YouTube Testing Videos With Multiple Viewing Angles

YouTube is testing a new multi-angle video feature that allows users to play director from their desktop.

The experimental function is not yet ready for primetime, and can currently be found only on one video.

To take it for a spin, visit indie artist Madilyn Bailey's YouTube channel, where her performance at the recent YouTube Music Night event can be viewed from various perspectives: extreme close-up, guitar view, wide angle, and crowd panorama.

"You can view my YouTube Music Night performance from multiple angles," Bailey's video page said, imploring users to click on a thumbnail any time during playback to switch to that camera view.

As the clip progresses, the sidebar retracts, leaving you more room to see the action. Just hover your mouse over the playback box to check out the other viewpoints.

Or try tapping the left and right keyboard arrows and numbers one through four to change perspective. Hold down the key before releasing for a smoother switch, though expect some audio glitches between shifts.

"For now this experiment is only available on the desktop and in the U.S., and we'd love to know what you think!" YouTube said in a Google+ post. U.S.-based fans who want to be considered for the project can sign up online, then await more details.

:story: PC Magazine