This is part 1 of a series of posts providing details of some of the new functionality being added to my WordPress plugin YouTube Embed.

During this article any reference to YE is indicating YouTube Embed (and, more specifically, the currently unleased version 2).

Embedding Options (may change!)

Part 1 : Embedding Options

YE has the same embedding methods as before – PHP function call, widgets or the shortcode [youtube]. However, there are now a number of extra methods that can be used, many of which are to allow easy migration from other plugins.

In a later article I’ll talk about the multiple profiles that you can set up. In the meantime, it’s worth noting that for each of the following methods, a default profile can be specified allowing each to display differently.

Embedding with a URL

WordPress, by default, allows you to embed YouTube URLs simply by specifying them on their own line in a post. This uses some built-in oAuth functionality but there is no ability to tailor the output.

With YE, you will be given an option (switched off by default) to override this functionality and allow YE to take over. Any YouTube URLs then added to posts will then be shown using YE and any defaults you’ve assigned.

Embed in Comments

If you’d like your users to be able to embed videos within comments, activating an option in YE (again, defaults to off) will allow specification of a URL (as per the previous method) to create a YouTube video. With its own default profile, you can assign a video size that fits neatly with your comment output.

Further Migration Options

This is the big one. The bad boy. It allows you to migrate to YE from other plugins – the aim is to be compatible with 25 of the most popular alternatives. For further details on which plugins are supported and how to go about it, I’ve set up a dedicated page.

There are 2 ways to allow this…

1. Alternative Shortcodes

Many plugins simply work by using a different shortcode than YE. Some have multiple shortcodes – often one for defining HD quality video. Therefore YE offers you the ability specify 1 or 2 additional shortcodes.

So, as an example, if you’re migrating from WP YouTube Player, you simply set up an alternative shortcode of tube and you’ll find that any posts that worked under your previous plugin will now work with YE.

Some plugins have alternatives names for parameters that YE uses – e.g. the ID may be specified as url or youtubeurl. YE will automatically use these alternatives.

2. Non-shortcode Embedding

I couldn’t think of a better name for this but, essentially, some plugins use embedding methods which isn’t a straight URL and it’s not a shortcode. An example is Smart Youtube which uses a modified URL format – essentially, adding an extra letter to the protocol name at the beginning of the URL.

Turning on this option will activate detection of these embedding methods.

As it adds a slight performance hit – searching each post for all these different embedding types – this is switched off by default and should only be used if you’re migrating from one of the plugins that this works with.

So, I nearly had the plugin done. It has so many new features you wouldn’t believe and it works like a dream. All I had to do was bring the widget code up to date and all would be fine.

But then I had an idea about some performance improvements.

Then I thought it would be a good idea to compare the features of my plugin with the competition – in this case the top 10 most downloaded plugins that allow YouTube embedding. As well as looking up the instructions, I’m also installing each to get a good feel of them – however, I’m not going to take this as an opportunity to “diss” alternatives. Instead, I will present a straight forward comparison of features between the plugins.

First I had to identify them, so I started looking around WordPress.org. Not easy – it’s all based on tags and different authors use different tags to identify them. However, as I looked around, it became apparent that there were many out there with USP’s – one’s that I’d missed. So the spreadsheet is continuing, but I’m also looking at around 41 other plugins available to see what features they have that mine doesn’t. My intention is to launch a product that doesn’t have any features that the others don’t – unless I don’t think they’re worth it

So, more work to do. The words “back” and “rod” spring to mind.

None-the-less work continues and I hope YouTube Embed version 2 will be released soon.

Update: Further progress is now being tracked on the forum – read more here.

WordPress 3.1.3 has been released.

WordPress 3.1.3 is available now and is a security update for all previous versions. It contains the following security fixes and enhancements:

• Various security hardening by Alexander Concha.
• Taxonomy query hardening by John Lamansky.
• Prevent sniffing out user names of non-authors by using canonical redirects. Props Verónica Valeros.
• Media security fixes by Richard Lundeen of Microsoft, Jesse Ou of Microsoft, and Microsoft Vulnerability Research.
• Improves file upload security on hosts with dangerous security settings.
• Cleans up old WordPress import files if the import does not finish.
• Introduce “clickjacking” protection in modern browsers on admin and login pages.

The official WordPress announcement

3.1.3 Codex Details

Change Details

A list of the modified files (between WordPress 3.1.2 and 3.1.3)

Download 3.1.3 (entire installation)

Download 3.1.3 (just the changed files between 3.1.2 and 3.1.3)