The YouTube app, a staple in iOS since the launch of the iPhone in 2007, will not be included in the next version of the operating system.
As of iOS 6 beta 4 — released to developers earlier today — the stand-alone YouTube app is no longer part of the default applications included with the iPhone and iPad.
In a statement to The Verge Apple indicated “Our license to include the YouTube app in iOS has ended, customers can use YouTube in the Safari browser and Google is working on a new YouTube app to be on the App Store.”
In a statement, Google told Mashable, “We are working with Apple to ensure we have the best possible YouTube experience for iOS users.”
YouTube isn’t the only Google service to be decoupled form iOS 6. At WWDC in June, Apple announced that it was replacing Google Maps with an in-house mapping solution.
YouTube was also conspicuously absent from Apple’s “share sheets” included in OS X Mountain Lion. In place of YouTube, users can share videos directly to Vimeo.
Still, the removal of the stand alone YouTube app is striking — if only because of the historical semblance of the app itself. In 2007, the ability to watch YouTube videos on the iPhone was a revelation. In fact, it was the iPhone’s famous lack of Flash support that quickened YouTube’s conversion of its library from Flash-only to also support H.264.
The iPhone and iPad aren’t the only apple devices that support YouTube. Since June of 2007, Apple TV owners have been able to browse and watch YouTube clips directly on the big screen.
Apple TV has added support for more video providers over the years — most recently gaining Hulu Plus support — but we can’t help but think losing access to YouTube would negatively impact the device. At this time, it isn’t clear if Apple’s license for YouTube on iOS is different from its license for the Apple TV.
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