Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Dynamite News
Dynamite News
World
DN Bureau

YouTube tests floating 'Play Something' button to randomly select videos

Representational image

Washington: YouTube is currently testing a new feature aimed at enhancing user experience through its mobile app, particularly for those moments when users are unsure of what to watch next.

The feature, a floating "Play Something" button, has been spotted in the YouTube app for Android, allowing users to instantly play a random video by simply tapping the button, as per The Verge.

The floating "Play Something" button sits just above the bottom bar of the YouTube app, providing a convenient way to discover content without having to browse through endless recommendations.

Also Read | YouTube removes more than 11.4 million videos in second quarter of 2020

Upon tapping the button, the app automatically selects a video and begins playing it, offering a more spontaneous and streamlined experience.

In a twist to its earlier versions, this new button utilizes the portrait-oriented YouTube Shorts player to display videos.

Regardless of whether the selected video is a regular YouTube video or a Shorts clip, the format is optimized for viewing in the Shorts player, offering a vertically oriented interface.

Also Read | Spotify introduces real-time lyrics on Nest Hub

While this works well for Short-form content, users hope that future updates may allow for the full-screen display of regular videos as well.

While YouTube has been experimenting with various versions of this random video selector for over a year, including previous iterations like a "Play Something" banner and a simple button resembling the black-and-white YouTube logo, the latest floating button design is the most refined.

Currently, it remains in testing phases, and it's unclear when or if the feature will receive a full rollout, as per The Verge. 

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.