YouTube Tackles Vertical Video Viewing on Android

It's an awesome day for the Internet because Google has finally fixed a problem that's been plaguing people for years.

Watching a vertical video on your mobile device has long been a pretty crappy experience; YouTube displays it with black bars on the sides (left).

But it appears that soon, when you stumble upon a YouTube video that was shot on a mobile device in portrait mode (i.e. with the phone held vertically), you'll be able to watch it on Android without those black bars.

According to Android Police, a new version of YouTube will properly display vertical videos in full-screen mode (click the photo at left for more), something users have been requesting for some time.

The feature should roll out with YouTube version 10.28.

It's good to remember to always turn your phone sideways into landscape mode when shooting video, but that's easier said than done, right? Now, if you forget it won't be quite as bad a "sin."

Meanwhile, the change comes after YouTube earlier this month added another sought-after feature to its mobile apps: Support for smooth 60 frames per second video. This brings the mobile apps in line with YouTube on the desktop, Apple TV, PlayStation 3, and PS4.

YouTube is also gearing up to launch a new gaming-focused site, which will rival Twitch. The new YouTube Gaming service, slated to arrive this summer on mobile apps and the Web, will exist as a separate entity from YouTube so searches for "call" will bring up Call of Duty, not Call Me Maybe.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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