Smart Youtube is a WordPress Video plugin that allows you to easily insert videos/playlists into your post, comments and in your RSS feed. The plugin is designed to be small and fast and not use any external resources.
Smart Youtube is one of the most popular WordPress plugins, with more than 1,000,000 downloads.
From version 4.0 Smart Youtube changed the name to Smart Youtube PRO and now also supports playback of Youtube, Vimeo, Metacafe, Liveleak and Facebook high quality videos, works on iPhone&iPad, produces xHTML valid code (unlike YouTube embed code), allows you to view videos in fullscreen, has robust widget support and much more.
The videos will be embedded in your RSS feed as well, and if this is not support by the reader you can choose to have video link and/or video preview screenshot displayed instead.
Main Features
- Easily embeds YouTube, Vimeo, Metacafe, Liveleak and Facebook videos (normal/HD mode)
- Works on iPhone, iPad and iPod
- Embed YouTube playlist (normal/HD)
- Supports latest high quality video protocols (360p and HD quality 720p)
- Allows full YouTube customization (colors, border, size, full screen...)
- Supports video deep linking (starting at desired point with &start=time parameter)
- Supports migrated blogs from WordPress.com
- Supports migration from other Youtube plugins such as wp-youtube
- Extract video thumbnails in your archive/category posts
- Provides a sidebar widget for videos as well
- Produces xHTML valid code
- Very fast and light, no extra scripts needed
Example
You can discuss all plugin related issues in the wordpress plugin forums.
Screenshot
Download
Installation & Usage
- Upload the whole plugin folder to your /wp-content/plugins/ folder.
- Go to the Plugins page and activate the plugin.
- Use the Options page to change RSS feed options
- When you want to display Youtube video in your post, paste the video link with httpv:// (notice the 'v')
Example: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00000000
0000000 part is your video REF#
The video will be automatically embedded to your post in the proper way.
If you want to post a high/HD (DVD quality, 720p) quality video you would use httpvh:// ('vh' for video high resolution)
To embed a playlist use extension 'vp' (eg. httpvp://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=528026B4F7B34094)
To use video deep linking just add &start=time parameter at the end of url. For example httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWfksMD4PAg&start=30 will start the video 30 seconds in.
Additionally, you can set how do you want the video to be displayed in your RSS feed. Smart Youtube can show the preview image of the video (automatically grabbed from Youtube), the link to the video, or both. I recommend enabling only the preview image.
Vimeo
httpv://vimeo.com/27287078
Metacafe
httpvh://vww.metacafe.com/watch/7815470/harry_potter_and_the_deathly_hallows_dvd_interview/
Liveleak
httpv://www.liveleak.com/view?i=cad_1322822486
Changelog
= 4.0 =
* Major release
* Added support for Vimeo, Metacafe, Liveleak and Facebook videos
* Now parses http:// and httpv:// videos jsut the same
* Option to autoplay only the first video on the page
* Exctract Video thumbnails
* Show video is Colorbox
* New much better, sidebar Widget support
= 3.9.1 =
Support for WiziApp.
= 3.8 =
* Support for new IFRAME embed code
* Support for HD playlists (httpvhp)
* Support for new play formats (1280x745 & 960x745)
v3.5
- Changes to Iphone video embed
Extra
- Visit my other interesting WordPress Plugins.
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965 Comments
Just to report that Smart YouTube stopped working on WordPress 3.0 RC3. Videos don't display. Just a blank white spot equivalent to the size of the video that used to be there.
Is this the case the release version of WP 3.0? I'm holding off upgrading wordpress until we have confirmation that Smartyoutube works with 3.0????
Of course it works, you are looking at it on a WP 3.0 blog already
Dan - I'm not "complaining" I was simply asking a question and addressing an issue many others have also had. There is nothing wrong with bringing a possible problem to the attention of the developer.
Thanks Vladmir! Plugin works perfectly on Wp 2.9.2... and will definitely help my multiple authors insert standard sized videos into their posts. That's what I was looking for.
