The dopesheet in 2.56 can be switched to a shape key editor or an action editor via the menu bar rollout box thing. The action editor is basically the same as it was in 2.49 as far as naming actions, creating new ones, etc.
What was the url of that youtube video. I could use it. The whole add new object thing in blender has always confused me. and I am slowly moving toward using 2.5x but still do about 60% of my work in 2.49 since I am familiar with it.