ghacks examines tools to download Youtube videos

[mouser]

Nice roundup at ghacks discussing various ways to download Youtube videos:

There are basically three ways of downloading Youtube videos: Using a web service, a web browser add-on or a standalone software program. All methods have their distinct advantages and disadvantages...

http://www.ghacks.net/2009/08/10/download-youtube-videos/

[ghacks]

Thanks Mouser, I tried to add at least one tool for every situation (web browser, operating system). There are dozens if not hundreds more but I figured it would not make a huge difference to add another 40-50 web services that would all offer the same functionality.

[cmpm]

Vixy has a desktop version which works nicely.

Although it has a web based service,
Vixy.net Converter Desktop Version (BETA),
works, and doesn't require conversion if chosen.

http://vixy.net/

[nmharleyrider]

With so many sites besides Youtube displaying videos, is there a video downloader that will allow you to save any streaming video, not just Youtube videos?  I've seen some that allow other sites but not from many of the sites I'd like to download from.
You'd think there would be some generic download program that would allow you to download any streaming video regardless of what site it is on. 
Thanks in advance

[katykaty]

With so many sites besides Youtube displaying videos, is there a video downloader that will allow you to save any streaming video, not just Youtube videos?  I've seen some that allow other sites but not from many of the sites I'd like to download from.
You'd think there would be some generic download program that would allow you to download any streaming video regardless of what site it is on. 
Thanks in advance

nmharleyrider there aren't many vids that don't succumb to either Download Helper or the Grab ++ part of Orbit Downloader.

[deflected]

YousableTubeFix

For Firefox users i would recommend YousableTubeFix...
(Requires Firefox and Greasemonkey)

There also is a port for Opera: here
(I guess it should work with Chrome / Iron as well...)

Features
(You can enable/disable any of them if you want.)

• Download the video
• Resize the video
• Remove ads and any unwanted YouTube section
• Change the video format
• Automatically expand the video description
• Display all comments
• Prevent only video autoplay, or both video autoplay and autodownload
• Change the Flash Player Quality attribute
• Automatically bypass YouTube age verification page
• Autocheck for script updates

[Paul Keith]

*sigh

What I wouldn't do for a script that bypasses the "this video is not available in your country" and auto-recovering of videos that were deleted but still exists. (I could swear I used to remember a site that collects deleted youtube videos.)

Age verification bypass is good only because sometimes I can't log in to Youtube with Opera but it's not good enough IMO.

Oh btw I use Clipnabber: http://clipnabber.com/

Ironically enough FLV Converter sounds good in theory but when I used it in the past via a ghack post too, it became more inconvenient than convenient to download entire youtube packages (like the abridged series) that I just didn't feel the necessity to bother with any program that requires installing offline.

[40hz]

*sigh

What I wouldn't do for a script that bypasses the "this video is not available in your country"

I mentioned this in a different thread.  ( http://www.donationcoder.com/Forum/bb/index.php?topic=12397.msg169813#msg169813 )

Last time I checked, it still worked.


You should be able to get around the country restriction. All you need to do is look at the YouTube URL in the address bar and replace the string: /watch?v= with this one: /v/

Example:

Original link - www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHbSMZKvqUk&feature=featured


Hacked link - http://www.youtube.com/v/WHbSMZKvqUk&feature=featured

Once the video is running, you can grab it with your choice of utilities. I usually use Download Helper or the combo FlashGot + Free Download Manager for the more problematic ones.


<<EDIT: jgpavia has noted this hack doesn't work any more. See his post below>>

[jgpaiva]

40hz: just tried that on a youtube movie and apparently doesn't work either

[40hz]

40hz: just tried that on a youtube movie and apparently doesn't work either

Sorry to hear that. But it was a pretty popular hack, so I guess it was only a matter of time before YT found out about it.

Guess I'll have to do something else next time I spot "one of those" German music videos that always seem to have country restrictions on them.