What if I don’t want YouTube on my iPhone?


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You remember that mysterious application that everyone was sure was on the iPhone, but no one knew just what it was? Turns out it’s YouTube.

As of today, YouTube is now live on your AppleTV, a software update is available that will not only allow you to access the content of YouTube on your AppleTV, but it will even allow you to log into your YouTube account to view and save your favorite videos (which will be much easier than navigating YouTube’s thousands of videos with your Apple Remote. You can read the full press release here.

The YouTube Application is another subject all together, and brings up another concern that I have about the iPhone…what if I don’t want that “Apple-designed application” on my iPhone?

I have very little use for YouTube for anything other than posting commercials and old Apple related videos on this site. I don’t have any desire to sit around and watch videos of teenagers telling me how hard their life is into their webcams on my iPhone. I also don’t really want the YouTube logo staring me in the face everytime I use my phone. (Update: the YouTube logo will not staring you in the face, the icon has been shown on Apple’s site, and it looks like an old tv)

So, hopefully, I’ll be able to remove Application Icons that I don’t want on my screen in the Settings of the iPhone, but – much like everything iPhone related, that’s just speculation at this point.

At launch on June 29th, there will be over 10,000 videos available on the iPhone, and I’m really curious to see how many of them will be violating copyright laws. Will we be able to watch things like the old Apple commercials, clips of television shows, and old cartoons on the iPhone, or will YouTube be filtering all of that content out? It seems like they’d have to do some filtering, or NBC is going to extremely upset when I watch The Office on YouTube, instead of downloading it from iTunes, right?

You know, I think the questions about the iPhone are actually becoming more intriguing than the device itself at this point.

What do you think? Do you want YouTube on your iPhone?

Note to Fanboys: I wrote this article to talk about the YouTube application being on the iPhone. I think the line that has some of you up in arms is this one “You know, I think the questions about the iPhone are actually becoming more intriguing than the device itself at this point.” Before you start sending me hate mail about being an iPhone hater, please check around the site. You can find a variety of pro-iPhone articles (and some no-so-pro ones as well). Here’s something I liked about the iPhone….here’s something I didn’t….

I don’t want YouTube on my iPhone. There’s nothing wrong with not wanting that Application. All I’m doing here is speculating about if we’ll be able to remove the icons we don’t want from the Home page. It doesn’t mean that, because of this one App, that I hate the iPhone, or want Apple to implode. I’ll still be in line on the 29th, and I’ll still be covering the iPhone for 30 Days here on the site.

This site does not exist to praise Apple for everything that they do…but seriously, this YouTube thing is not that big of a deal.

If you’d like you can always subscribe to the site via RSS, or the Daily Podcast and come back for more, hopefully objective, Apple news, opinions, and yes…old commercials found on YouTube.


Kokou Adzo

Kokou Adzo is a stalwart in the tech journalism community, has been chronicling the ever-evolving world of Apple products and innovations for over a decade. As a Senior Author at Apple Gazette, Kokou combines a deep passion for technology with an innate ability to translate complex tech jargon into relatable insights for everyday users.

19 Comments

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  1. There HAS to be a feature to remove icons on the iPhone. Not just for YouTube, but I really don’t want to have a link to Stocks or Maps, which I don’t have a whole lot of need for, staring me in the face everytime I turn the thing on, either.

  2. I will probably watch some YouTube videos on my iPhone.

    Oh and I agree with you… there should be an option to hide the icon if I no longer wish to use the feature.

  3. Do you really have to watch youtube? Do you really have to click on the youtube icon? Will it greatly impact the value of your iPhone if there is a youtube application there for all the others to see. However, perhaps there will be a hide icon pref that is available on other devices?

    I do believe that the millions of purchasers whom this icon benefits most do like the idea that its there. Although I have no need to watch youtube videos. That there is this convenience provided is a value to the many who do.

  4. I really want it, I love it, but I think it might be easier to go to the actual site and use their search, I don’t see a search for their YouTube app. Besides whats it matter if its there, don’t click it?

  5. The problem is that it’s taking up screen Real Estate, and throwing brand advertising on my $600 phone.

    Hopefully you can remove it.

    @Steve –

    Keep in mind, you won’t be able to go to YouTube’s site and watch any of these videos. iPhone has no Flash support at launch.

  6. Hi… I think you may be stressing a bit much… I am pretty sure you will in fact be able to customize to your liking!!!

    Bottom line, there has NEVER been anything like this before and it is just the beginning!!!

    Cheers… Brent

  7. I don’t like YouTube either and I don’t really see any sense putting it on AppleTV or the iPhone. But… What if the service of YouTube will change in the future? What if it’s possible to see other content, I mean really professional content instead of teenagers-work thru YouTube? What if YouTube prepares for broadcasting (nearly) real on demand TV?

    Imagine the possibilities!

