1. A method by which a server system enables sharing of media among client end devices, comprising: segmenting relatively long media objects into shorter, independently referenced media chunks; transcoding each of the media chunks into one or more distinct transcoding formats compatible with respective client end devices for rendering thereon; enabling user manipulation of references to the media chunks including transmission of references from one client end device to another to enable user sharing of a viewing experience; and upon activation of a reference to one of the media chunks at a client end device, supplying the media chunk to the client end device in a respective transcoding format compatible with the client end device for viewing thereon, wherein the server system automatically detects a client end device based on a combination of one or more properties of an operating environment of the client end device, the properties including identifications of a browser and an operating system executed by the client end device, by: maintaining a device database populated with information describing media-related capabilities and attributes of a plurality of client end devices; upon receiving a request message from the client end device, applying a user agent (UA) identifier from the request message to the device database to identify a best-matching user interface (UI) to be rendered on the client end device; and supplying the best-matching UI to the client end device in response to the request.
1. A method by which a server system enables sharing of media among client end devices, comprising: segmenting relatively long media objects into shorter, independently referenced media chunks; transcoding each of the media chunks into one or more distinct transcoding formats compatible with respective client end devices for rendering thereon; enabling user manipulation of references to the media chunks including transmission of references from one client end device to another to enable user sharing of a viewing experience; and upon activation of a reference to one of the media chunks at a client end device, supplying the media chunk to the client end device in a respective transcoding format compatible with the client end device for viewing thereon, wherein the server system automatically detects a client end device based on a combination of one or more properties of an operating environment of the client end device, the properties including identifications of a browser and an operating system executed by the client end device, by: maintaining a device database populated with information describing media-related capabilities and attributes of a plurality of client end devices; upon receiving a request message from the client end device, applying a user agent (UA) identifier from the request message to the device database to identify a best-matching user interface (UI) to be rendered on the client end device; and supplying the best-matching UI to the client end device in response to the request. 10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the server system creates a mashup of media and related data objects for delivery to a client end device as part of a user interface (UI) tailored for use by a category of client end devices, by: maintaining a plurality of source media clips previously transcoded into distinct video formats, bit rates and resolutions; providing a customized playlist to the client end device, the customized playlist including references to at least some of the source media clips; and upon receiving a request including a reference to a requested source media clip to be played on the client end device: (1) stitching the requested source media clip together with at least one other source media clip in a single video format, bit rate and resolution appropriate for rendering on the client end device; and (2) delivering the stitched-together source media clips to the client end device for playback thereon.