Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Google Is Testing Autoplay Videos Directly In Search Results (thenextweb.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the annoying-features-nobody-asked-for dept.

For a select group of individuals, Google has enabled autoplay videos in Search. "We are constantly experimenting with ways to improve the search experience for our users, but have no plans to announce [the feature] at this time," a Google spokesperson told Search Engine Land. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter all have similar features that were introduced fairly recently. If you find automatic videos to be a nuisance, now is the time to let Google know how you feel about this "feature."

4 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. Configure your browser to stop it by Picodon · · Score: 4, Informative

    In Firefox (about:config), setting “media.autoplay.enabled” to “false” normally cures the problem. Obviously, it’ll affect all sites, including those where autoplay is largely expected (for example, YouTube), but it’s easy to get used to it.

    1. Re:Configure your browser to stop it by Picodon · · Score: 4, Informative

      For that (completely valid) use case, Firefox has “media.block-autoplay-until-in-foreground” (set it to “true”). Of course, that’s no longer necessary if you disabled autoplay entirely with “media.autoplay.enabled”, which affects both foreground and background tabs, and which you might like better.

      I mentioned YouTube in particular because, in my experience, when autoplay (“media.autoplay.enabled”) is disabled, the YouTube player appears to be started but seeking, and requires clicking twice on the “play” button (once to pause, and once more to really start the video), which is a bit befuddling the first time. It’s only a glitch, though, and I still prefer that rather than having videos start in foreground tabs for all sites.

  2. Dear Google by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 5, Informative
    I really want to blow through my dat cap. What is the best way to do that?

    Oh, you've already got an implemation planned?

    Thank you for being so responsive!

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  3. Re:Alternative headline by goose-incarnated · · Score: 3, Informative

    I don't want auto play videos (my addons wouldn't allow it anyhow). I don't want auto play dvds, I turn that crap off.

    I don't know why anyone thinks people do, or should, want that. People are just lazy.

    Google appears to have forgotten how and why they toppled altavista and yahoo.

    --
    I'm a minority race. Save your vitriol for white people.