Nebula – Videos and Podcasts 12+

I was one of the first people to subscribe to and download the Nebula app on iOS. The app was decent, but missed a few features I had come to rely on in YT. Notably, these were background listening and the ability to minimize the video window to find other content without closing. I’m happy to say, the background listening feature has been added, and although I’m still waiting for the minimized window, it’s not something that forces me to use the YT app (and continue paying for YT Premium, which I’m going to do regardless). I also like to scroll the comment section from time to time, but I understand the decision by the creators/devs to decide against or delay implementing that feature due to the technical, creative or even legal complexity and liability that may entail. One more thing: I’ve noticed a huge increase in the responsiveness of the app since last using it. So I say well done devs and creators, for banding together with a vision for increased freedom and ownership in your careers. I can personally say that the risk you took and all the hard work done will always be rewarded by me and all others who appreciate such displays of intelligence and character.

I love this platform and what it’s about, I really do. Letting creators make what they want to make, without having to worry about the restrictions present on so many other platforms, it really leads to some high quality stuff. There is a level of care and value that I just haven’t gotten from any other service.

However, I have one very big issue, and it’s recurring. See, I download nearly all of my videos onto my iPad ahead of time; I’m without signal/data more often than not. Being able to download the content and watch later is crucial for me. However, on 3 separate occasions, my downloaded videos just outright disappear. I am not running low on space on the iPad, and I am given absolutely no information as to why this happens, before or after.

If I could only have videos downloaded for a certain amount of time, I could understand that. If I could only download so many, I get it. Yet, I have been given no reason whatsoever for this behavior by the app. If it were to be fixed, I’d gladly give 5 stars, because I love everything else. But when I open the app expecting my downloads to be there, when I’m away from the internet for several says at a time, and the downloads are empty, it’s nearly frustrating enough to make me want to delete the app altogether.

First off I want to say that I legit love supporting creators this way, this project is awesome! Also, the loading issues some 1-year-old reviews mention were a real issue but have been completely resolved, so I can now use this app on a regular basis.

However, there really needs to be a way to tell the player “I really really want the highest resolution and I don’t care how long it takes to load”. Frequently I’ll load a beautifully-made video (the creators on here make great stuff) and the first 10-30 seconds are a 240p mess (this also happens sometimes mid-video).

Aside from that, I’d really like if Nebula could blatantly copy YT’s really nice “drag up to make the video fullscreen, down to make it a miniplayer” feature. If both of these make it into the app I’ll bump this to five stars.