YouTube

Google has updated the iOS YouTube app once again, this time to include access to live video streams for the first time. The user interface has also been improved to provide quicker access to new uploads in the "My Subscriptions" feed. YouTube fans will find the usual stability and performance improvements in version 1.3 as well.

A video queue can be created using the new Add to TV feature, which will line up YouTube videos to play in the specified order. Videos added to the queue will be added to the end of the list, and once the video is started all of the items in the queue will play. Videos can also be removed from the TV Queue.

CocoaNuts has released YourTube for iOS6 to Cydia. The update brings iOS 6 support to the popular YouTube extension. YourTube users can download any YouTube video and import them directly into their iTunes Library. This allows you to watch videos offline, hide ads and view region-locked media.

The jailbreak tweak offers fast download speeds, the ability to switch video quality, and the the ability to import videos and music into the Video or Music apps. The tweak is being offered for $1 off its normal $4.99 price for the next three days, and is free for existing YourTube and YourTube HD owners.

I've recently noticed that my iPhone is starting to look like a Google billboard, and I'm starting to wonder if other iPhone owners are feeling the same way.

YouTube beat out Instagram as the most downloaded free app of the year, and Google Maps shot to the top of the charts after being downloaded over 10 million times in less than two days. Granted, YouTube and Google Maps were already popular apps people were used to using, and iPhone owners just wanted them back after Apple removed them with iOS 6. But if you're like me, and have traded in Siri for Google Search, and Safari for Google Chrome, you might feel like you're betraying Apple a little.

Then there are Gmail users and the social networking addicts who use Google+ along with Facebook and Twitter, and now Google is taking over our iPhone cameras with YouTube Capture. At this rate iPhone users are going to find themselves with more Google apps on their devices than stock Apple apps, or any other third party apps.

Apple is not only kicking Google Maps to the curb, it's also removing the stock YouTube app with the release of iOS 6. YouTube responded by releasing its own standalone app in the App Store on Tuesday. YouTube fans can either download the new app, or keep their old stock app by ignoring iOS 6 when it's released.

The new YouTube app brings an improved channel guide where users can swipe left or right to navigate their subscribed channels, better search tools that give suggestions while you type, and the ability to share videos on Google+, Facebook, Twitter or via text. YouTube promises the new app will give YouTube users a better mobile experience than the old stock app.

Apple removed the stock YouTube app with the release of iOS 6. The app is still available on devices running iOS 5 or older. If you upgraded your device to iOS 6, you can download the new YouTube app via the App Store when it's released.

UPDATE: The new standalone YouTube app is now available for free in the App Store.

It looks like Google Maps isn't the only Google-based app that will disappear when iOS 6 is released in the fall. Engadget readers noticed that the latest iOS 6 beta, which was sent out to developers today, removes the YouTube app from the iOS homescreen when installed.

Both Apple and Google responded to Engadget's inquiry about the app. Apple said the licensing deal it had with Google ended, but "users can still use YouTube via the Safari web app." Apple also said the app would remain on devices running iOS 5 or older, and that Google "is working" on another version.

If you can't login to YouTube on the iPhone, there are simple steps you can take to allow the native YouTube app on your device to connect. The problem arises when your linked Google Account does not have an application-specific password set up for your iPhone YouTube app.

After repeatedly trying to login to your YouTube account with the correct username and password, the iPhone prompts you to login from Safari. Even after following through this process, the YouTube app refuses to acknowledge your credentials are correct. The iPhone error states wrong username or password.

Vimeo has expanded its embedded video offerings to include iOS optimized HTML5. The video sharing site first launched iPhone-compatible viewing earlier this year with a limited selection of content. Although selections have been greatly expanded with the Universal Player, there are still videos that require a Vimeo Plus account to view on a mobile device.

Vimeo is even offering a Javascript snippet to help automate the embed code updates for those who have posted content on their web sites. The Universal Player has been under development for some time, and Vimeo plans to add support for more players as needed.

Watching some of the incredible videos posted on Vimeo is now possible using your iPhone. The video sharing site is working on H.264 encoding its content for mobile viewers. Until now, watching Vimeo content required a web browser with Flash.

For the time being a selection of staff picks and HD showcase videos are available using iPhone and Android devices, with more videos on the way. Vimeo is known for offering streaming video in 720p HD quality and banning commercial content.

Without question, one of the best and worst features on the iPhone is YouTube. Being able to watch YouTube videos from anywhere at anytime isn't just convenient, it can be a lot of fun as well. However, YouTube on the iPhone isn't without its frustrations.

For one thing, you tend to want to show people the same video over and over. Waiting for the video to download repeatedly is less than exciting. Additionally, videos originally seen at WiFi quality (the iPhone downloads higher quality video when connected to the internet via WiFi) lose a lot of their luster when seen at EDGE quality.