CNET Editors' note: The Download Now link will prompt a local download of the Firefox extension. To install the extension directly, open the file using your Firefox browser.
CNET Editors' review
This tiny Firefox add-on helps with downloading items from the Internet, but install suffers from a minor glitch. As soon as we installed it, DownloadHelper immediately directed us to the publisher's Web site to read a message that we hadn't downloaded the latest version. The problem was that the version it was pointing to was the same as the one we'd just installed.
That issue aside, the program could use a less convoluted approach. It isn't a difficult process, but it's not as intuitive as we'd expect. After install, you'll find a new icon on your browser toolbar. When you access a site that DownloadHelper can pull files from, the icon goes from gray to multicolored and becomes animated. However, instead of the expected click on the icon to download files, you place your mouse on the Web page that holds the file you seek. Then right-click to choose DownloadHelper from the menu and you'll see the file listed. Click it to download the file to your computer.
If you just click the program icon, you'll get a hyperlinked list of sites where the program works. Instead of directing you to the listed site, each link sends you to the publisher's Web site. You'll find some user comments about the site that aren't always useful. That final page does include a link to the originally chosen site, but that's a couple of clicks you really don't need to get to what you sought.
DownloadHelper does work, and it couldn't be easier to use once you understand the process, but less-experienced users may give up before they ever get to save a single file with this freeware app.
Publisher's Description
From Michel Gutierrez:
Video DownloadHelper is a Firefox extension 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. For instance, if you go to a YouTube page, you'll be able to download the video directly on your file system. It also works with MySpace, Google videos, DailyMotion, Porkolt, iFilm, DreamHost and others. When you are on a page containing links to images or movies, you can download some or all of them at once. Moving the mouse over the items in the menu will highlights the links directly in the page to make sure they are the ones you want to pick up.
Video DownloadHelper is in the Firefox Add-ons & Plug-ins category of the Browsers section.
What's new in this version: Version 4.9.9 has fixed unnecessary console message and Add-on causes zombie compartments.
More Popular Firefox Add-ons & Plugins downloads
- PDF Download
12,148 downloads
- Google Toolbar for Firefox
2,371 downloads
- TimeLine Remove
2,205 downloads
- Firefox Video Download Helper
1,784 downloads
- Adblock Plus for Mozilla Firefox
1,301 downloads
-
All versions:
3.8 starsout of 24 votes
-
Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
My rating:
Write review
-
"did not work for me"
Version: Video DownloadHelper 4.9.8
Pros
none none none
Cons
a download helper entry is in my tools pulldown menu i want this out and can't
readers please helpSummary
stinky won't uninstall
-
"Handy, useful, easy to use tool"
Version: Video DownloadHelper 4.9.5
Pros
Simple, can choose between high res down loads or something simpler
Cons
It's a bit slow but that may be because I have it installed on my net book
Summary
Worth a look
-
"Quick, Easy, Direct"
Version: Video DownloadHelper 4.8.6
Pros
Browser twirling icon lists video & images available for download
Cons
Does not work with every site, video & image
-
"great add-on for downloading movie files"
Version: Video DownloadHelper 4.8
Pros
great stuff... works on all listed websites....peace of cake ... been using it for years
Cons
not realy a con , but a liitle more work intensive ... not all websites state the full title when clicking for downoading , so you have to manualy add title AND extension of the file
Summary
it's possible to download instantly by left-clicking on the arrow just on the right of the icon and choosing the file in the drop-down menu ( this option is missing in the editor's review )....also you can stop the animation by right-clicking on the icon and manualy change this in the option list
-
"A very useful tool to have-"
Version: Video DownloadHelper 2.4.2
Pros
Downloadhelper is an add on that can be used on Firefox,Flock and Wyzo web browsers. It also works with Real Player and downloads videos quickly and then converts them into video files. So you can upload them to your site.
Cons
Downloadhelper does not work in all web browsers. But it is an asset in Flock where Real Player does not work. I did not add to firefox as Real player works here.Useful in browsers where Real Player does not work.
