YouTube for iOS Update Brings Lock Screen Controls; Chrome 56 for iOS Gets Built-In QR Code Scanner

YouTube has finally realised that unlocking the phone every time to control video playback while casting can get frustrating for iOS users, and has finally brought in a fix for it. A new update to the YouTube app on iOS now lets you control videos from the lock screen while casting on Chromecast devices, smart TVs, or game consoles. Chrome for iOS has also received an update, bringing it to version 56 alongside the desktop and Android versions.

The updated version (v12.03) of YouTube for iOS Google rolled out on Thursday will bring most of the video playback controls like play, pause, previous, next and volume to the lock screen and the Control Center of the iPhone or iPad. Additionally, the controls can also be accessed on a paired Apple Watch while casting.

Android users have had this feature for a long time now and it's about time the update hit the App Store. YouTube has been slowly releasing some much needed updates for iOS users. Earlier in January, the company rolled out an update that brought 1440p resolution support to 4.7-inch iPhone models like iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 7.

Meanwhile, Chrome for iOS also received a long-awaited update. Chrome for iOS (v56.0.2924.79) now introduces a built-in QR code scanner for the browser. Users can also scan a QR code using 3D Touch on the app logo or by looking up QR in Spotlight. On the iPad, the tab switcher layout has been redesigned to make it easier to access open sites.

Google earlier this week also announced that it was open-sourcing Chrome for iOS allowing developers to compile the iOS version of Chromium just like they do for other platforms.