• The Next Web, Monday, November 14, 2011 3:39 PM

Along with the integration of Google+, Google is quietly testing some serious changes to YouTube. “Besides the generally updated look, one of the more important changes here is the focus this redesign will put on shared content from Google+,” The Next Web reports. “This move should take Google one step closer towards extending the social platform more heavily into each of its products.”

Specifically, the new YouTube features content that users’ “Circles” have recently shared and recommended within Google+. The redesign -- which select users can currently access -- also emphasizes user subscriptions, which TNW considers a good way to keep people coming back to specific channels.

“Given YouTube’s investment in original content, this could be a better way to keep users watching while retaining viewer loyalty,” it suggests.

Meanwhile, a new left-column dashboard sorts select content into clickable sections, including featured videos and recommended content categories. Additionally, homepage content will be displayed in a single column, putting a focus on larger preview images for videos, while, recommended video content pops out when clicked, “allowing you to easily exit to where you last were before clicking after viewing,” TNW notes.

Read the whole story at The Next Web »