Today's a big day, Windows Phone fans, because two popular apps are getting major updates. First up is the YouTube app, which used to be less of an app and more of a portal to the mobile version of the video site. That's no longer the case, as Microsoft just announced that the completely redesigned Windows Phone 8 app now features the same "don't call it Metro" style of native Windows Phone apps.
Along with the new look, Microsoft has packed several new features into the overhauled YouTube app. That list includes the ability to pin videos, playlists, channels and searches to the Start screen as Live Tiles, a new playlist design, the ability to play videos in the background (even while the screen is locked) and a sharing feature that can send videos to social networks as well as through email and text. Microsoft says that an update for the Windows Phone 7.5 version of the YouTube app will be along in a few weeks.
The Windows Phone YouTube app has been a bit of a sore subject in the past, with Microsoft saying earlier this year that Google was preventing it from offering a "fully featured" YouTube app for Windows Phone. Unsurprisingly, Google denied the claims, saying that Windows Phone users could easily enjoy YouTube using its HTML5-based mobile site. Whatever was going on there appears to finally have come to an end, though, as Windows Phone users now have what looks to be a very nice YouTube app.
The official Foursquare app for Windows Phone has also gotten a makeover today. The new update brings the app up to version 3.0 and packs in a snazzy new look and more new features than you can shake a badge at. With the version 3.0 update, Foursquare users on Windows Phone can pin people and venues to their Start screens, get notifications on their lock screens, use their voice to search and check-in and use NFC to share or check-in. The new YouTube and Foursquare apps can be found at the Windows Phone Store links below.
Via Windows Phone Blog (1), (2), Windows Phone Store: YouTube, Foursquare
