The service works pretty slick. The only thing I had to do [...]]]> A couple of weeks ago TechCrunch posted about Xoopit and I got an early invitation. Xoopit indexes all images, videos and attachments in your Gmail account and makes them available on the Xoopit homepage but also within the Gmail user interface as you see below:

The service works pretty slick. The only thing I had to do was going to the Xoopit site and login with my Gmail credentials. That’s it. I got the message that have to wait a bit until all my mails are indexed and Xoopit will inform me by email when it’s done. When you click one of your images in the top bar you also got the option to share it by email, Facebook or to blog it directly.

“We now provide a complete set of (CRUD) capabilities for uploading, managing, searching, and playing back user videos and metadata from the YouTube “cloud,” managed by us. We do all of the hard work of transcoding and hosting and streaming and thumbnailing your [...]]]> In the beginning of March YouTube made a new release of there WebService API:

“We now provide a complete set of (CRUD) capabilities for uploading, managing, searching, and playing back user videos and metadata from the YouTube “cloud,” managed by us. We do all of the hard work of transcoding and hosting and streaming and thumbnailing your videos, and we provide open access to our sizable global audience, enabling you to generate traffic for your site, visibility for your brand, or support for your cause. Meanwhile, we provide full access to our substantial video library, enabling you to attract users and enhance the experience on your site. It’s all free, and it’s available to everyone, starting now. “

I think this a great move by Google and I want to try it out using Flex and AS3.

There is already a YouTube AS3 library (formlery hosted on Adobe Labs) which does not cover the latest features like uploading videos.

Searching for AS3 sample code I had a look at the YouTube API dev page.

The Contributed sample code wiki showed up the ActionScript 3 Wrapper and the AS3 Wrapper.

The first one has a Flash CS3 tutorial and uses the JSON stuff of the Open Source AS3 library corelib. But then I realized that the new features like uploading videos where not covered yet. Then I came to the blog of the author Martin Legris who blogged that he had problems using the new API.

The AS3 Wrapper is a message thread and cares about AS3-AS2 communication and also only about playback if I checked it right so also not the thing I was looking for.
So it looks like there is no open AS3 solution for the new YouTube features yet. Please leave a comment if you know anything else. I hope my next post on this will show a solution. However I hope this post may provide some good links for others who want to start playing with the YouTube API and AS3/Flex.
Another interesting link to follow up is SWFAdress and the YouTube API to allow deeplinking (e.g. start at second 10 instead of the beginning) into videos.

James Ward made a very nice example how to use Dough McCune’s cover flow component with videos hosted on YouTube.

I came across another “white label YouTube“. The startup Reality Digital just got another round funding and their services look very interesting. They use Adobe Premiere Express as online video editing solution like e.g. also the MTV Video Remixer and Photobucket.

Via TechCrunch I explored Magnify. They created VidyUp which uses the new YouTube API and are claimed the first who use the new YouTube API.

So again: If you see something in AS3 open source around the new API please drop a comment!

I have created a Co-op search for Flash/Flex related stuff. Check it out here: SWF Blog/Tech Search Engine

Direct link to the search engine.

The search engine is open so feel free to contribute [...]]]> “Google Co-op is a platform that enables you to customize the web search experience for users of both Google and your own website.”

I have created a Co-op search for Flash/Flex related stuff. Check it out here:
SWF Blog/Tech Search Engine

Direct link to the search engine.

The search engine is open so feel free to contribute and add Flash/Flex related blogs and sites.

Netvibes is a personalized homepage which can be customized with several contents like RSS Reader, watch ebay auctions, check your Gmail, integrated iCal, integrated del.ico.us, show flickr photos and so much more. For me it has become a kind of [...]]]> I am using Netvibes now for about 6 month and can’t imagine how it would be without.

Netvibes is a personalized homepage which can be customized with several contents like RSS Reader, watch ebay auctions, check your Gmail, integrated iCal, integrated del.ico.us, show flickr photos and so much more. For me it has become a kind of onlineoffice.
Now there is good news because Netvibes good an investor who gave them US $15 million.
Besides of this Web 2.0, AJAX hype discussion I think this kind of applications are damn usefull.
Microsoft has brought up a similiar site called live.com and there are of course many more clones. It is of course very attractive for any company to be THE default page for many internet users. My winner so far is Netvibes so have a look at it.