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CNET Editors' review
Web browsers and bandwidth feel the pinch as online video formats get better and better (and bigger and bigger, too). SpeedBit's Free Video Accelerator for YouTube is designed to work with your Web browser to improve how it downloads and plays online video, especially high-quality formats streamed over broadband connections. It buffers and smooths audio and video playback and reduces or eliminates freezing, crashing, dropouts, and distortion. It's freeware, though a premium upgrade adds HD playback, iTunes acceleration, and automatic setup.
SpeedBit's setup wizard lets you choose between installing the freeware and the shareware version, which includes automatic setup. We actually prefer to configure things like video accelerators manually, but the process proved quite simple in any case, with a Settings sheet we could open via the Options menu. It offered Proxy Settings and general options such as load on startup but not much more. SpeedBit's simple user interface basically displays its status, with Normal and HQ acceleration enabled and the option to enable HD and iTunes. Clicking a link labeled Supported Video Sites opened a Web page in IE (not our default browser) that listed the many sites SpeedBit is compatible with as well as which version of the software plays different video formats on each site.
Finding high-quality video to play with SpeedBit installed was no problem; we turned up plenty on YouTube and other sites, too. SpeedBit's developers take smooth, error-free video playback in your browser as evidence the software is working, and we can't argue with that, based on our experience and playback from our system's decent but inexpensive video card. But it's actually easy to see if SpeedBit is working: play the same online video with the program enabled and disabled. If you see glitches with SpeedBit turned off but not on, you need it. Of course, a lot depends on factors like your Internet connection, but the more problems, the greater the need for tools like SpeedBit. We think the free version of SpeedBit Free Video Accelerator for YouTube will suit many users' needs, but if you need more, it's not a costly upgrade.
Publisher's Description
From Speedbit:
SpeedBit Video Accelerator lets you enjoy the world of internet video without long frustrating waits. Video Accelerator provides fast streaming of web videos from leading sites such as YouTube, and significantly reduces buffering of higher resolution HQ videos. With SpeedBit Video Accelerator Premium you'll enjoy the future of HD videos without the freezing and buffering problems of today. Additionally, with built-in Twitter integration you can Tweet your favorite videos as you watch them.
Premium users also receive blazing fast iTunes downloads speeds so you can enjoy all your iTunes music, movie, and TV show purchases even faster. Acceleration is powered by SpeedBit's unique patented technology that streams videos from multiple sources simultaneously ensuring the fastest loading and the most enjoyable user experience.
SpeedBit Video Accelerator supports videos from over 165 leading sites such as YouTube, Yahoo, Dailymotion, Metacafe, Facebook, MySpace, 5min, Veoh, Grouper, Stage 6, AOL Video, Bebo, Break, EA, ESPN and many more. New sites are being added on a continual basis.
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All versions:
2.7 starsout of 129 votes
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Current version:
1.5 starsout of 6 votes
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My rating:
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Results 1-6 of 6
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"VIRUS ALERT!!!"
Version: SpeedBit Video Accelerator 3.3.0.7
Pros
NONE what so ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cons
How the heck did this get on my pc??
Summary
anyone know how to uninstall this program???
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"Don't do it!"
Version: SpeedBit Video Accelerator 3.3.0.7
Pros
TEMPORARILY speeds up video...
Cons
...for a week at most; after that it actually seemed to slow them down. When I tried stopping the program and playing video without it, they were actually slower than before downloading Speedbit!
Summary
A BIG mistake downloading this screwed up software.
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"Cant uninstall - this is BS."
Version: SpeedBit Video Accelerator 3.3.0.7
Pros
Did SEEM to accelerate at first.....
Cons
...only to discover later regular lag times getting YouTubes to start, that never lagged before. That's when I discovered:
...You cant completely uninstall it (search the web yourself, this is a common complaint about this Sppedbit)
Their own site FAQ stated (as of todays date) the uninstall option is placed in the Speedbit folder. That's FALSE - no ununstall option is anywhere.Summary
Users be warned. There are good ratings about Speedbit out there, and maybe it works for some. BUT if you install something you cant get rid of, you are putting something akin to a virus in your computer. Whatever pros it has isnt worth the risk. Any software creator that makes something without the option to remove is "up to something". CNET should address this.
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"Should be listed as a virus"
Version: SpeedBit Video Accelerator 3.3.0.7
Pros
None that I can think of
Cons
Once loaded this program can't be uninstalled completely. It's more like a virus than an addon
Summary
I would keep away
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"MORE OF AN VIRUS THAN A ACCELERATOR"
Version: SpeedBit Video Accelerator 3.3.0.7
Pros
helps your youtube addiction
Cons
takes over your browser, and your search engine, very hard to uninstall and return computer to prior state
Summary
more of a virus than an accelerator
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"It is good for watching youtube videos"
Version: SpeedBit Video Accelerator 3.3.0.7
Pros
It can accelerate videos really fast!
Cons
It sometimes refuses to work on some videos and wants to run all the time.
Summary
Its okay for buffering videos just note some of them wont work.
Results 1-6 of 6
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