How to Download Videos from Websites Like Google Video, YouTube, MySpace, and Others
<<< UPDATE NOTICE: Due to the overwhelming amount of comments and the fact that this article was written over 8 months ago, I decided it was time to update it with the latest tools, websites, and tips available to download videos from the internet >>>
It’s been close to 8 months since I published this article, since then the integration of YouTube and Google Videohas been completed, YouTube is pretty much the one stop shop for videos online. In case you are interested in videos from social sites like MySpace, Facebook, and others, the tips listed below will help you quickly and easily get that content on your computer.
Site #1 - iDesktop.tv
You can download any video on YouTube using iDesktop.tv, you simply go to the site and click on the download link. You are given the option to download that video in multiple formats, MPEG, MOV, AVI, and many others.
Site review and linkscan be found here
Site#2 - Vixy.net
Similar but not as powerful as iDesktop.tv, Vixy allows you to save the videos by simply entering the URL(YouTube and other FLV files)for a specific video, please see the example below.
Conversion started…
Done!
The two samples above illustrate ways of getting those videos downloaded using a website to process and encode those files. If you want to go the other route and download the FLV files and convert them yourself, you can use the software listed below to accomplish this, as well as the original article I wrote.
Program #1 - Video DownloadHelper 2.6.1 (Firefox Add-on)
"DownloadHelper is a tool for web content extraction. Its purpose is to capture video and image files from many sites.
Just surf the Web as you are used to, when DownloadHelper detects it can do something for you, the icon gets animated and a menu allows you to download files by simply clicking an item."
Via Mozilla
Program #2 - Free FLV Downloader
"Moyea FLV Downloader is a freeware to download FLV (Flash video) from all video sharing sites at great speed. This program is a one-stop solution to download, manage, play back and convert downloaded videos for Ipod, Iphone, PSP, Cell Phone, Windows Media, XVid and MP3."
Via FLV Soft
Original Article - Published July 10th, 2006
This simple tutorial will show you how to download videos from the internet (MySpace, YouTube, Google Video, etc) and save them to your computer. The reason you have to through this process to download the videos is due to the fact that content providers use special formats that do not allow playback in traditional media players as such this method allows you to save the video files to a universal .avi video file that you can play back almost anywhere. As always comments/suggestions are welcome.
1. Download & install Firefox (You need firefox for the extension to work)
2. Download & install the Video Downloader extension for Firefox (The video downloader extension allows you to save videos from popular websites like Myspace, YouTube, Google, and others.)
3. Download & install Media Coder (This encoder converts the video you download into .avi files which allow you to view and store them at your won discretion)
4. Find the video you wish to save. Once you are on the page click the Video Downloader Button in the bottom right part of your Firefox Browser window.
5. A window will pop-up. Click the button that says Download Link
6. When prompted select Save to Disk and then click OK
>>>>>Please note that if the file you download does not have the extension .flv, then rename the file and end the name with .flv <<<<<
7. Start up MediaCoder
8. Click on the I agree radio button and on the Skip Setup Wizard button, then close the window that appears after that.
9. Drag and drop the .flv files you downloaded into the large white area in Media Coder
10. Click on the Video tab in the lower left-hand section on the window and select XviD in the Format drop-down menu.
11. Click the large Start buttonon the top toolbar window to start transcoding your video.
12. When completed a window will propmt you saying that transcoding is completed, go your file’s original location and an .AVI file shoudl be there with the same file name. Now you can play it with Windows Media or your favorite media player.
Original tutorial found at DVD Help Forums
Note: You should not download/copy/distribute videos which you have no rights to.
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Glad I stumbled into this article! Finally, got what I was looking for to put on my school report
Awesome! I have read a lot on this topic, but you definitely give it a good vibe. This is a great post. Will be back to read more!If you got time, If you got time please check out my blog Chicago Business Directory.
OMB YOU ARE THE BEST. i had to dowmload some movies for eglish and evryone has a mac except 4 me. so kep downloading it in flv, but i needed it to go into a powerpoint presentation. thankyou so much, you saved my final yr 12 assesment, and hence my future career
this would be another solutin to download youtube video. no installation needed.
http://getvideo.comxa.com/
It’s really good to see how download Youtube video and can see them offline in my computer. it was really a new thing for me and I will use this to download video now to onward
Thanks
i like this program, is it the best program in the year
nice sharing.
I often use Wondershare Streaming Video Recorder to download google videos.
http://www.download-streaming-video.com/streaming-video-recorder/#137