Orkut now allows Multimedia Content inside Scrapbook

Google has finally made it possible to send rich-content scraps to your friends. You’ll be able to insert images, audio, video and embeddable objects into the scrap. They are rolling this feature on a profile-by-profile basis, so it might take few days to appear on your profile.

Here’s how you can send rich content scraps:

• Add images:
  Copy and paste urls ending in .jpg, .gif, .png or .bmp and the image will appear in the scrap.
  for example, http://example.com/example.jpg
• Add videos from YouTube and Google Video:
  Copy and paste the url and the video will appear in the scrap.
  for example, http://youtube.com/watch?v=videoid
• Add podcast/audio:
  Copy and paste the url of an audio file and an audio player will appear in the scrap.
  for example, http://example.com/example.mp3
• Add html-embeddable objects:
  Create or upload your content at sites such as photobucket.com, imageshack.com, rockyou.com or slide.com. Copy and paste the html embed code to share it with your friends.

I think it’s pretty cool to watch videos or images without having to leave the scrap page. In order to prevent spammers from misusing this feature, Google asks you to fill the word verification, if you’ve got embed, link or image in your scrap. Additionally, rich content scraps can only be sent to friends, which mean if you are not connected to someone, you can’t send a rich content scrap to that person.

Nowadays, Google is trying it integrate more and more service with Orkut. They did it with Google Talk, then YouTube / Google Videos and now Picasa Web Albums. I think they are taking a step in the right direction by adding new features to Orkut, but they should seriously consider re-designing the user interface. I’m quite sick of the ugly blue-pink color scheme. Is it just me or you too feel the same?