YouTube App to Stop Working on Older Apple TV and Other Dated Devices

YouTube has announced that it is now upgrading its Data API from version 2 (v2) to version 3 (v3), a move that will make the app inaccessible on dated devices. The video platform has revealed a list of devices manufactured in 2012 and earlier including the second-generation Apple TV, older iOS devices, Sony TVs, Panasonic TVs and devices running older versions of Google TV that will be no longer be able to access YouTube.

"As we upgrade the YouTube Data API to bring more features, we'll begin shutting down the old version on April 20, 2015. This will result in the current YouTube app not working on certain device models from 2012 and older," noted YouTube on its support page.

On previous generation iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad devices that support iOS 7 or above, users can download the latest YouTube app from the App Store or even watch videos on m.youtube.com via mobile browser.

For second-generation Apple TV users, YouTube clarifies that "there's no current way to watch YouTube" on the device. Similarly, devices running Google TV version 2 and older will unfortunately not be able to upgrade. For older smart TV and game console users, YouTube notes that "If you have a web browser on your Smart TV or game console that supports flash and/or HTML5, you may be able to continue using YouTube by visiting www.youtube.com in your browser."

Google's video platform in a blog post has detailed ways to retire the older version 2. It said, "If you're still using the Data API v2, today [Monday] we'll start showing a video at the top of your users' video feeds that will notify them of how they might be affected. Apart from that, your apps will work as usual.

YouTube also adds that the new API brings new features to the video service and users will be able to access it on any screen.

Starting as soon as Monday, the devices still running YouTube with Data API v2 will show warning video that says, "YouTube is upgrading to a newer version, which is not supported by this device or app. To learn more and see where you can watch YouTube, visit www.youtube.com/devicesupport".

"By late May, v2 API calls except for comments and captions will receive 410 Gone HTTP responses," YouTube adds.

In other news, YouTube's change of Data API from version 2 to 3 has also led to changes in third-party Windows Phone YouTube apps. For the uninitiated, there is no official YouTube app for Windows Phone users resulting in third-party YouTube apps coming to rescue. According to WM Poweruser, popular third-party Windows Phone YouTube apps such as myTube, TubeCast and MetroTube are rolling out app updates to support YouTube's newer Data API v3.