Redefine the batch API to be very very simple. You call

batch::start() before starting a series of events, and batch::stop()
when you're done.

In batch mode, the notification module will store up pending
notifications.  When the batch job is complete, it'll send a single
digested email to each user for all of her notifications.

Updated the scaffold and local_import to use this.  Haven't modified
SimpleUploader yet.

core/controllers/simple_uploader.php

@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ class Simple_Uploader_Controller extends Controller {
     print $v;
   }
 
+  public function start() {
+    batch::start();
+  }
+
   public function add_photo($id) {
     $album = ORM::factory("item", $id);
     access::required("edit", $album);
@@ -48,7 +52,6 @@ class Simple_Uploader_Controller extends Controller {
     $file_validation = new Validation($_FILES);
     $file_validation->add_rules("file", "upload::valid", "upload::type[gif,jpg,png,flv,mp4]");
     if ($file_validation->validate()) {
-      batch::operation("add", $album);
       $temp_filename = upload::save("file");
       $title = substr(basename($temp_filename), 10);  // Skip unique identifier Kohana adds
       $path_info = pathinfo($temp_filename);
@@ -65,8 +68,7 @@ class Simple_Uploader_Controller extends Controller {
   }
 
   public function finish() {
-    batch::end_operation("add");
-
+    batch::stop();
     print json_encode(array("result" => "success"));
   }
 }