YouTube's most recent update has added new changes to its offline playback feature to cater to heavy YouTube users and also those who usually find themselves in areas where it is difficult to connect online.

Since the feature has remained almost unchanged since it was introduced back in November, offline playback is now getting a few modifications brought on by the latest update.

The first thing that users will notice is the new interface, which now appears more informative and uniform. Users are also given a new option for viewing low-quality clips.

Videos that have the low resolution of 114p may not seem inviting to watch. However, their biggest advantage is they consume very small space, around half the size occupied by a 360p video. At such low resolution, the audio quality is still intact, which can be appealing to those who only care to listen to the media content.

The same advantage goes to users who download videos to watch at a later time. This is particularly useful when the video needs to be saved in a device that lacks enough storage space. With this new feature, users no longer need to worry if they are downloading content that would eat up much of their device's precious space.

There's also a new way of displaying how much space will be occupied by each video, which can be very useful for those who need the data readily available because of concerns on storage limits. This way, users have more freedom to choose whether they can opt for the video with the lowest resolution that can, of course, accommodate offline playback, or whether they can opt for a higher quality video if they want to have a more enjoyable viewing experience.

Google is also looking into enhancing the voice command feature which, when realized, will allow a more intuitive way to manipulate video playback. Users can simply choose from a varying set of phrases or commands, speak them out clearly, then start enjoying their video. However, this feature is yet to become live in the app since it was only uncovered as a result of an APK teardown.

Lastly, the latest update saw the abandonment of the common naming convention such as Normal and HD. The result is more visually appealing and easier to understand for users.

Photo: Esther Vargas | Flickr