It already allows Android users to 'precache' videos to watch later, but the YouTube applications for all mobile devices might soon offer the ability to save videos for offline viewing. 

Announced via the official YouTube partners & creators blog, the YouTube team writes "this upcoming feature will allow people to add videos to their device to watch for a short period when an Internet connection is unavailable. So your fans’ ability to enjoy your videos no longer has to be interrupted by something as commonplace as a morning commute."

Practically, this means a video could be downloaded to the device when connected to Wi-Fi, and then accessible without a connection. The current preloading Android feature still requires the user to be online when they first press play, so the new feature could prove a very useful one for many smartphone and tablet owners who do not have easy access to mobile Internet.

As it stands, many mobile users cannot realistically use YouTube and other video apps while on the move given the unreliability and high costs of mobile data. A full offline feature would be ideal for the likes of podcasts and other longer-form videos that are often most suitable for commutes and other journeys.

However, since downloading videos goes against YouTube's current terms of service, it is likely that the feature will come with some restrictions. We'll find out when offline videos launch in November.