I've tried adding this code to the add a youtube video option : http://www.youtube.com/embed/8Vjnr91uDKc which does work, but it involves an extra step I'd rather miss if possible....it opens with the back button and top bar with the video beneath it and you have to click on the video to make it fill the screen in usual mobile youtube manner. The same happens when you hit done on the video, rather than taking you directly back to the video menu, it takes you back to the page with the back button and top bar in, and you have to hit the back button. is there any way to avoid these extra steps and go directly to the full screen youtube video from the menu link, and back again after the video's played?

Apple requires YouTube videos, that come from the YouTube site to display in Safari (the HTML page you're seeing). There are a few hacks around that have tried to get around this limitation but none are recommended. You may be able to get the genuine video experience by launching the build in YouTube app from a menu link (use the Launch another App choice). Use a URL that looks like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ra01Bqef7A Apple has gone back-n-forth on this a few times in the last two years so not sure what the behavior will be. Keep in mind that Apple and Google (YouTube owners) are fierce competitors these days so the iOS / Google Antything integration is always tough to rely on. I'm guessing map mysteries are next!

PERFECT!!!! Thanks so much for all the incredible help! Almost perfect.....it opens up in the youtube app, but closes the main app. Is there any way to have it so that hitting the back button takes you back to my app's menu? Or would the video have to be hosted elsewhere?

Ah, sounds like you're close. In a multi-task environment (newer iOS devices) this won't be an issue, users are totally aware of how to double tap the home button to expose the icon to you app to return. In older, non multi-task devices you won't be able to do this.