Android app developers can now sprinkle some YouTube on their apps, as Google has released the Android YouTube Player Application Programming Interface (API).

The new Android YouTube Player API allows users to play and embed YouTube videos in their app. Announced at the Google I/O 2012, the API also allows users to enjoy high-quality video playback using Android 2.2 Froyo or newer. Moreover, users no longer need WebView, and the new Android YouTube Player API provides easy integration with a user's Android application.

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"Adding a high-quality video experience to your Android application just got a whole lot easier," announced the company on Friday, Dec. 21. "Starting today, you can embed and play YouTube videos in your app using the new YouTube Android Player API."

With the new API for Android, developers should find it easy to integrate a proper video experience into their apps, and the API will allow them to embed and play any YouTube video natively, without redirecting users to the YouTube app or browser.

Here's the official list of features and benefits the new API for Android has to offer:

•  High-quality video playback supported on Android 2.2 or newer
•  Easy integration with Android apps, without requiring WebView
•  Closed captions display
•  Fullscreen and orientation change support
•  YouTube ads support
•  Programmatic access to most aspects of the YouTube video experience, ina similar manner to existing Player APIs
•  Integration with the Android YouTube app using a standard set of YouTube Intents that Google has been cooking with a few partners; apps using the new API include Flipboard, Buzzfeed, SoundTracking, 9x9.tv, and Fitness Flow.

Developers can find the documentation, instructions and code examples at this link. Meanwhile, all end users need to do is support developers who use these tools and come up Android apps.

"We've prepared several code examples to make it easy for you to get started with the new API. You will find them on code.google.com. The description of the examples is available in our documentation. If you need additional help with the API feel free to use our support resources," said Ross Mcllroy, Anton Hansson, and Horia Ciurdar of the YouTube Mobile Team.

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