![YouTube’s Video Player Gets a Clean New Design [PIC]](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/archives/05G9XPnLzdGs6PwtmtW0O8w/hero-image.fill.size_1248x702.v1647018597.jpg)
The changes all make for a cleaner design. For example, features that aren't available for certain videos (like closed captioning or higher resolutions) don't appear in the interface for those videos, and inactive buttons turn a light gray so they're less likely to distract you.
The new volume slider is arguably the best improvement. Whereas the old volume slider would pop up and block part of the video image, the new one unfolds horizontally. It's a nice-looking effect and it saves pixels.
To make that possible, the now partially transparent "seek bar" (which you use to skip to a different point in the video) now only appears in its entirety when you move your mouse over it. It pops up over the bottom of the video. When you leave it sitting without input for a few seconds, it minimizes to a thin, colored strip.
The new seek bar takes up about the same amount of screen space as the old one when it's minimized, but when it's maximized it uses a few more pixels.
The new feature for advanced users is a right-click option to "show video info" that includes the video's resolution, bit rat, and streaming status. You can also right-click to "copy debug info" in case you're technical enough to troubleshoot playback problems.
Only some videos have been updated with the new player, but you can bet all of them will get it eventually. NewTeeVee learned from YouTube that the new player doesn't work with videos that have ads, and that embeds of YouTube videos still use the old interface. That too is likely to change soon.
Pic: New Player
Pic: Old Player
