Ramblings…

One of the most frequently asked questions in the WordPress.com Forums is how to embed flash, video, and other media into a WordPress.com blog. According to the WordPress.com FAQ:

For security reasons we remove the tags needed [to add or embed flash, video, or other media] . Your intentions may be innocent but someone somewhere would try to damage the site.

However, by using specially created “shortcodes”, WordPress.com allows embedding of media from Google Video, YouTube, DailyMotion, Grouper, Odeo, SplashCast, Vimeo, Slide.com, RockYou, Kyte.tv, and SlideShare.net. But as a WordPress.com blogger, you are out of luck when it comes to the hundreds of other websites.

Well, now there is a solution. It is the “Post WordPress” Firefox extension from VodPod. [There is a plugin for Internet Explorer and a bookmarklet for other browsers]. The extension will work on just about any site that offers Flash video and an embed code. You can read more about the extension at VodPod’s official blog.

I have been using the browser extension since its release in September 2007, and I find it to be extremely useful as it lifts the limitation WordPress.com imposes on its users in regards to flash and other media, and I have yet to find a site where the extension does not work.

You no longer need a browser extension or a bookmarklet to utilize VodPod and enable the embedding of any type of Flash video/slideshow into your WordPress.com blog. Just follow the directions below.

• Visit VodPod and sign-up for an account (if you do not have one already).
• After you are logged in, you will see the tab ”paste embed code”.
• Copy the embed code you want to post to your blog and click the “preview” button.
• In the pop-up window that appears, choose the “Post to blog” tab and click on the WordPress logo.
• Uncheck “include source link” and “vodpod link” (optional).
• Click on the “Get the Code” link.
• Copy the code and paste it into the WordPress.com editor.
• Alternatively, you can choose to give VodPod your WordPress sign-in information, and you can publish directly from VodPod.

You can also use the share video bookmarklet or use the Post to WordPress bookmarklet.

UPDATE: It has been brought to my attention that the VodPod trick does not work for embedding Issuu catalogs. [Thanks to Nela Lazarevic for bringing it to my attention] .  Also, blogger geekycoder posted a nice article discussing issues that one might run into when using VodPod and certain type of widgets.

Here’s one of my favorite Flash cartoons via Atom Films [from circa 2000, but it's still hilarious], a site which is not supported by a WordPress.com shortcode.

Radiskull & Devil Doll!