Summary
Downloadhelper is an asset on Flock and other browsers where Real Player does not work. On flock It downloads videos into Real Player and also converts them to windows media player.And saves the video in W.Media or Real Player in a video file.Then it can be uploaded to your site. It did this with my My Space videos(where Real Player is no longer supported.)It saved my video as Windows Media file and I uploaded it to my site succesfully.Works on Wyzo too.As well as Flock. Andrea.
Download helper is another of my essentials like Real Player for downloading my own videos and uploading them to other sites.The Good new is in the updated version of Real Player it is updater every month,you no longer have to open a browser to down load videos,R Player has its own web search where you can download the video from there,the blue link appears just like in a browser and you can then download the video save it,play in real Player or upload to another site.But this tool,download helper a Firefox add on can be added to Flock,Pale Moon and wyzo browsers. And Downloadhelper works together with Real Player and when used on Flock and the other browsers it is compatable with. It downloads the video onto Real player and onto Windows Media Player. But it does not work well on its I you need real Player to convert the video onto.I tried using it on a PC without real Player and it did not work.But if you have real Player it works fine.A useful tool.
Updated on Sep 7, 2010
Updated on Sep 7, 2010Download helper is a life saver when you want to download and convert videos to upload to your blog on web browser,where Real Player does not work. But i tried using download helper on its own in Flock,Pale Moon and Wyzo the browsers it works with on its own. after uninstalling Real Player from my laptop but the video would not convert. But when I re-installed real Player,Download helper worked fine again,the videos were downloaded from Flock browser onto real player and played in real Player. But Download helper will also convert the video onto Windows Media Player it, seems you do need to have Real Player installed on your computer for it to work properly. but download helper works with real player which is fine and it is very useful in browsers where real player does not work.So together with real Player this is easy to use just make sure you tick the box conversion enabled. To enable Download helper to work. but like real player it does not work in all browsers. -
"Tried to install but..."
Version: Video DownloadHelper 2.4.2
Pros
not compatible with Firefox 3.6.3...
Cons
=-( Hope that's fixed soon...
-
"Excellent downloader"
Version: Video DownloadHelper 2.4.2
Pros
Great at downloading, and also converting downloaded file to another format, like MP4 for Windows Media Player.
Cons
Took a bit time for me to understand, but I`m thick.
Summary
Another great tool in my computer`s Firefox add on arsenal.
-
"Use Flashcatch instead!"
Version: Video DownloadHelper 2.4.2
Pros
This program works ok, but only in Firefox. I like Flashcatch because it works just as well in Firefox and Internet Explorer.
Cons
Does not work in Internet Explorer.
Summary
This program works ok, but only in Firefox. I like Flashcatch because it works just as well in Firefox and Internet Explorer.
-
"Best one I've tried"
Version: Video DownloadHelper 2.4.2
Pros
Very easy to use. Most of the time the flv file keeps its name. One step.
Cons
None for me.
-
"Downloads Everything!!"
Version: Video DownloadHelper 2.4.2
Pros
You can download all the video & audio files you want and I have used this add-on for around 3 years. I just love it.
Cons
I have no complaints about this add-on except on youtube, it does take around a minute or 2 for the file to be grabbed so it can start downloading into my pc
Summary
You can download just about anything you want with this. To make it recognize everything, just right click the icon and click the preferences, go to Capture and then the Network tab then in the Add box, put in all the extensions you want like, swf, mp3, wav, flv, mpg or whatever isn't already listed. Then go to the Galleries tab and do the same thing there. Last FM and most other radio sites uses swf for their audio so, I also got Format Factory to change them into a mp3..and that works great too. Still haven't figured out how to open and to use what program for .dcr format files that a lot of the online game sites use. Anything you can see or hear on the net can be copied once you have the right application to help you...and I'm not saying anything about the copy-righted files. :)
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
See more CNET content tagged:
Previous Versions:
