YouTube Live flips the switch on iPhone streaming, ultra-low latency

Just days after rolling out a new design for its logo and website, YouTube is looking to gain an edge in the world of streaming. Though YouTube Live has played second fiddle to other streaming services like Twitch since it first launched, the new features announced today could actually cause some Twitch users to jump ship. At the very least, they'll make YouTube look a lot more attractive for streamers who are just starting out.

As described over on the YouTube Creator Blog, there are two major features rolling out today. The first is new iPhone and iPad compatibility that allows content creators to stream a feed of their device's display. YouTube notes that while some apps already offered this functionality through Apple ReplayKit, it's now baked into the iOS YouTube app itself.

Importantly, this will allow gamers to stream gameplay from their phone or tablet – something Android users have been able to do for quite some time. You can also use your phone's front facing camera as a face cam for your broadcast, giving you all the tools you need for a live stream right there on your phone.

Beyond iPhone and iPad compatibility, YouTube is also launching a new ultra-low latency streaming mode today for all users. In your stream options, you can now enable ultra-low latency, which cuts down the stream delay to just a couple of seconds. This allows for more seamless interaction between streamers and their audience, which is a huge addition for YouTube Live.

After all, the delay on Twitch is usually around 10-20 seconds, and those delays can sometimes cause headaches when streamers are asking their viewers for advice or calling for audience participation. We can probably expect an attempt from Twitch to cut down on stream delays after this roll out, because it certainly doesn't want YouTube to be offering any significant advantages to streamers.

Aside from those big additions, streamers will also find new moderation options on their channels. These options include inline moderation – which allows the streamer to pause the chat by pressing Alt or Option (depending on your platform) to select comments that need to purged – and the ability to automatically hold and approve certain messages. These new YouTube Live features should be rolling out to streamers today, so go have a look for yourself.