One of 2018’s big launches for Google is expected to be a revamped music streaming service. Current rumors peg a redesign for YouTube Music and Play Music coming as soon as March. Our teardown of the latest version of YouTube Music reveals that the app is prepping a number of features, including Play Music’s location-based playlists.

About APK Insight: In this ‘APK Insight’ post, we’ve decompiled the latest version of an application that Google uploaded to the Play Store. When we decompile these files (called APKs, in the case of Android apps), we’re able to see various lines of code within that hint at possible future features. Keep in mind that Google may or may not ever ship these features, and our interpretation of what they are may be imperfect. We’ll try to enable those that are closer to being finished, however, to show you how they’ll look in the case that they do ship. With that in mind, read on.

White to black backgrounds

With version 2.17 of YouTube Music, various menus have switched to a black background. Previously, many of the overflow menus were white.

Location-based playlists, like Play Music

One of Play Music’s last major updates was the addition of machine learning to deliver personalized playlists and contextual recommendations. Taking advantage of your location, a similar “Music for where you are” functionality is now in the works for YouTube Music.

<string name=”loc_perm_preflight_dialog_message”>At the gym? On the road? Turning this on will send your current location to YouTube Music so you can get playlists inspired by where you are.</string> <string name=”loc_perm_preflight_dialog_negative_button”>DISMISS</string> <string name=”loc_perm_preflight_dialog_positive_button”>TURN ON</string> <string name=”loc_perm_preflight_dialog_title”>Music for where you are</string>

Swipe to skip ads

Earlier this month, version 13.01 of the main YouTube client hinted at being able to swipe on an ad in order to skip it. YouTube Music now features similar strings as part of both apps having a unified experience.

<string name=”swipe_to_skip_ad”>Swipe to skip</string>

Subscribe/unsubscribe

YouTube Music currently allows users to save stations, albums, and songs to their library, but not subscribe to traditional channels, as new strings reveal. There are also a series of four new icons in this version that note subscribe state, but also whether a subscription is “paid.”

Last week, YouTube announced “Official Artist Channels” to combine a musician’s online presence and accounts. If Google is pushing this, the addition of Subscribe/unsubscribe controls to YouTube Music might make sense. This addition would of course require YouTube to make artist channels available within Music.

<string name=”subscribe_button”>Subscribe</string> <string name=”unsubscribe_button”>Subscribed</string>

Auto-playlist

YouTube Music already makes heavy use of “song stations” to play what’s next. Version 2.17 hints at the more conventional “Auto playlist” in several strings. Meanwhile, last version, we noted the presence of a queue feature.

<string name=”auto_playlist_item_subtitle”>Auto playlist</string> <string name=”offline_songs_detail_page_subtitle”>Auto playlist</string>

Auto downloads, new Downloads section

At the moment, users can see downloaded music in the app by heading to your profile and tapping “Downloads.” This feature could get more prominent placement and possibly renamed to “Your downloads.” Another string notes “Auto downloads” which presumably would let users be less hands-on with offline management.

<string name=”offline_your_downloads_shelf_title”>Your downloads</string> <string name=”offline_auto_downloads_shelf_title”>Auto downloads</string> <string name=”offline_songs_detail_page_title”>Downloaded songs</string>

Account history, billing & payments

Version 2.17 reveals a new “Account history” section that would likely be related to account management features rather than your watch/listening history. The app’s preferences could also be gaining a menu for Billing and payments.

<string name=”pref_view_account_history_summary”>Manage account history settings</string> <string name=”pref_view_account_history_title”>Account history</string> <string name=”billing_and_payments_title”>Billing & payments</string>

Publish controls

New strings indicate that YouTube Music could add controls to publish videos, or at the very least alter privacy settings for your existing ones. It seems odd that a music consumption app would get controls to “Publish and share” content, specifically “Changing privacy to Unlisted.”

<string name=”publish_and_share_confirm_dialog_body”>Publish this video so others can view it? The privacy setting will be changed to Unlisted.</string> <string name=”publish_and_share_confirm_dialog_confirm_button”>Publish</string> <string name=”publish_and_share_confirm_dialog_title”>Publish and share</string> <string name=”publishing_private_video_progress”>Changing privacy to Unlisted…</string> <string name=”error_publishing_private_video”>Failed to make video Unlisted</string>

Dylan contributed to this article

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