Just wanted to write and say thanks - no complaining about it not working on the iPhone or problems with my admin area. Heck, it's free people - be grateful!
I understand. I will see what I can find but it's strange because nothing has changed on my site. - Thanks.
@Carolyn Blake No, you don't need to use the film strip.
All you do is take the url of the video (not the embed code) and past it directly into the text editor and then add your "v" or "vh". Once you have done this, just make sure that the URL is not linked (not underlined and blue), if it is just select it and click the "remove link" (broken chain) icon.
And that's it :)
@C.L.R. - I know it's frustrating when plugins don't work but in this case the fault is not with the plugin. I have this plugin deployed on 9 sites, on 3 different server configs with every site having a unique combination of plugins and the plugin works flawlessly. I just tested it this instant on my iPhone.
I would suspect that you have a plugin that is interfering with the operation of this one and should look to ensuring this plugin is properly configured and then enabling and disabling plugins to see if you can't track down a culprit.
Hope this helps, and I hope you track down the issue.
Thanks Paul, its good to hear that.
Hi - I think my question got mssed. Here it is again
Thanks
I found the settings and went through them. I selected show border and the colors for the border, and then, if I understand this correctly, I click on the filmstrip icon in my post box, add the link in the URL blank that opens up. I selected Flash, and then click on Insert...just like normal, and paste the URL, not the embed code, correct? I added httphv:// However, when I roll over the video, the text that appears only shows the http://, and in my post, the border is not there. For some reason the post is not accepting the addition of the hv. What am I doing wrong?
You should not click on filmstrip. just paste the url into the post directly.
It doesn't work on the iphone even with the privacy settings off. It has not worked for many weeks now.
Then youtube must have changed something again. Since I dont have an iphone to test i'll again need a volunteer, just contact me on skype vprelovac :)
As far as I know Youtube on Iphone works. The only thing that needs to be unchecked is privacy option in the settings.
Is this plug-in going to support iPhone as advertised again? Many people have asked about it but it is never addressed. It used to work but no longer does and it is important for your users to know what's going on.
I have many youtube clips using this plug-in and I need to know ASAP if I should continue to use this plug-in or switch to one that works.
Every day I continue to use this broken plug-in is another day of clips I will later have to fix. Can you PLEASE let everyone know what the situation is with the iPhone and if it's going to be supported again?
Thanks.
Did WP or YouTube change something? I am getting proper preview of the video embedded, but won't play.
Very strange...
As some have pointed out, this plugin doesn't work for me on the iPhone. Even the example video you have on this page shows up as a blank space.
Thank you Vladimir for your fast answer. I found the settings and went through them. I selected show border and the colors for the border, and then, if I understand this correctly, I click on the filmstrip icon in my post box, add the link in the URL blank that opens up. I selected Flash, and then click on Insert...just like normal, and paste the URL, not the embed code, correct? I added httphv:// However, when I roll over the video, the text that appears only shows the http://, and in my post, the border is not there. For some reason the post is not accepting the addition of the hv. What am I doing wrong?
LOVE your plugin, works perfectly for my client, especially since you can add a playlist. This way she doesn't have to fiddle with the code, just update her YouTube Playlist. Fabulous.
Only issue is I would LOVE to add the widget into another sidebar and I do not see this possibility. Can you have multiple Smart YouTubes? Please let me know how.
Will have this in the next major release as well
I have WP 2.9.2. I installed the plugin exactly by directions here, and there is no "Options" page or anyway to access the plugin, either on the Plugins page, where I would expect to find an Options page link, or in my post page when I am making a post. I uninstalled the plugin, and reinstalled it. So, now what? The Plugin on the Plugins page looks like this and as you can see there is nothing that says Options.
Smart Youtube Insert YouTube videos in posts, comments and RSS feeds with ease and full customization.
Deactivate | Edit Version 3.6.1 | By Vladimir Prelovac | Visit plugin site
Options are found under Settings menu in your wp-admin
Still does not work on my iPhone. I don't get it, it used to work until about a month ago. I have the most recent version. Ideas?
Hi Vladimir,
great plugin - I found it just a couple of days ago.
