Ugh: Windows Phone YouTube app goes back to the browser - PCWorld (blog)

If you can avoid it, just ignore the new 3.2 upgrade to the YouTube app for Windows Phone.

That's because the new update returns to the bad old days of browser-based upgrades. When using the new app, the new version of the app simply plays YouTube videos using the mobile version of the YouTube website—when it works at all. So far, the reviews of the new version of the YouTube app are full of reports about the app simply not working.

"Well this a big letdown," Manish wrote. "The new UI looks good but app doesn't work ever. Maybe Microsoft ****** Google off, and they have blocked it. Dear Microsoft, sort things out. We don't want have an app on our phone that doesn't work."

Microsoft

The "new" YouTube on Windows Phone.

The Internet thought that the ongoing spat between Microsoft and Google ended in August, when the "official" YouTube app returned to the Windows Phone Store.

Google and Microsoft had agreed to work out their diffences, allowing ads back onto the platform, among other improvements. But two days later, Google blocked Microsoft's access to YouTube. Now, as WPCentral notes, the "app" is simply the blandest, most basic implementation of YouTube on Windows Phone.

"Google is to blame for this app not working," 'Kevin' added. "MS made a fabulous Youtube app, but Google doesn't want Anything of theirs to work on Windows Phone. Hey Google...'Do No Evil'."

One of the oddest aspects of Windows and Windows Phone is that, because of incompatibilities, developer reluctance, licensing issues, or some other reason, so-called app knockoffs are sometimes better ways of accessing services than the dedicated apps. PrimeTube and other similar apps are worth a quick download for a tryout. Who knows when, or if, Microsoft and Google will ever settle their differences. For now, it's the consumer who suffers.