Tumblr is rolling out a new video player experience for its site and mobile apps.
Similar to Facebook, clips that appear in the iOS and Android apps will now play automatically – but only when the user is connected over Wi-Fi. Tumblr will mute all videos by default, although a quick tap on the speaker button will toggle the audio. Notably, the development team has also taken a page from Vine’s playbook, looping videos indefinitely – this could be in reaction to the content users post, or a way to raise play counts for advertisers.
On the Web, Tumblr has added a “floating” video player that docks on the right-hand side of the page as you scroll through the dashboard. Twitter has experimented with a similar minimized player in its mobile apps – it should accelerate the speed at which users can browse their feed.
The Yahoo-owned entity has also started converting videos to a smaller file size in order to reduce buffering times. Similar to YouTube or Vimeo, an HD option will also be available for those craving a pixel-perfect experience.
These changes should come into effect today – but if you’re not seeing them in your Tumblr dashboard just yet, hold tight. They’re coming.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.