YouTube Offline Saves Millions of Egyptians’ Time Wasted on Buffering

  Perhaps more excruciating than Egypt’s chaotic traffic conditions is trying to watch a YouTube video at a decent quality while on mobile internet. Stress no more! Google has once again come to the rescue by bringing offline playback to users in Egypt, Algeria, Jordan, Libya and Yemen. In a blog post, Google says that users will be able to save a video for offline viewing by simply tapping on an ‘offline icon’. Once saved, the videos can be played without any internet connection for up to 48 hours. Google explains that this was implemented in these countries because there is a lack of access to high-speed and affordable internet. “Starting today, the majority of YouTube videos in Egypt, Algeria, Jordan, Libya and Yemen  will become available for people to view offline, from popular talk shows to local comedy,” writes Mathew Darby, a YouTube product manager. “Making these popular videos available for offline playback will help people move past the challenges of data connection, speed and cost to enjoy a smooth, buffer-free version of their favorite content.” However, one disappointment users may face is the fact that offline capabilities will not apply…

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