CNET Editors' review
Formerly known as plain old YouTube Downloader, the recently renamed YTD Video Downloader updates to version 4.0 with a promise of 2x faster downloads and 2x faster video conversions, and perhaps more usefully, the ability to resume downloads after the temporary loss of an Internet connection. As usual, the installer includes a Spigot-based YTD Video Toolbar and offers to change your default search engine to Yahoo and add 5-6 shopping extensions to Google Chrome. Clicking the "Decline" button during the lone advertising screen in the installer lets users easily opt-out of all offers.
Downloading worked very well for popular video sites like YouTube, Vimeo, and Blip.TV. As in previous reviews, YTD Video Downloader quickly saved the default MP4 file to the directory of my choice, which is easily selected or created from the main screen. I tried various CNET and "creative commons"-tagged videos on YouTube and had excellent download speeds. I was sure to try out the most recently added site that YTD supports--the Chinese video site Youku--and was able to download a wonderful beetle animation easily, though it did break longer videos into multiple files (see below).
The free version of YTD Video Download only allows downloading to the MP4 video format, so the additional conversion functionality for changing the file to WMV, AVI, or MP3 is welcome, but why not just convert the download on the fly? Converting video files worked acceptably well, although I did crash the app once converting a Download Video Preview from MP4 to MP3. The conversion completed, but the program become unresponsive and I had to force quit. I experienced other occasional brief program hangs when downloading large videos from foreign sites.
The video player in YTD is supposedly new for v4, but I can't tell the difference from v3. Users select a directory from which to select specific video files, and YTD Downloader plays back the video in a small windows that is about 300x165 pixels. A full-screen button is the only resizing option, and there is no skipping around within videos--the only controls are for moving to the previous or next video on the directory. It's a passable player to confirm that the video you selected was downloaded and is not corrupt, but no one would use YTD for their regular video player.
I tested out YTD's new "resume download" functionality the old-fashioned way--by ripping the ethernet cord out of the back of my PC. The software delivered as promised--after the PC was unplugged, the downloading files updated to a "Status" of "Paused, waiting for Internet connection" and then resumed appropriately after replugging into the network.
One thing I did notice is that YTD will (sometimes) break longer videos into multiple MP4 files, and if one of those files is complete when your Internet or computer crashes, YTD will restart all of those multiple files, even the completed ones. Not a huge problem, just a niggling annoyance, and I wasn't able to replicate the issue on YouTube (YTD always saved my YouTube videos as one file). A bit more frustrating than the mutiple files is the inability to resize the main application window to actually read the contents of the "Status" messages.
YTD Video Downloader version 4.0 doesn't add many new features, but performance of the latest update was impressive, and the app continues to work flawlessly on all the major video-streaming sites. I recommend it whole-heartedly without any reservations, aside from the standard mom-and-pop warning to only use the application for legal purposes per the laws and and regulations that apply to your geographic locale.
Download videos with YTD Video Downloader:Publisher's Description
From GreenTree Applications:
YTD Video Downloader is more than a Youtube downloader. It allows you to download HD and HQ videos, from dozens of sites and convert them to other video formats. The program is easy to use. Just specify the URL, similar to a Youtube downloader, for the video you want to download and click the Download button. From there, YTD Video Downloader will download the video from the URL you specified. The program also allows you to convert downloaded videos for iPad, iPod, iPhone, PSP, Cell Phone, Windows Media, and XVid, or play video that you have previously downloaded or converted.
The YTD Video Downloader interface includes a tabbed format for easy downloading, converting, and playing, and a new Activity tab allows you to keep track of multiple downloads and conversions in real time. The program has the ability to download full playlists as opposed to just one video.
What's new in this version:
- Downloads are 2 times faster (when the internet connection permits).
- Conversions are 2 times faster or more (especially on computers with 2+ processors).
- The downloads are now resumed automatically if the internet connection fails. Download and conversion activity is now saved when the application is closed which means you don't lose your data and you can come back anytime after you set up your downloads to continue.
- New, improved player for the best viewing ex... See all new features
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All versions:
3.5 starsout of 3,554 votes
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Current version:
3.6 starsout of 46 votes
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My rating:
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"works fine!"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.0
Pros
Does the job right!
Cons
lot of spyware prefere online downloaders like www.downloader-youtube.nl
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"the best downloader"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.0
Pros
i have the PRO and works perfect to downloads playlist with one click. It is very quick and very very better than others . I use it everyday.
Thank all the people who works from it.Cons
the best downloader
Summary
the best from the best
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"The best free one...."
Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.0
Pros
Quick, auto-paste links,
Cons
none, whatsover
Summary
I have used this software for years and it has NEVER yet failed to download a video from YouTube, (as opposed to others I have used). version 4.0 was not working for me but a quick email and response solved it (reset the Internet Explorer settings (even if it is not your default browser) by going to "Tools" (Alt + X keyboard shortcut), "Internet Options", "Advanced" tab and selecting the "Reset" button, making sure to select the "Delete personal setting" check box before resetting.)....Ta-Da
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"Works well, but changes Home/Search plus Chrome addons"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.0
Pros
Works well. Downloads, and converts even in free version (just not automatically during download).
Cons
Installing the current setup download version does NOT provide a "Decline" option... it did offer to take me to the 'Car Town' app on Facebook, with an opt-out checkbox for that FB app only... and that occurred during only one installation out of three, since I reinstalled to confirm there's no 'Decline'.
Sure, the author needs a revenue stream... but the aggressive install of 'extras' (without a Decline) is sad... and circumspect/suspicious.
Still, I might recommend the program... if you can clean up your Home and Search defaults, and strip the -forced- addons installed into Chrome (which thankfully alerted me with a little 'badge' on its Settings button (three horizontal bar button)). As far as I can tell it was only Chrome that was so targeted... and Chrome gave me an option to remove the addons after clicking the Settings menu alert.Summary
I usually just raid my browsers' caches (search for gigantic/huge/large files)... but this downloader was convenient for a friend (I thought), and is offered on CNET (huh)... removal of the 'Decline' option must have slipped by them?
YTD seems like a very convenient program for some users, if they or a techy friend can strip/repair the junk installed along with it.
YTD actually works well to download, and it provides a tab for converting for specific devices (even without going 'Pro' version).
Unfortunately the aggressive addon/etc installs make this program setup rather unsuitable for casual computer users. Disappointing. -
"Remove the spyware or lose your users!"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.0
Pros
NONE. seriously.
Cons
made the mistake of upgrading to Version 4 yesterday evening. My YTD no longer works. It locks up my internet connection forcing me to have to reboot my computer. I unistalled the program and tried a reinstall of V4 again. That did not fix the problem. I even attempted to reinstall the working perfect version 3, but I can not downgrade as it tells me "You can not download an older version, visit our site online..." I even unchecked the box to not include the additional software, it installed itself regardless.
OSummary
I prefer to pay a few bucks and have peace of mind. Try other solutions like MelodyQuest or VideoZonk.
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"Gets the job done in the best way without fuss"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.0
Pros
I was suddenly confronted with failled errors (2) this last week and couldn't figure out how to get it fixed even after extensive searching on Internet forums which showed VERY complicated remedies. I ended up asking YTD helpdesk who replied within hours and asked me to follow some simple instructions to get the settings in IE correct (I hadn't thought of this as I haven't used IE as browser for years!) Hey presto - like magic, my YTD worked like a dream and I consider the upgrade to PRO money well spent as it's faster and I can now convert clips to a better MP$ format instead of leaving them in FLV.
Cons
Since working with the PRO version, I have seen that the FLV format isn't sharp so I'm forced to convert to MP4 just to get decent viewing. Strangely the older FLV clips I have are were never converted as I used the freebee version of YTD and they are all plenty sharp enough to view.
I would also wish for a direct connection to YouTube when I open YTD instead of having to first get to YouTube via an Internet connection. It would seem (female logic!!) understandable that if a person opened YTD then they would want to download a clip from YouTube.Summary
Perhaps a line of code can be incorporated into the YTD whereby it automatically opens YouTube when you open the downloader? Otherwise it's a great program. As a parting shot to timewasters who think they are funny and witty, it is always refreshing to read reviews and posts written is something resembling normal language (doesn't necessarily have to be English!) rather than the sms language of the geeks who think it's cool to write letters in capitals.... perhaps one day they will grow up and become adults and learn to use gramma and punctuation which ultimately means what they have to say is easier to read!
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"IN one word exellent"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.0
Pros
Great software.Support is awsome thankyou
Cons
none whatsoever
Summary
GO GET IT
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"Once AVG had been modfied this YTD Pro works very well"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.0
Pros
Fast and downloads to ipad format without a second process
Excellent support from YTD when online help needed to disable part of AVG to stop internet access being blocked on initial useCons
Downloads in both flv and ipad formats instead of just ipad which doubles the amount of space required unless you manually erase the flv file
Summary
Excellent software in summary
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"works great but no minimize to tray"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.0
Pros
works great
Cons
I cannot seem to minimize it to the system tray
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"Gets the job done - simple and fast downloader"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.0
Pros
Easy to use and converts files as well. I enjoyed that they have invested the time to integrate a player as well.
Cons
Not that pretty GUI
Summary
I am using it and will recommend others to do so. I strongly recommend this software in combination with Fast Video Cataloger 2 to keep track of the video collections.
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