    What do you think?

  8. First of all, there will not be a YouTube logo on the iPhone “Home screen”. Its a cartoon of a turned off TV.

    What is your problem? You run a blog about Apple, but all I can ever read is how much you hate them and don’t like this and don’t like that.

    Should I throw my iPod away or refuse to use it simply because it has a “Screen Lock” feature that I don’t use or care for??

    YouTube application=FREE!

    If you don’t like it then fine! Shut up about it! YOU AREN’T FORCED TO USE IT OR BUY AN IPHONE!!

    Don’t waste your money if all you are going to do is bash it! Let somebody who really appreciates the iPhone and everything it does buy it!

  9. and by the way, there is much more on YouTube than emo teenagers talking about how crappy their lives are.

    There are actually thousands of clips from brilliant undiscovered actors and directors on YouTube.

    Take HappySlip for example!

  10. I agree with Ashton… Nobody here should be complaining about stuff they know nothing about!

    This devise is going to revolutionize communication, forever.

    B

  11. @ Ashton

    When Apple does something I don’t like, I write about it. When Apple does something I do like, I write about it.

    Writing an Apple Blog is not about sitting around finding new ways to kiss Steve Job’s butt everyday.

    I am a very passionate fan of Apple products. If you were a regular reader you’d know that. I have spoken very highly of the iPhone…look around this site, you’ll find it everywhere.

    I have issues with a few of their choices, such as no flash or Java on what is supposed to be the “real” Internet when this $600 device launches next week.

    If you want biased, Apple-apologist commentary, there are plenty of other blogs out there for you to read…heck, you can even start your own.

    Here, you’re going to find my opinions about these products. I don’t hate the iPhone. I’m excited about the possibilities of the device, but no company is perfect all the time, and it’s fanboys who refuse to see when their favorite company does something bad or wrong(and I wouldn’t even consider this YouTube thing in that category, I’m speaking generally here) that make actual fans of the products and/or companies look bad.

    Also – the YouTube application is not FREE. The phone costs $600. It’s a feature.

    The whole point of this article is asking the question “will I be able to turn off the icons that I don’t want on the ‘Home’ page of the iPhone?”

    You did get that, right?

  12. Dude. Chill out. Not putting you down, I am a huge fan of your site and have been for a very long time. I am usually not vocal for this very reason.

    This was my opinioin and that was yours. I have a great respect for what you have done here and I will certainly continue to enjoy it (so thanks for that)…

    Cheers… Brent

  13. @Brent –

    You’re always welcome to comment, and I wasn’t getting excited, that’s why I only used all caps on the word “FREE”.

    I also didn’t want you to think I was directing that toward you, which is why I didn’t make it @ you specifically.

    My only issue, and the only thing in the comments here that has “ruffled my feathers” in any way shape or form, is a guy coming to my site telling me to shut up because ” all I can ever read is how much you hate them and don’t like this and don’t like that.”

    Anyone that reads this site on a regular basis knows that’s not true.

  14. I am totally aware of how proud you are of this brand and I share that with you.

    And of course… no brand is perfect.

    Thanks for the great site!

  15. Apple could have instantly replace my palm by allowing application developers a platform standard to foster palm-like applications. While iPhon is great, by not introducing a product which can be personalized, they limit its potential from the start. U-tube and all other applications should be up to the user to add or subtract to have the device be most pleasing to the purchaser. The reason for the terms “personal” computer and the “personal” digital assistant (PDA) is born in the fact that they can be personalized and modified to meet individual needs. This could easily be done with the iPhone. By having it as it is, I still have to carry my Palm for my pocket Quicken, my PDA Bible, my games for my daughters, etc. Closing the platform for Apple’s concept of what I need limits the device just as the original Apple was limited when compared to Microsoft. They should, and hopefully will, allow the development of apps, for modification of the desktop of iPhone, and add a slot for expansion so as to leave no room for competing devices to be necessary. iPhone could easily be the only device you need.

  16. I would also like to remove youtube from my iphone. This was actually a lawsuit with Microsoft some years ago when you could not remove Internet Explorer from the Windows OS. Microsoft lost and had to put in a way to remove IE. I really hope that Apple follows suit and writes in a way to remove any application from the iphone (installed by me or by Apple).

  17. The biggest problem for me with youtube being accessible on my iphone is that my kids like to play games on my phone. I have turned on all of the parental restrictions in the settings, but for some reason they can still get into youtube. There is a lot of inappropriate content on that site, and I am not letting my kids play until I find a way to remove it. This is a real bummer, as it came in handy while waiting at the doctor’s office, etc. and kept them entertained. However, I really don’t want them listening to some girl talking about giving a bj or some guy turning his chest into a butt (yes these are actual examples that came up when I tried to see if the parental controls worked). My kindergartner doesn’t need to view things like this!