Illustration: Alex Castro / The Verge YouTube is testing a new floating “Play something” button that will pick a video for you, 9to5Google spotted in the YouTube app for Android. The button floats just above the bottom bar of the app, and when tapped, it picks a YouTube video to play for you.Just as in earlier versions of this feature YouTube’s been testing, the new button reportedly uses the portrait-oriented YouTube Shorts player to show videos, regardless of whether they’re vertically formatted Shorts or standard YouTube videos. Hopefully that changes by the time the feature gets a wide release.Other incarnations the company has been testing for over a year include a “Play Something” banner and a simple button that looks like a black-and-white YouTube logo. If the feature’s name sounds familiar, perhaps it’s because Netflix retired a similar random video picker last year called “Surprise Me,” which originally launched in 2021 as “Play Something.”

With CES 2025 just around the corner, companies have been eager to give us a sneak peek at what they have up their sleeves. However, not all of them can say that they've already won several CES 2025 awards before the doors have even opened. LG is one of those lucky few who can, as its new monitor has picked up several trophies before the public even saw it.

The iPad is one of the best tablets that you can buy right now. Of course, there are a lot of different options, with Apple providing something for nearly every budget thanks to its extensive lineup. With that said, if you're looking to go all out and want the very best, you'll want to go with the brand's iPad Pro.

When looking at ways to transfer files between network-attached storage (NAS) and connected hardware, you'll likely come across server message block (SMB) and network file system (NFS). Both are valid protocols for moving data between a NAS and your PC or mobile device, but which is better? Unfortunately, this is one of those questions that can be answered with "it depends" so I'll highlight a few reasons why you should (and shouldn't) use NFS over SMB.

The DJI Flip is expected to fly nearly twice as long as the DJI Neo, pictured here. | Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge New images of the rumored DJI Flip folding drone hit late last week, showing the compact, light-colored drone both folded and unfolded, and even in a carrying case. The images appeared in posts by Igor Bogdanov, who has shared other credible DJI leaks in the past.Bogdanov added in a post yesterday that DJI is preparing a new Cellular Dongle 2 module for the compact drone. The new leaks join earlier images of ND filters for the Flip, its propeller set, and charging hub, which Bogdanov wrote can charge two batteries in a minimum of 45 minutes, and can use “a 65W parallel charger.” Oh, how. Flip gonna have a Cellular Dongle 2. #dji #djiflip pic.twitter.com/CbpZpnSHj0— Igor Bogdanov (@Quadro_News) December 28, 2024Below are some of the other pictures Bogdanov posted, including of its front screen, which drone leaker Jasper Ellens notes shows “all the handsfree Quickshots we know from the Neo.” Ellens posted a short video of the drone yesterday, writing that the Flip’s registration numbers put it in DJI’s FPV drone category, meaning that it could allow for first-person streaming during flight. In early December, he also leaked details like the drone’s compact folding approach and that it should get about 30 minutes of flight thanks to a battery that’s bigger than the one in DJI’s Neo selfie drone.Fun fact. The #DJIFLIP product numbers are registered under the #FPV product line of DJI. This drone will be a #hybrid in many ways. I wish you all happy holidays and see you in the new year. Thank you for reading. Fly safe, stay safe. Cheers! Jasper pic.twitter.com/csGagm0U2M— Jasper Ellens | X27 (@JasperEllens) December 28, 2024

LG’s new microwave mounted above its range, thereby ‘eliminating the need to bend down and check the oven manually.’ | Image: LG LG has responded to Samsung in the battle to slap displays on every home appliance you own, culminating in the LG Signature microwave which puts a superfluous 27-inch LCD touchscreen and speakers into an appliance you probably don’t even need. LG says the microwave’s display provides “an immersive entertainment experience” that’ll surely prevent the onset of buyer’s remorse at having overpaid for a potential advertising machine centrally located in your kitchen. And when paired with LG’s oven, it “conveniently shows the cooking progress of dishes in the range, eliminating the need to bend down and check the oven manually.”In 2023, LG announced plans to transform its hardware-based business into a platform-based service model that continuously generates profits. In September, the company started displaying full-screen ads on its idle televisions. Image: LG LG’s latest Signature devices. The company’s second-generation Signature lineup of Wi-Fi appliances continues the tradition of putting a giant transparent OLED “Instaview” touchscreen on its fridge, alongside smaller LCDs on its washer and dryer. LG’s Signature displays can be used to operate the local appliance, access entertainment, and control devices in the LG smart home. The announcement follows Samsung recently announcing a wider variety of display choices on its home appliances, ranging from 4.3 inches all the way up to 32 inches. It’s all part of the company’s strategy to put “screens everywhere,” instead of easy-to-use buttons and dials that rarely fail and are cheap to replace.LG hasn’t announced any prices, countries of availability, or shipping dates for its new Signature lineup of appliances. But we’ll surely learn more when everything is demonstrated at the giant CES show which kicks off on January 7th in Las Vegas.

