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.
New pipe has issues too
Freetube still working
The arms race is on!
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.
Yeah! Freetube already has a patch committed, which is impressively fast.
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!
https://github.com/yuliskov/SmartTube/issues/3606
It is an issue caused by a change that YouTube made. Grayjay and Clipious were the only ones apps that kept working.
SmartTube is back up and working. Just update it.