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YouTube has been releasing new updates for its YouTube for Android TV application from time to time. All the updates bring new elements to improve the overall user experience while enjoying the streaming platform’s content on large screens. The company has now released a new update for the YouTube sidebar animation for Android TVs.
YouTube now shows a new sidebar animation while accessing the menu
After the update, there’s a new animation whenever you access YouTube’s menu sidebar. The menu sidebar slides up while the tabs you’ve opened slide off to the right. The new update for YouTube for Android TV also brings a smaller sidebar. It now only has icons for “Search”, “Home”, “Music”, “Movies & TV”, and “More”. The older sidebar displayed additional icons for “News”, “Gaming”, “Subscriptions”, and “Library” as well.
Now, whenever you access the sidebar, you will see options for “Search”, “Home”, “Music”, “Movies & TV”, “Gaming”, “Subscriptions”, “Library”, and “More” after the animation. The old sidebar also displayed these options. However, in the newer version of the app, all the options are in more obvious pill-shaped icons.
Also, each pill is more highlighted now against the main background. In addition, the spacing between all the floating options is increased a little bit. That said, all these changes are just cosmetics and for appearances only. They don’t affect the functionality of any of the options on the sidebar of YouTube for Android TV. The new changes in the sidebar animation seem to be towards providing a more Material You-like design in the app.
YouTube is rolling out the new sidebar animation for its app for Android TV products in a gradual manner. The source has found the new animation and sidebar live in YouTube for Android TV v4.31.300 in the Play Store. As of now, it’s not clear how wide is the rollout of the new animation. It is live on various Android and Google TV products, including the Shield TV and Chromecast with Google TV.
