Introduction
News recently came down in the Xiaomi community that they will receive a software update which will remove a feature that has become one of their favorites. The feature is on no longer having to put up with a shining screen altogether while listening to music or watching a YouTube video. Named "CabinetSidebar" , it was part of the additional functions and newer versions Xiaomi ROM system for many years since the beginning. The screen-off Youtube function is being removed now. Various other providers also pressure Xiaomi. Which will also impact users who have been let down because their older models are no longer being updated! This blog will look back at the screen-off feature and examine what it means for Xiaomi users.
Background on the Removed Feature
The big feature that Xiaomi is removing is one that allows users to turn off the screen while they’re playing a YouTube video. This lets them listen to the audio content while the screen isn’t on. It’s a popular “hack” since it lets you enjoy music or podcasts in the background without needing a YouTube premium account to do so. It was part of the video toolbox and play toolbox in their OS and consistent with any Xiaomi device we’ve seen. Majority of the feedback said to implement this feature so as to avoid monthly costs for a YouTube premium subscription.
But Google as well as other businesses pushed to remove the function. Google didn't like the feature which allowed users to gain benefits without needing a paid premium subscription, though it was not quite the same as those offered by a YouTube premium subscription. This pressure forced Xiaomi to release an update that disables the ability to play videos with the display turned off and eliminates the play toolbox 'Turn off screen' feature on all affected devices.
Following this news, many Xiaomi users were less than happy as these changes will affect many versions of its OS and older models that have been no longer receiving updates. Many are debating the reach companies like Google may have over other smartphone manufacturers, but also the potential user experience implications of changes like these. It's unclear for now if other manufacturers will follow suit, removing similar features under pressure from these sort of industry giants.
Google's Influence on Xiaomi
Google's influence on Xiaomi is clear. As such, they've removed the function to turn off the screen during video playback from YouTube.This feature however did receive disapproval from Google. Its attributes might be likened a little to some things offered in a YouTube Premium subscription, but not quite that. Because of pressure from Google and other big companies responsible for content, Xiaomi will be releasing an update to remove this feature from all affected devices, including models that will no longer being updated.
In a Telegram Channel statement to its community, Xiaomi stated that it was very sorry for taking out the video toolbox's play-only video with screen off, and the screen in playing feature from the play toolbox. For compliance requirements, this feature Which has been available since 2016, was canceled. The pressure that Google and others put on Xiaomi "to remove" this feature has generated discussion about whether big business now has such power over mobile telephone manufacturers, it poses questions about how it will affect user experience. Google's influence is not limited to Xiaomi, and we will have to wait to see if other manufacturers do likewise with similar functions in their phones.
Impact on Users
The removal of the Remove feature and Switch Off feature has struck Xiaomi users in a big way, with both features being used widely as a “hack” to allow users to listen to music or a podcast in the background – without needing to keep their screen on (and without needing a YouTube premium account). The outrage was spread across various versions of Xiaomi’s OS, including older models which are no longer getting updates, so this is little more than a kick in the teeth.
Users around the web have expressed frustration and even a hint of betrayal at the news. This move would severely limit users’ ability to enjoy audio content without a premium subscription, further adding fuel to the fire. Beyond merely practical concerns, some have pointed out that the feature’s abrupt removal raises questions about the level of control that big companies like Google have over not just user accessibility, but the entire user experience.
Either way, Xiaomi users are now left in the unenviable position of figuring out how to work around this one — and cursing Google under their breath — as one of the most useful and oft-quoted features for Xiaomi devices goes the way of the Dodo.
Xiaomi's Response to the Pressure
Xiaomi, in response to pressure from Google and other companies, has revealed that through a software update it will drive off the power to your screen while you're playing a YouTube video. Despite the feeling of disappointment commonly given voice to by many users; Xiaomi has accepted the imposition of such conditions by these companies and erased feature in the video toolbox for play-only video when the screen is off, to also turn off screen in play toolbox for affected terminals.
This update will be received even by older equipment that is no longer maintained which shows xiaomi is committed to upholding compliance industry giants attest to.In a statement to the company 's members, Xiaomi indicated in regret that the removal of these functions was occurring and that company must satisfy requirements set down by certain other companies—so powerful is their hold over smartphones.
The controversy caused by this action of Xiaomi has triggered discussions on the relationship of strength between big companies and terminal manufacturers. It also raises questions about what effect this move will have on user experience or accessibility.While many users feel disappointed, Xiaomi has made its position clear in responding to the pressure. This is kind of thing means that its machines 'structure combined with function is no longer simply able to provide the following features.
Release of the Update
It continues with the release that disables the feature to watch videos with the screen off and turns off the screen, which affects various branches of its OS, and has already reached older models that no longer receive new updates. One after another, Xiaomi has been forced to make significant changes to the service of its devices to comply with the demands of Google and other companies. Naturally, the user response has been mixed.