Intel's new Battlemage GPUs are now out in the wild, and if the company's own reports are to be trusted, they seem to be selling more of them than expected. It's a nice story at the end of a rough year for the chip giant and a close shave for its GPU department: there were rumors that Intel would shutter its entire high-end graphics card venture if Battlemage flopped. Fortunately, that seems to have been averted, as the company is reportedly planning a 24GB version for 2025.

While Excel is an ideal software for creating and managing databases, it may not be easy to navigate when dealing with thousands of rows and columns. Here is where Power Pivot comes in, since it can be a game-changer for anyone dealing with massive datasets. It offers a powerful engine for analyzing big databases without the need for expensive, specialized software.

There are lots of great M.2 SSDs to choose from if you're looking to upgrade your Steam Deck or other PC gaming handheld. Luckily, with this Western Digital SN770M, you don't need to sacrifice, as it delivers excellent speeds at a fantastic price. Right now, you can grab the 1TB model for just $83, which is 10% below its original retail price.

Karaoke is my jam, and I know a few friends who feel the same way. But here’s the catch: we don’t always want to leave the house to sing our hearts out. Imagine having a karaoke machine right at home! It would be an absolute blast, bringing endless fun and entertainment to everyone, from solo singers to families and friends. With a karaoke machine, you can sing your heart out without worrying about scheduling or location. It’s like having your own personal karaoke party anytime, anywhere!

Image: LG LG isn’t waiting until CES begins to reveal its new collection of gaming monitors. The 2025 lineup is led by the UltraGear OLED Bendable Gaming Monitor, which LG claims is the “world’s first 5K2K-resolution bendable OLED display.” That strikes me as extremely specific, but hey, it’s always worth bragging when you’re first, I suppose. The 45-inch monitor has an expansive resolution of 5120x2160, so you’re getting the same vertical pixel count as a typical 4K screen but a much wider canvas to game on.And with a 21:9 aspect ratio, LG believes it provides “a more immersive gaming experience than standard 16:9 displays, while maintaining better content compatibility than 32:9 monitors.” This format also makes the display a great fit for productivity work when you’re not immersed in gameplay.The UltraGear OLED Bendable Gaming Monitor (model 45GX990A) can transition from completely flat to a 900R curvature, and the latest version of LG’s Dual-Mode feature “allows users to switch effortlessly between resolution and refresh rate presets, and customize the aspect ratio and picture size.” It’s certified for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, but the press materials don’t specify a maximum refresh rate. I’ve asked for more details there. Image: LG Both 45-inch monitors have a 5K2K resolution of 5120x2160. LG is also releasing a non-bendable model with a permanent 800R curve. Otherwise, it’s the same 45-inch size, same aspect ratio, and same 5K2K resolution. LG’s press release says you can expect “sharp, lifelike images with the stunning colors and exceptional contrast LG OLED products are known for.” Shared specs between both monitors include a 0.03ms (GtG) response time and support for DisplayPort 2.1, HDMI 2.1, and USB-C with 90W power delivery. The 45GX950A uses a RGWB subpixel layout to improve readability of text on the screen and make the aforementioned productivity work easier on your eyes. Along with these two monitors, LG is also introducing the curved UltraGear 39GX90SA, a webOS-powered “home entertainment hub” with easy access to streaming services — just like LG’s TVs. It seems like the company has taken some cues from Samsung’s smart monitors here. At 39 inches, this one’s a bit smaller than the other GX9 displays, but it retains the 21:9 aspect ratio and 800R curve. “Equipped with USB Type-C ports, it offers convenient connectivity, and incorporates LG’s ergonomic and space-saving L-shaped stand for a clutter-free desk setup,” LG said in tonight’s press release.As per usual with CES news, pricing and a specific release date are still to come later in 2025. But we’ll be getting our first in-person look at the UltraGear GX9 series in Las Vegas, so stay tuned for impressions early next month — along with an avalanche of stunning screens from many other companies, too.

Building your own NAS is one of the best upgrades you can make to your home network, whether you're going all out with a TrueNAS setup or just setting up a basic file share. Distributed, resilient, and high-performance storage is often the bottleneck in the highest performance systems, with considerations like locking, asynchronous operations, and durability becoming serious problems to solve. Such systems can often be extremely complex and prohibitively expensive, reserved for only the largest enterprises with the most intense storage needs.