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If you use a multi-monitor setup, then you likely already know the pain that is trying to have a Youtube video running full screen on one screen while you work, and the clicking in to any other application only for the youtube video to drop back to normal size.

Now I understand that this is an intentional ‘feature’ of Flash to prevent flash movies from taking over the full screen, pretending to be the desktop or such like (though if its a feature, why not have it configurable in settings?)

Often when I’m sitting working at the computer I like to have a video playing in the background on one of the monitors, usually some documentary or suchlike, so it is annoying not being able to have the video at full screen (as the small window is just too small to keep an eye on in peripheral vision). This has always been a niggling gripe of mine, but it has become more annoying since a move around of the monitors on my desk means its now a bit wider, so I’m relying even more on peripheral vision to see the video. Whilst unfortunately there isn’t a lot I can do about the limitations of Adobe Flash, I can at least make it so that I can easily flick any Youtube video to the maximum size of the browser window, which isn’t far off being full screen.

To that end, I’ve written a little bookmarklet that when clicked whilst viewing a youtube video page, will automatically take you to the flash only view of that video, which is by default maximised to the full size of the browser window.  Not a perfect solution, but certainly a lot better than having to stick with the smaller player.

If you would like to use this bookmarklet, then just drag the link at the end of this paragraph to your bookmarks or bookmarks toolbar, and then you can click it on any Youtube video page to test it out.  Youtube Max

Any comments and suggestions always welcome.

~Shepy

P.S. – Yes I know there are standalone programs you can drag Youtube links in to, but i really don’t want to have to bother with an external app.