Although many users expressed their disappointment, the update was released and is indicative of the change in features available to users. In order to comply with Google’s requirements, the company had to remove features that users had grown to love, and users moved from complaining to working to implement the feature themselves.
As users move through the release, the conversations continue about the role of heavyweights such as Google over smartphone manufacturers, and how it impacts the ongoing experience for a user. While the release of the update is a big change in and of itself for Xiaomi users, it might take time to adjust to their devices without one of their favorite features.
Statement to Xiaomi Community
It's with deep regret that Xiaomi had to use a software update to remove playthrough video with a locked screen or a playthrough video with the screen off. This was implemented in consideration of requirements set by industry giants like Google and others. In all kinds of Android devices, as long as it runs the MIUI, there will be an updated for everyone. These will impact the older models that no longer receive updates. We feel for the disappointment and frustration this will bring to our users, and we are committed to seeking other ways of enhancing usability. We value the comments and support of our Xiaomi community members. We are dedicated to bringing more power-squeezing features to all devices, even user-customized ones!
Comparison with Other Manufacturers
While Xiaomi has turned a cold shoulder to device manufacturers, it's sad to see many others beholding to the option to dim the screen while watching videos, playing games, and more. Some manufacturers have even allowed the feature to continue while playing games, making for a better overall gaming experience. This could be a slippery slope when it comes to the usefulness of a feature like this on any device, as it could eventually fade into obscurity. It's entirely possible that Xiaomi's move could inspire other manufacturers to do the same – especially when they have direction from Google to do so.
Unfortunately losing to the bigger manufacturers when it comes to keeping features intact as they ship to end users seems to be par for the course. The response of the collective remains to be seen, and users will continue to watch the user experience as it shifts across future brands and models.
Potential Future Pressure on Other Manufacturers
As Xiaomi reluctantly decides to obey Google and other companies in taking out their popular function of screen off while playing YouTube videos, there are signs that other manufacturers may come under similar pressures.In such a way, the big guys who are current in the industry may also influence phones from other makers and the addition or deletion of some function even affects ease the experience users like While little companies might not do that kind of treatment to Xiaomi, what is the response of other companies to probable demandsfrom big ones?Different companies will still keep tabs on the potential changes of device functionality,especially in terms of whether screen dimming during video playback andcertain other operations such as this has been affected.
Conclusion
Xiaomi disabled the ability to turn off the screen while still playing YouTube from its devices, and the community over at Reddit once again lit the torches to begin discussions about how much control big companies like Google have over a smartphone manufacturer, and what it means for user experience moving forward. In this case, it seems Xiaomi caved to whatever pressure Google and any other companies likely put on them to have this feature taken down, and it's certainly one of the more popular utilities on the Chinese maker's devices. However, with Android being open source, users can still change the build.prop file on their devices to re-enable the toggle, assuming you know what this means and are comfortable doing it yourself.
The folks at xda-developers discovered Xiaomi had been making this change to some of their recent firmware updates, meaning even previous versions of MIUI would be losing this feature. Is losing the ability to turn off your screen while still playing YouTube videos that big of a deal? It might be hard to argue that it is, especially now that we've had some time to get used to the idea and now that we know there are things one can do to retain such functionality after a flash to a recent version of the OS. And there's still no suggestion that Google is forcing manufacturers to eliminate toggles to turn off your screen while the YouTube audio still continues to play through your speaker — it's tough to understand why Google would consider this as a winning move, and it's possible Xiaomi has been planning to eliminate this feature in forthcoming devices anyway.
But the fact is that Xiaomi has released a silent update that will greatly alter the behavior of its devices, as benign as this particular one may be. And that's noteworthy, because of the potential effects such a modification will have on future builds and — if what's good for Xiaomi is good for the rest of us — the way various other manufacturers might take a fresh look at this functionality on their own smartphones.
FAQs
1. Xiaomi cuts out what feature from its equipment?
Through a software update, Xiaomi has killed the function of turning off the screen when running Youtube. This function addresses a user's need to listen to music and podcasts in background without having to keep the screen turned on.
2. Why has Xiaomi so choice to remove this function?
Xiaomi is removing this feature because Google and other companies objected to it and felt unhappy. These companies were put out of joint by the feature providing users with benefits without needing a premium subscription, even though these rewards were not precisely the same as those enjoyed by someone paying for YouTube premium service.
3. Which devices will the update affect?
The update will affect versions of Xiaomi's OS that are old and no longer updating. Devices with MIUI in the 12th edition and later models that use Hyper OS will receive the update.
4. Will other manufacturers also follow suit and strip the like features from their devices?
It remains to be seen whether other vendors will come under similar pressure as Google that forces them to take those out. It is unknown how other manufacturers will react if this large corporation demands their removal.
5. What other devices still have them?
Still, while Xiaomi has removed this feature, many manufacturers still include the feature, which allows users to dim the screen when a video is playing.
