Apologies for the repetition, but I would like to pose a more general question.
Is there any method on the client side of a web application to predict if requesting a resource will result in a 401 status code and trigger an unattractive authentication prompt in the browser?
Alternatively, is there a way to load an mp3 audio file in Flash that fails discreetly in case of a 401 error instead of prompting the user with an unsightly dialog box?
The Adobe Air runtime can prevent the authentication prompt by utilizing the "authenticate" property of the URLRequest object. However, this option is unavailable in the Flash runtime. Any solution that functions client-side will suffice. The use of XMLHttpRequest seems improbable due to resources being hosted on different domains.
Failing invisibly is crucial as the application may have numerous audio files to test, and it is unnecessary to inconvenience the user with authentication attempts when other options are available. It is imperative for the solution to be client-based since the mp3s originate from external servers beyond my jurisdiction.