3 ms·

I think the iOS player will stream only audio if the app is backgrounded; it seems to restart the stream to get video back if the app is brought to front again.

I think the iOS player will stream only audio if the app is backgrounded; it seems to restart the stream to get video back if the app is brought to front again. As others have said, if the "video" is a static image, the bandwidth usage should be negligible in practice. But I've seen lots of promotional album streams that intentionally add busy graphics, motion lyrics, etc; while they're sometimes cool, they're wastes of bandwidth and processing if I just want it play audio in a background tab.

Cyberdog 7y ago
Background audio play only works if you're paying for the subscription service. Otherwise both video and audio stops when the app is backgrounded. Many times I've listened to a YouTube video or stream without watching it by just starting the video and then pocketing my phone and being careful not to touch it. I hear the audio and continue my shopping or cleaning or whatever while battery and bandwidth is wasted displaying the video to the debris inside my pocket. I can only assume Google has run the numbers and decided it's actually more profitable for them to make something so silly and wasteful on both sides of the connection necessary, but that's what it is.
- NoodleIncident 7y ago
  Your phone might be saving you some battery; there is a sensor to detect when your face is close to the phone, turning off the screen and disabling touch. Not sure if it actually works when it's in your pocket though. There's a serious "light in the refrigerator" problem, where trying to measure it changes the outcome
  - Dylan16807 7y ago
    It's really easy to see if that sensor is active. It's not fridge light at all, it triggers at a distance and you could test against your shirt to see if the light shines through. I've never seen it be active outside of a phone call.
- lukifer 7y ago
  Ah, I pay for YouTube Red, I didn't realize this "feature" wasn't the default. Thanks for clarifying.

Cyberdog 7y ago

Background audio play only works if you're paying for the subscription service. Otherwise both video and audio stops when the app is backgrounded. Many times I've listened to a YouTube video or stream without watching it by just starting the video and then pocketing my phone and being careful not to touch it. I hear the audio and continue my shopping or cleaning or whatever while battery and bandwidth is wasted displaying the video to the debris inside my pocket. I can only assume Google has run the numbers and decided it's actually more profitable for them to make something so silly and wasteful on both sides of the connection necessary, but that's what it is.

NoodleIncident 7y ago
Your phone might be saving you some battery; there is a sensor to detect when your face is close to the phone, turning off the screen and disabling touch. Not sure if it actually works when it's in your pocket though. There's a serious "light in the refrigerator" problem, where trying to measure it changes the outcome
- Dylan16807 7y ago
  It's really easy to see if that sensor is active. It's not fridge light at all, it triggers at a distance and you could test against your shirt to see if the light shines through. I've never seen it be active outside of a phone call.
lukifer 7y ago
Ah, I pay for YouTube Red, I didn't realize this "feature" wasn't the default. Thanks for clarifying.