CNET Editors' review
Downloading videos, Flash games, and large batches of files is greatly simplified with this freeware download manager, but Firefox users may have difficulty with integration.
Orbit's primary interface is bland, but the basic toolbar and info boxes guarantee everything is easy to find. Orbit shines with Internet Explorer integration. To get a media file, simply right-click a video or photo and choose Download from your context menu. Grabbing a Flash game is even easier. Hover over a Flash file, and Orbit displays a button for a fast download.
Fast and small are key traits of this application. It uses a bare minimum of memory, and downloads are much faster than with a browser alone. Where Orbit shines is its one-button simplicity for downloading multiple files on a site. From there, you can easily filter for file type. Orbit's numerous configuration options make it one of the more flexible download managers available.
Although designed to integrate with the IE, Firefox, Opera and Maxthon, we had great difficulty getting Orbit to work seamlessly with Firefox. We finally gave up trying to get the Flash download feature to work. Nevertheless, anyone downloading large numbers of files will find this freeware indispensable.
Watch the CNET video review of Orbit Downloader:
Publisher's Description
From Orbitdownloader:
Orbit Downloader is the download manager optimized for social music and video downloading. The program allows you to download videos and music from Youtube, Myspace, Pandora, Last.Fm, and Imeem and can accelerate downloading speed up to five times. With Orbit Downloader, you can manage downloads easier with tags, and you can update your PC software easier.
More Popular Download Managers downloads
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- YouTube to MP3 Converter
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- Orbit Downloader
34,368 downloads
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All versions:
3.9 starsout of 1,597 votes
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Current version:
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"used to be great"
Version: Orbit Downloader 4.1.0.6
Pros
great download manager
Cons
the ads kills it
Summary
this used to be my favourite download manager, but nowadays its so full of ads its like installing spamware
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"A very good, unobtrusive downloader"
Version: Orbit Downloader 4.1.0.6
Pros
I have used Orbit for many years. It advises of updates, informs you when it is available to download an item and when the download has finished. A no fuss product.
Cons
The program screen is not easy to decipher and could be made a lot clearer to understand. I find I rarely bother to use the facilities the program offers.
Summary
Well worth putting on your computer.
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"Generayy, it does work."
Version: Orbit Downloader 4.1.0.6
Pros
When it works, it works well.
Cons
It rarely works.
Summary
When I began to use it, several years ago, it was perfect. But with each new version, it started causing troubles,as usual with each new version of most software. Now, it does not operate with most downloads. The firewall is set to allow it to connect to internet. I sent an inquiry to Orbit Downloader Forum but I got no answer.
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"Started causing problemd and would not uninstall!"
Version: Orbit Downloader 4.1.0.6
Pros
When it worked, it worked well... as long as I didn't try to use the grab it!
Cons
When I decided not to use it anymore, I could not uninstall it. I attempted to get help from the technicians to no avail. No one bothered answering my e-mail. My computer freezes up when I click to uninstall, and I am forced to unplug my computer to close it down. This is the only software I've gotten from C/Net that has caused me serious problems.
Summary
I would advise everyone to think twice before considering downloading this downloader.
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"sometimes works"
Version: Orbit Downloader 4.1.0.6
Pros
it works for silverlight videos in IE 9
Cons
it doesn't work for silverlight videos in firefox 11 and loaded with ads and crapware
Summary
it seems to be the only free downloader for silverlight videos
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"A Good Downloader"
Version: Orbit Downloader 4.1.0.5
Pros
It is simple and relatively fast
Cons
Rather complicated for beginners
Summary
A goos downloader. You should try it.
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"This software will high-jack your browser!"
Version: Orbit Downloader 4.1.0.5
Pros
After realizing that I could not re-set the downloads in Chrome to the default, I uninstalled it. I am not sure what the pros were since I only encountered the irritating.
Cons
After I installed this software, I downloaded a file using Chrome, and it bypassed the normal Chrome functionality for downloading and initiated the Orbit downloader instead. I tried to re-set this so that my normal Chrome functionality... no luck. So, I uninstalled the Orbit software completely, using Revo Uninstaller, so that there would be nothing of it left on my system. But Revo only knows what to get rid of, because the manifest for the files used during an installation is supposed to be spelled out in the uninstall routine. Even after doing this, whenever I download something now, Chrome tries to start Orbit, but since it is not there, it just does nothing.
I realize this software is free, but poorly designed software that YAKS up your computer so that other software does not function properly, should not get a free pass.
I am not a programmer, but this kind of thing almost seems like a high-jack of your system settings, and to me puts it in the same league as malware!Summary
BTW - if you have this problem, search for a file named nporbit.dll, and delete it. This will correct the problem.
Leaving this file on someone's system so that it creates issues for them, is either lazy, stupid or purposeful. And none of those are good options.
We should not support folks who do a job like this. -
"A nice prog that was very good"
Version: Orbit Downloader 4.1.0.5
Pros
Light, useful when it works (with Chrome for example)
Cons
Doesn't work anymore with Firefox, my browser.
Summary
It's free so I can't claim against it, but it is not my download manager anymore. If I want to download videos I use Maxthon, if I want to use a download manager ... well, I'm waiting for a new one.
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"Orbit is a threat to must-pay Internet Download Manager"
Version: Orbit Downloader 4.1.0.5
Pros
I like the way it work and so intuitive in getting videos. Very straightforward.
Cons
Free maybe but it could look a lot better?
Downloads seemed slow sometimes but when I tried others, it was the same too so it has to do with the allocations and bandwidth, the video provider had available at that precise time.Summary
CNET will never distribute spywares so it is becoming obvious that a competitor is spreading fictitious rumors.
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"A good and solid downloader."
Version: Orbit Downloader 4.1.0.5
Pros
I like this product, easy to use.
Cons
Need more color.
Summary
Effective, but needs a face uplift
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