best things you can do for yourself and your business. Always wanted to start but haven’t made the move? Now’s the time to follow a tried-and-tested strategy and finally make it happen with this YouTube course bundle.

You can grab it on sale today for just $48.96. And with 12 informative courses included, that works out to just $4 a course.

Send a YouTube link that starts (and stops!) at a specific time [Pro Tip]

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Share videos that get to the point.
Copy a link to a YouTube video that starts partway through and save everyone some time.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Pro tip bug Say you want to send someone a link to a YouTube video, but you just want to show them a specific part halfway through. Doing this is really easy from both the YouTube website or the app.

Let me show you how to share a YouTube video that starts at a specific time.

Edit videos quickly and creatively with Wondershare Filmora 12

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Wondershare Filmora 12 is fun and easy to use for video editing.
Wondershare Filmora 12 is fun and easy to use for video editing.
Image: Wondershare

If you create content for YouTube and TikTok, you know the quality of your video is key to getting your work noticed. But not just anyone can make great videos — unless they have the right tools. One of the best tools you can use to easily put your creativity to work making videos quickly is Wondershare Filmora.

What makes it great? Anyone at any skill level can use Filmora to import and edit video, add special effects and transitions, and share the finished product. And the new version of the software, Filmora 12, adds more than a dozen great new features.

YouTube for iPhone adds pinch to zoom, precise seeking, more

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Google's YouTube for iPhone adds pinch to zoom, precise seeking, more
Finding the exact moment in a YouTube video you're looking for is a lot easier with Precise Seek.
Screenshot: Google

Google upgraded the iOS YouTube application with a number of enhancements, including pinch to zoom in videos and a new way of showing thumbnails while rewinding will make it easier to find an exact location.

There are other changes too, and some of the enhancements are coming to the desktop version.

YouTube Premium’s Family plan is getting more expensive

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you.tube.logo.4
Time to pay more to watch ad-free videos on YouTube.
Photo: YouTube

Google is raising YouTube Premium’s Family plan pricing in the US, Canada, and several other parts of the world. In the US, the YouTube Premium family plan will now cost $22.99 per month, up from $17.99.

YouTube’s Premium plan for families is getting a similar price hike in Canada, with the rate increasing from CA$17.99 to CA$22.99. The higher subscription prices will go into effect from November 21.

YouTube picture-in-picture finally rolls out for all iPhone users

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YouTube picture-in-picture finally rolls out for all iPhone users
The wait is over. YouTube picture-in-picture is now available for all iPhone and iPad users.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

YouTube has brought picture-in-picture support to all U.S. users of its iOS and iPadOS apps. The feature is rolling out now, and will allow users to watch videos in a mini player while also using other applications.

The convenient feature has been in beta testing for many months

Apple’s clever Escape From the Office ad hits YouTube top 10

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Apple’s clever 'Escape from the Office' ad hits YouTube top 10
Escape from the Office is more than an ad for Apple products. It's fun and aspirational.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple successfully created an extended video advertisement that people want to watch. Escape From the Office made it on YouTube’s own most most popular global ads of the past year.

It’s about a group who sets out to create a small business after ditching corporate life. They use Apple products, of course, but that’s not truly the focus.

Improved iPhone privacy protections could cost Facebook $20.9 billion and counting

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Facebook vs. iPhone App Tracking Transparency
Turns out the answer to this question was “do not track” 80% of the time.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

A tweak to iOS privacy settings made in 2021 has already cost Facebook $8.1 billion, and the social-networking company’s losses will increase by another $12.8 billion in 2022, according to an industry report.

Forcing applications to ask permission before tracking their users’ online activity hurt other companies, too. But nowhere near as much as Facebook.

iMovie 3.0’s new features make short work of social videos

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iMovie 3 Storyboard feature
Storyboards provide a shot-by-shot guide to the most common social videos.
Photo: Apple

iMovie has long been Apple’s default tool for creating quick, gorgeous videos on your iPhone or iPad. With Tuesday’s update to iMovie 3.0, Apple added a pair of new creative tools designed to help “aspiring content creators and moviemakers learn to edit and improve their video storytelling skills.”

The ultimate goal? To make creating compelling videos easier than ever.

YouTube picture-in-picture rolling out for all iPhone users [Update: NOPE]

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YouTube Picture in Picture is back. At least for now.
Watching a YouTube video in Picture in Picture is back!
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

YouTube said Sunday that it is rolling out picture-in-picture support for all users of its iOS app. Then it walked the announcement back on Monday. A mixup by a support person is the problem.

The convenient feature has been in beta testing for many months, and some people say they’ve begun getting access to the non-beta version several days ago. But not according to YouTube.

YouTube may be rolling out picture-in-picture feature for all iPhone users

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YouTube picture-in-picture may finally be close to full iPhone support
The long, long wait for YouTube picture-in-picture support for iPhone could be near its end.
Graphic: YouTube

Looks like YouTube might have begun rolling out picture-in-picture support for all users of its iOS app. A Cult of Mac reader reports the feature started working on his iPhone on Wednesday, and he’s not a YouTube Premium subscriber.

Beta testing for the PiP feature is scheduled to end April 8, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the rollout had already begun.

YouTube TV launches picture-in-picture feature on iPhone and iPad

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YouTube TV
Picture-in-picture support for iPhone and iPad comes to YouTube TV. But not to all YouTube users.
Image: YouTube/Cult of Mac

YouTube TV subscribers with an iPhone or iPad can now watch shows in a small window while another app is open. The feature is rolling out now.

However, picture-in-picture support is not yet available for all mobile users of the YouTube application, as has been promised.

YouTube still doesn’t offer promised picture-in-picture feature on iPhone

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YouTube picture-in-picture may finally be close to full iPhone support
The long, long wait for YouTube picture-in-picture support for iPhone could be near its end.
Graphic: YouTube

YouTube has once again pushed back the date when it will apparently follow through on its promise to allow all iPhone users to watch video from its application in a small window while another app is open. The feature is already available for YouTube Premium subscribers, but it in beta testing, and that is scheduled to end on April 8. So that’s that next date that picture-in-picture could become available for all iPhone users.

When it finally launches, PiP will make YouTube videos easier to enjoy because they’ll allow people to use their iPhone to multitask while also watching.

YouTube TV is finally embracing Picture in Picture on iPhone and iPad

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YouTube TV
It's about time.
Image: YouTube/Cult of Mac

YouTube TV is finally giving users the ability to use Picture in Picture on iPhone and iPad. The feature, which has long been available inside YouTube TV on Android, will roll out “hopefully in the next few months.”

And that’s not all users can look forward to. YouTube chief product officer Neal Mohan this week also promised expanded surround sound support.

YouTube picture-in-picture may finally be close to full iPhone support

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YouTube picture-in-picture may finally be close to full iPhone support
The long, long wait for YouTube picture-in-picture support for iPhone could be near its end.
Graphic: YouTube

YouTube might be about to follow through on its promise to allow all iPhone users to watch video from its application in a small window while another app is open. The feature is already available for YouTube Premium subscribers, but the testing period expires soon. That suggests picture-in-picture is about to become available for all iPhone users.

When it finally launches, PiP will make YouTube videos easier to enjoy because they’ll allow people to use their iPhone to multitask while also watching.