Extend file API to include support for remote files

Ber heard me talking about support for remote files (I don't even remember where I posted about this -- Ber, add a link for me) and responded like this:

Just read your post on remote files.

I have been thinking about remote files too. But I thought it would be MUCH
better implemented in a higher level of drupal. As some API-only module; was
my idea, one that simply looks/n/feels like upload module, yet takes only
urls, and imports them into the drupal filesystem+table. IMO it would be a
pity if it were hidden away in-, and only used for- or by audio module
only. I could use this for shazamgallery, in any case.

Yes, it would be a good idea to build this in at the API level -- audio, video, flickr etc. etc. could all make use of this. One more step in Drupal being this intense distributed "thing". Might be a good way to upload as well (I call it sideloading, since it comes from another online source). Could merely have a checkmark that says cache locally, or you could just choose to link directly to the remote file.