Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' review
The Internet contains an abundance of entertaining and educational content in both audio and video formats, and sooner or later almost everyone finds themselves wanting to download such content for later use. Fortunately for all of us, many programs have cropped up in recent years to help us with this task. HiDownload is one such program; but, we're sorry to say, it's not nearly as user-friendly as some others we've encountered.
The program's interface is plain and doesn't offer a whole lot in the way of direction. Some of the features were pretty easy to figure out, but others confounded us. The online Help file isn't particularly well-written, and it was confusing at least as often as it was helpful. We were able to easily download an MPEG file, but other file types didn't come as easily. There are plenty of mentions throughout the interface and Help file about YouTube and FLV files, but our attempts at downloading and playing them were futile. There were a lot of features alluded to in HiDownload's interface that didn't make any obvious sense, and overall we found the program to be frustrating to use. It's entirely possible that HiDownload is perfectly functional, but why bother to find out when there are so many programs that do the same thing and are much easier to use?
HiDownload has a 30-day trial period. It installs and uninstalls without issues. We recommend this program with reservations.
Publisher's Description
From StreamingStar Technology:
HiDownload is leader of all-in-one stream downloader that aims to download multimedia streaming video and audio, enabling you to download movies, music, FLV, podcast and capture streaming video and audio,record radio from Internet. Download RTMP, MMS, RTSP, HTTP Stream.
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All versions:
3.2 starsout of 34 votes
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Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
My rating:
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"Awesome program"
Version: HiDownload Platinum 8.05
Pros
It is the most useful stream downloader. I can't wait to share with my work mates.
Cons
No problem in using this software
Summary
Excellent. The latest version is better than former versions. You won't be disappointed
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"The best download manager"
Version: HiDownload Platinum 8.05
Pros
This is the best download manager you can get.
Cons
Hard to get support
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"It works to download RTMP streams, but it's complicated"
Version: HiDownload Platinum 8.03
Pros
It can download harder to get streams that other more easy to use programs can't get.
Cons
The interface is complicated and hard to understand.
Summary
It's seem to me, this company went through a great deal of trouble to make a powerful software that actually works, so it blows my mind that you failed to make a easy to use interface. It's totally ridiculous how hard it is to understand the menu and options, nobody would know what means what unless they personally were one of the developers. I know if the development team was just stupid or if they think every user is going magically know how to use their interface.
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"Not the most intuitive to use, but works well."
Version: HiDownload Platinum 7.996
Pros
Downloads FLVs efficiently from a wide range of sources.
Cons
Considerable learning curve, bot once you get the hang of it the program does the job.
Summary
Works well once you get past the decidedly non-intuitive interface.
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"Internet connection not found; no cust. serv. response"
Version: HiDownload Platinum 7.99.2
Pros
None, since I couldn't use the program.
Cons
Downloaded both HiDownload Platinum and FlvRecorder to try out, particularly to download video from CBS site, but the program would did not find my internet connection. I sent them two emails asking for advice, with no response to either.
Summary
The feel of the program and the company is rather slip-shod. There's better stuff and companies out there; why bother with this?
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"Ultimate popular universal downloader"
Version: HiDownload Platinum 7.99.2
Pros
Can Download Everything
Cons
Not very easy to use. Non user friendly.
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"Not very useful. Fails to download most formats"
Version: HiDownload Platinum 7.51
Pros
It is free
Cons
Requires another separate software to work and that does'nt work either on most websites.
Summary
My experience has not been very satisfactory. It didn't work in many cases.
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"seemed to download file but the file just disappears"
Version: HiDownload Platinum 7.51
Pros
Seemed to work great until the very end.
Cons
It shows the file downloading - there is even a placeholder file in folder where it is downloading to. At the end though, the file just disappears as if it was never there. It still shows in hidownload that it was downloaded but there is no file.
Summary
I got screwed trying to get a file for a presentation my wife was giving. Regrettably she had to do without.
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"Great product - very special"
Version: HiDownload Platinum 6.99
Pros
Download Stream is the best feature with special tools:
"flv filter", "stream checker", and "url helper"
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"Works fine until you decide to download a video"
Version: HiDownload Platinum 6.99
