By Anton D. Nagy | December 22, 2011 8:28 AM
We’ve been fans of LazyWorm’s YouTube application initially and more recently the MetroTube app because they were the only alternatives to the official, feature-stripped YouTube application available.
Unfortunately for all Windows Phone users, LazyWorm announced that they will discontinue both applications starting January 1. “YouTube’s current API does not have any documented methods for obtaining high quality video content. We have been using a workaround to obtain this content and it has recently come to our attention that this may not be sustainable in the long term, hence our decision to stop distributing the apps“, say the developers.
Microsoft already filed a claim and officially stated that Google is blocking Windows Phones from properly accessing YouTube, hence the feature-stripped official client. At that time, Redmond said it was “ready to release a high quality YouTube app for Windows Phone. We just need permission to access YouTube in the way that other phones already do, permission Google has refused to provide”
It’s not sure what the real reason is behing the two apps being discontinued (the official letter implies it is about the workaround to deliver the experience, which can’t be sustained in the long run). Starting January 1, LazyWorm YouTube and MetoTube will no longer be available for download from the Windows Phone Marketplace.
It is interesting to say the least that the developers made such a decision after a relatively recent launch of MetroTube, an app which was applauded by each and every website or user that decided to give it a try. Do you think that Google has anything to do with this? Probably laying down further roadblocks instead of opening up the gates? Let us know!
