Anyone using the Windows Phone 8 mobile platform is likely pleased with personalization and interactivity offered by the competitor to iOS and Android. The convenience of live tiles, which are both customizable and frequently updated, has taken the starting point offered by Windows Phone 7 to the next level. The increased integration with apps has no doubt assuaged naysayers who weren’t that impressed with the prior iteration. That said, those attempting to utilize YouTube on Windows Phone 8 were no doubt disappointed to find that the app was not optimized for use with this platform, appearing as nothing more than the web version resized for mobile, with little functionality or added value to spare. Luckily, however, Windows seems to be addressing the lite fare featured in their application Marketplace – YouTube, in particular, has undergone an expansive update that completely revamps the interface and functionality for Windows Phone 8 users.

One feature that users are sure to appreciate right off the bat is the quick access search bar. As you may have guessed, this functionality allows for faster, easier video searches within the application, so if you know what you’re looking for, you can now gain access in a snap (or a tap). But it’s also a lot easier to save and share, as well, when you find YouTube videos you like. One of the major draws of this visual medium, aside from pure entertainment value, is that it allows users to spot and share video trends with their cadre of online and mobile contacts. And the newly updated application for Window mobile does not disappoint in this regard.

First, you can save your faves with a feature called pinning. It’s not the same as creating a pinboard on Pinterest, for example, but the idea is in the same vein since the functionality allows you to collect and store the videos that you love for easy reference later on. Whereas previously you might have had to seek out a particular video every time you wanted to show it to someone new, pinning lets you save playlists, searches, and specific videos. And thanks to the addition of My YouTube you can create a profile to more easily manage your personal playlist. But of course, the ability to share via text, email, and social media is the icing on the cake for this app, which would otherwise only realize half of its potential use value.

Of course, that’s not the end of the upgrades. Also sure to be popular is the Kid’s Corner feature that allows parents to censor content on their children’s phones (or their own). So if you have videos pinned to your YouTube channel, or even to live tiles, you can decide whether or not to allow access to others using your phone via this feature. The long and short of this updated app is that it provides Windows Phone 8 users with the features they might expect from a comparable program on similar devices (iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy 4, for example). It could even help you to get YouTube views for your own channel thanks to increased sharing opportunities. And all you have to do is head to the Windows Marketplace to download this awesome update.