I'm a webmaster (well, I do what I can:) ) for a small choir members-only site, and I wanted to add a bunch of different YouTube videos of a song we're going to perform.
This was great, instead of having to cut&paste code.
I tried to use the nocookie-url and the /v/-url from the embed code but that doesn't work - I got too technical I guess. I found the cookie-privacy-option in your plugin - much appreciated.
Could I ask that you update the changelog as quickly as the plugin itself - it's important to know changes in behaviour for things on your website. I always check after updates. Now it's 3.6.1, changelog 3.5.
I have a problem since today. After update to last version of WP, I have problem with changing options in smart Youtube - whatever I do - I get question - Are you sure you want to do this? Please try again. (Please try again is link) - Whatever I click I cannot change some options I want to change.
For instance - I want to change turn off Display video link in RSS feed - I can’t do that. In my rss I still have link beside picture for preview do that manually editing code and making that Display video link in RSS feed - off in code?
Will that help?
Spel
4 weaks before i have few i think good sugestions - any answer on them?
I have several suggestions
1. Adding few possibilities for posting videos into post – I have great production of videos but before end of 2009 all was in 320 x 240 and after end of 2009 I start publishing video in 640 x 480 resolution. I have adjusted player video for 640 x 480 but now 320 x 240 videos are stretched across all of player window.
For changes to be easy implemented – I suggest adding 2 or even 3 possibilities for playing videos – like this:
Your original code httpv://www.youtube.com/********************
Another version of httpv#1://www.youtube.com/********************
Another version of httpv#2://www.youtube.com/********************
Another version of httpv#3://www.youtube.com/********************
Adding #1 after v will allow us to predefine what will be size of player for #1 or number #2 or number #3 – I think it is good idea
If you don’t put #1, #2, #3 player will be those which is default (without number) – in my case that is 640 x 480.
2. If some video is for “personal use” which mean somebody must be log into you tube to see it, than I suggest making possibility for login for authors of those videos – If I put all my materials to be private (up to 25 people can see it) – than I cant publish them trough this way – and allowing authors to write theirs username and password will allow that those vides can be seen on my posts. That way I can protect all my archive of video on youtube, but allow those video can be visible on my blog – which can increase hits, visits and others possibility – that possibility is visible on this plug in http://tubepress.org/ where people can use its username and password for publishing all vides from if they have account on youtube
Thanks in advance
Spel
Vladimir, great plugin. I am able to get YouTube videos to embed on the iPad and with full-blown browsers. However, I am unable to get the videos to embed on the iPhone. I've tried disabling privacy, and the suggestion of one of the commenters to disable auto-embed of HTML links under media --> settings. Videos used to embed fine, now they don't. Any suggestions?
Chris
This playlist is a good inception. To go in my side bar and not have users getting bored of the same old first video image loading. Can you please make a setting to enable to either load a random video and keep the default so not to upset existing users.
And or perhaps even just be able to declare which number video in a playlist it loads first. Or perhaps even just a random video setting for the sidebar videos playlist as there the videos to tease users into the site and a new video showing each load will be good.
Plugin is working perfectly. Thanks Vladamir. I think people for whom it isn't working, I'd say it's just the privacy option.
Okay .. I guess the post stripped the HTML .. but, if you want to see it I'll e-mail you!
Don't know if this helps .. but, I thought I would include it for possible plug-in de-bugging.
THIS WORKS ON iPHONE!
I took this code from the example video, changing "hd=1" to "hd=0" I also changed the height.
THIS ** DOES NOT ** WORKS ON iPHONE!
I took this code from the code generated by the plug-in.
Thanks!!
Vladimir .. I'm still not getting this plugin to work on the iPhone. When I view the source code with the plug-in activated .. I do get different results .. depending on the WordPress media settings. Can you tell us the correct settings to use please? I'm still missing something. I viewed the source on your sample video .. and yes .. it works great on iPhones. But, the source that the plug-in is generating is close but, not exactly as to what the video on your site is using. I'm now thinking it can't be the plug-in, but a WordPress setting? -Thanks