It seems YT started another attempt at blocking alternative clients. They changed something in their API and both SmartTube and Tubular (NewPipe fork) are completely broken. Apparently it started happening this past week, but we personally just felt it today.
Edit: SmartTube already has an update but still not working for 4K videos it seems. Tubular still not working but it might be due to the upstream (NewPipe) is still working on a fix.
We as a collective should be figuring out how to remunerate content creators on alternative platforms in non-shady ways (aka no crypto). I think it’s part of the reason content creators don’t put their stuff on platforms like peertube, dtube, or whatever else exists. With no monetary incentive, it’ll stay niche and we’ll be reliant on youtube until that’s resolved.
Like Nebula? I really enjoy it!
I do wish there were more services like nebula one yearly fee no baked in ads or ads at all and more creators are willing to join them.
The thing that sucks with youtube premium is you still have creators dumping 1 min long sponsors ruining the experience. Additionally often only way these creators allow you to go add free is via patreon, floatplane, etc which can get quite expensive if you follow 30-50 channels. The only other viable route is sponsorblock which works great but requires modified youtube clients/browser extensions and with youtubes new video adinjection could potentially be broken.
The only part I do wonder with nebula is how well it works for larger creators.
Linus Media group revenue break down
https://youtu.be/-zt57TWkTF4?t=532
I wish we wouldn’t love under capitalism and creative people could just be creative for the greater good…
Same, and so many others I know share this sentiment. We’re working on it by advocating for a just, equitable, and overall better world. Keep spreading this message!
I should point out that this isn’t always “Google is trying to block adblockers” again!
Google can, will, and does simply change how the YouTube watch pages look, feel and operate behind the scenes quite regularly.
Thankfully we have people like those at the FreeTube, NewPipe and yt-dlp projects to sift through those changes and update the code to cope with the new output.
https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/10397#issuecomment-2218346384
Looks like there’s several causes.
https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/3766
I don’t know how soon Tubular or NewPipe can fix their app; but it seems like a few simple changes will do.
USE GRAYJAY
I dunno, I watch YouTube on desktop with a premium account.
Since they began experimenting with ad injection directly into videos a month or so ago, I no longer use YouTube really. Videos rarely load proper the first time. Often takes 7 or 8 reloads of the page to get a video to start, sometimes stopping mid video.
Clearly since I can get it to play, it feels like a Google problem. Could be because I’m on Firefox, or Linux though (maybe even an update to something else, but all other video streaming services work just fine). Turning off uBlock Origin and uMatrix do not help at all.
Even if it isn’t Google’s fault, it’s still causing me to not use their service anymore. Feels like they are just trying to drive away users in general.
found the issue of github: https://github.com/polymorphicshade/Tubular/issues/97
Invidious still seems to work for VODs provided the instance doesn’t get restricted. Livestreams have been broken for ages though.
Apparently it started happening this past week, but we personally just felt it today.
Since yesterday for me on Tubular. No video seems to load but live streams still work fine.
SmartTube was working before I went to work and now it isn’t. I’m not too worried or upset. Yet.
Smarttube next has a fix for now
Newpipe isn’t working at all for me, libretube is slow but works.
And so the war continues.
For now firefox+uBlockorigin+noscript seem to work for the mobile youtube page but it’s not ideal
