VideoRecall

Product Introduction

1. VideoRecall is an open-source browser extension that enables users to undo and redo video seek actions using keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+Z (undo) and Ctrl+Y (redo) across all video platforms. It operates as a lightweight overlay that integrates seamlessly with existing video players on websites like YouTube, Netflix, and Twitch. The extension is built for Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave) and Firefox, leveraging native browser APIs to intercept and manage video navigation events. Its codebase is publicly available on GitHub under the Apache License 2.0, ensuring transparency and community-driven improvements.
2. The core value of VideoRecall lies in eliminating friction during video playback by allowing users to correct accidental seeks or revisit previous segments without manual scrubbing. It enhances productivity for users who rely on precise video navigation, such as learners, content creators, and professionals analyzing media. By standardizing undo/redo functionality for videos, it bridges a gap in user experience that native video players typically lack.

Main Features

1. VideoRecall provides universal undo/redo functionality for video seeks using Ctrl+Z and Ctrl+Y, mimicking text-editing shortcuts to create intuitive navigation. It tracks timestamp changes in real time, storing seek history in a stack to enable backward (undo) and forward (redo) traversal through playback positions. The extension works with HTML5 video players and popular frameworks like ReactPlayer and Video.js, ensuring compatibility with 95% of modern web video interfaces.
2. The extension supports all major browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and other Chromium/Gecko-based platforms, through a single codebase optimized for cross-browser compatibility. It injects no ads or tracking scripts, maintaining a sub-50ms response time for seek reversals even during high-definition playback. Users can activate it immediately after installation without site-specific configurations, as it auto-detects video elements on any webpage.
3. As an open-source project, VideoRecall allows developers to audit, modify, or contribute to its code via its GitHub repository under the Apache 2.0 license. The architecture uses a content script to monitor video elements and a background service worker to manage seek history states. Community contributors can extend functionality, such as adding custom shortcut mappings or integrating with niche video platforms, without vendor lock-in.

Problems Solved

1. VideoRecall addresses the frustration of losing one’s place in a video due to accidental seeks or misclicks on progress bars, which disrupts workflows in educational, professional, and entertainment contexts. Traditional video players force users to manually scrub back to the original position, often resulting in overshooting or undershooting the target timestamp. This inefficiency is particularly problematic in long-form content like lectures, tutorials, or live streams where precision matters.
2. The primary user groups include students reviewing course materials, video editors verifying timestamps, and analysts studying recorded meetings or webinars. Secondary audiences encompass casual viewers who frequently navigate between video segments, such as gamers rewatching gameplay highlights or cooks revisiting recipe steps.
3. Typical scenarios include undoing an unintended skip during a coding tutorial on YouTube, redoing a seek to compare two segments in a documentary on Netflix, or recovering the original playback position after exploring timestamps in a Twitch VOD. Live-stream viewers can also use it to rewatch moments they accidentally skipped while catching up to real-time broadcasts.

Unique Advantages

1. Unlike site-specific video enhancers, VideoRecall works universally across all websites with embedded video players, including lesser-known platforms and custom enterprise solutions. Competitors like “Video Speed Controller” or “Enhancer for YouTube” focus on playback speed or interface tweaks but lack undo/redo capabilities for seeks.
2. The integration of native keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+Z/Y) mirrors muscle memory from text editing, reducing the learning curve for new users. Advanced features include a seek history stack that persists until the page reloads and compatibility with embedded players in single-page applications like React or Angular sites.
3. Competitive advantages include zero dependencies on third-party libraries, a sub-100KB installation size, and no requirement for user accounts or subscriptions. The open-source model fosters trust and allows organizations to self-host modified versions for internal use, avoiding privacy concerns associated with closed-source alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Which browsers does VideoRecall support? VideoRecall is compatible with all Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave) and Firefox versions released after 2020, utilizing the WebExtensions API for cross-browser functionality. Support for Safari is under development but not yet available due to differences in extension architecture.
2. How do I undo a video seek action? Press Ctrl+Z (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Z (macOS) immediately after an unintended seek to revert to the previous timestamp. The extension supports up to 50 undo/redo steps per video session, with no latency impact on playback quality.
3. Is VideoRecall free and open-source? Yes, the extension is completely free, and its source code is publicly accessible on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 license, allowing inspection, modification, and redistribution. Users can verify the absence of malware or data-collection routines by reviewing the codebase or community audits.