(Screenshot by Michelle Starr/CNET Australia)
In celebration of the anniversary of the VCR, YouTube has now added a "tape mode" to certain videos to recall that old crunchy VHS feeling.
Apparently, 14 April was the 57th anniversary of the world's very first demonstration of a videotape in a VCR, the Ampex VRX-1000. No, we didn't have it marked on our calendars, either.
It seems, however, that Google's YouTube team did — releasing a new cassette mode for select videos. It brings back everything we thought we'd never have to see again: staticky images, glitches, warping, and all-but-unreadable subtitles.
Not every video has them, so there's a bit of fun to be had poking around looking for the videos that have the little tape icon on the right side of the navigation bar. We might argue that when you've seen one VHS-style video, you have seen them all, but maybe VHS is your thing.
Or maybe it's just nice to take a look back and marvel at how far the technology has come. We don't know if the new Easter egg is a permanent fixture or just temporary, so get in and take a look while you can.