Vine’s website receives major usability upgrade

Remember when you could only browse YouTube after you made an account? Or how about that time you could only see a friend’s picture on Facebook because you got a direct URL instead of simply browsing your feed? Of course you don’t. That never happened. In a blog post, Vine announced that the web version of the popular mobile app is finally getting a major usability upgrade that will allow visitors to peruse the site’s six-second videos without being a registered member.

When Vine first launched on the web, all you could do was view your stream and check out profiles for individual users. The desktop version came with TV Mode, too, which was admittedly addictive with its constant stream of full-screen content. But today Vine is going big on the web, bringing a number of the navigation and discovery features you’re used to in the app straight to your desktop. Plus, all of the content is accessible to anyone on the web, with no sign-in required. Alongside your Vine feed and user profile streams, Vine will now show a featured section that includes Editors Picks, cool playlists, and special featured videos. You’ll also have access to channels, trending tags, and a popular page, just as you do in the app. Perhaps more importantly, users don’t have to be logged in to Vine on the web to surf through these channels or featured Vine videos. Previously, to use Vine on the web, you had to be signed in or hunt down the URL for a user profile. Now, simply hitting up Vine.co will give you access to all of the best content on Vine, complete with TV mode, which plays them one after the other in full-screen.