Exploring YouTube
Also see: Flatscreen Monitors for Improved Video and Movie Streaming from Amazon.
A Helpful Website for Entertainment & Learning
YouTube is the best-known website around for finding and watching videos for almost any interest or topic you can imagine.
It's one of the most popular websites on the Internet, and one of my own favorites for learning and entertainment.
You can find how-to instruction videos, musical pieces, television segments, personal channels, educational courses, relaxation loops, and much more. Their search box works really well for exploring around to see what's there that interests you.
YouTube requires no downloading, no fees and no membership. It's free, with ads.
Playing videos on YouTube is very similar to playing videos on simple video programs like Windows Media Player.
If you have (or set up) a Gmail address, you can use that address to sign in on YouTube, or you can use it without signing in. If you sign in, you can use special tools to save videos or subscribe to video channels that you like - just like saving webpage favorites.
Here are a few general tips for using YouTube:
How you navigate YouTube depends on if you are signed in.
If you're on a computer, look at the top right of your YouTube screen. If you're signed in, you'll see your name or username, and if you're not, you'll see the prompt to Sign in.
If you're new to YouTube or haven't signed in, the homepage will display the most popular videos and highlights from categories like Music, Sports, and Gaming.
Once you've signed in, the navigation bar at the top of every YouTube page allows you to easily find the content you care about. Search results may be influenced by your preferences and activity on YouTube.
"Home" highlights videos recommended for you from your subscriptions and watch history. Video recommendations are influenced by your preferences and activity on YouTube.
"Subscriptions" allows you to view recent uploads from your subscriptions.
"Trending" lets you discover videos that are popular on YouTube right now.
"History" shows the videos you've watched so far most-recent-first.
"Watch later" is a list of videos you select by clicking on the Watch Later icon.
Finding your way around the YouTube website is easy compared to a lot of websites. Many videos are commercial-free. Most commercials that you do see are very short segments at the beginning of the more popular video channels.
Typically you can opt out of watching a commercial at the 5-second mark.
Volume controls on YouTube are similar to the simple volume control on your computer taskbar. You can view the videos Full Screen if you want, or you can minimize the YouTube screen and just play music or readings or lectures on audio. Either way, you can choose how you watch or listen with only one or two clicks.
More often than not, when you select a video to watch you may see a "Mix" option to the right of the video frame. This gives you the option to watch one video after another of the same type or theme.
Most times, within even just an hour you can get set up with a new YouTube account and a dynamite set of free music subscriptions.
You can find complete YouTube Help information at https://support.google.com/youtube . It's one of the most useful and enjoyable computer pastimes online.
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