Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' review
YTD Video Downloader is a great little piece of freeware for downloading and converting video...if you can ignore the aggressive upselling and multiple browser add-on bundling offers. It quickly downloads video from YouTube, Vimeo, Blip.tv, Vevo, and more than 60 other supported video sites, converts video to the standard formats for iPad, iPhone and PSP (MP4); iPod (MOV); cell phone (3GP); Windows Media Video (WMV); Xvid MPEG-4 (AVI) and MPEG Audio Layer 3 (MP3), and also plays back videos in a very basic player.
YTD Video Downloader automatically loads whatever URL you've got saved to your primary clipboard, saving you the trouble of hitting Ctrl-V (and also possibly embarrassing yourself with an accidentally exposed URL). Hitting Download starts automatically transferring the MP4 file to the customizable "Save to" location, but the entire bottom half of the interface is dedicated to promoting the Pro version (along with a large, red Upgrade Now button at the top of the interface).
Multiple files in the Activity tab can be sorted by any of the columns -- Size, Progress, Speed, Status, and ETA -- and the columns can be resized, but the columns can't be reordered or removed, and it's odd that the entire interface doesn't resize or go full-screen. Thus, if a video fails, it's difficult to read what comes after "Failure (6) ..." in the space allotted.
The player works by loading a specific directory on your machine, then listing all of the supported videos it can show. Double-clicking loads the video with a very basic set of player controls -- play/pause, full-screen, volume -- that are familiar to anyone who's ever used any online video service. It's about as bare-bones as a video player can get, but it works fine.
There's no built-in program help for YTD Video Downloader, but the app links to the helpful Web site. One nice addition for power users is support for the open-source FFmpeg media framework for converting files using a large range of customizable parameters. The Web site also provides command-line examples for less experienced users who want to dip their toes into manual conversion.
YTD Video Downloader does what it says on the tin, and does it quickly. It's also regularly updated to account for changes in the various video service platforms. If you don't mind the additional software bundling and aggressive promotion for the Pro version, it's a powerful, lightweight, and free tool for saving streaming video for later viewing.
Download videos with YTD Video Downloader:Publisher's Description
From GreenTree Applications:
YTD Video Downloader allows you to download videos, including 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 for the video you want to download and click the Download button. 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. YTD Video Downloader is available in English, Albanian, Arabic, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Chinese Simplified, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Kurdish, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish.
What's new in this version: Version 3.9 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.
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All versions:
3.5 starsout of 3,556 votes
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Current version:
2.7 starsout of 31 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Installs Yahoo! scamware ... be careful"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 3.9
Pros
Good product, except for the scamware
Cons
Shame on you for installing the Yahoo! scamware, and doing so in a way that it is impossible to remove (I've gone to the Google forums on Yahoo's insertion into Chrome, and these guys apparently change the hacking code every so often so that no one can figure out how to remove the Yahoo toolbar. This is probably an indication of just how disparate Yahoo has become ... their methods are no different than a shady Russian spammer / hacker
Summary
Shame on you, and one star (despite a pretty good product) for hacking my system!
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"Installs Yahoo Search/toolbars even if you decline"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 3.9
Pros
This is a useful tool for downloading YouTube videos. Unfortunately...
Cons
It also changes Firefox, IE, Chrome, and perhaps others to use Yahoo as the default search provider in the search bar AND in the address bar. It also installs widgets. Now the installation process has a screen that gives you the option to decline this -- HOWEVER, I selected decline and it went ahead and installed everything anyway. That's a serious bad, and in my opinion, CNET should remove this software from their page until this is corrected.
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"Okay when it works"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 3.9
Pros
The program downloads videos. I have downloaded a few in the past to view offline. Not bad.
Cons
Today is August 26th, 2012 and I've attempted to download one or two video all day and I keep receiving an error message Failed (6)Site Responded with an error.......
I had been using and earlier version of the software before upgrading to v3.9. Is there a problem with this version of the software or is it the Youtube website? Are video now being blocked? What's up? -
"Fantastic when it wants to work."
Version: YTD Video Downloader 3.9
Pros
Easy to use
Cons
Works when it wants to
Slower than it is fast
When converting the video to a song, the quality is terrible (depending on the song).Summary
I barely ever even use this program, so when I do go to use it, it chooses to not work. This time everything I try to download says failed. I updated it. I restarted my computer. I thought about uninstalling and re-installing but I'd rather save myself from the trouble when I already know it's not going to work.
When this actually works, it's almost great aside from the terrible quality when trying to download songs. Maybe, that's not what this is for. Either way, depending on the make up of the song, when converting, the quality is horrid.
Does anyone have any suggestions of a new downloader similar to this one but I guess for music? Not as many problems would be nice too. -
"Nice product"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 3.9
Pros
Easy to use
Small sizeCons
Not always working
a bit slow -
"Downloads kept failing"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 3.9
Pros
Its simple enough to use, has an intuitive interface
Has a Converter attached (wasnt able to use it though)Cons
Downloads simply kept failing, I tried between 8-10 downloads off Youtube, Facebook, PCGamer, IGN, etc
None of them completed
Downloads kept failing, despite the connection remaining constant -
"Good but missing a few things"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 3.9
Pros
downloads and converts the videos ok
Cons
doesn't have youtube playlist support
Summary
I've tried it but don't like it.
It has an outdated user interface and too many tabs.
You need to click 3-4 times to get a video downloaded and then convert it.
At the moment I use another youtube downloader which works fine and it can download youtube playlists too: ChrisPC Free YouTube Downloader Converter. -
"It Worked! But could be better!"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 3.9
Pros
+Displaying faster download speed than actual, making u feel superior flustered over your slower speed internet.
+Fast and reliable Simultaneous Downloads if it is not more than 3 at a time or else resort as failure when compiling.
+Crystal Clear Big Advertisement to reminds you to upgrade to Pro, ideal for those who don't intend to show off their PC's.
+Limited customization with windows making it friendly to the antediluvian and archaic to the literate ones. Good.Cons
-A holy terror of Palatial updates and Program versions weekly, no monthly? what daily?
-Even an idiot savant knows that if you had a fast internet, you will not used the introspected mediocre features offered.Summary
YTD Downloader is truly an inquisitive application, making you think biliousness ? Is there any better than this, you cringed?
The answer is: NO! -
"Basic but robust functionality"
Version: YTD Video Downloader 3.9
Pros
Not buggy, very efficient and straightforward. Easy to use even without lazy-man's GUI conveniences
Cons
It does not resume downloads. If your connection is lost, that is it - it starts from zero which can be very frustrating for large downloads
Keeps loosing connection and restarting on HD downloads that are say about 700MB and above. This happens like every 5 minutes of the download restarting.
I know multiple file downloading is in the paid for version but really?Summary
Nice product - definitely better than Orbit and many other free products. Of course it would be the best product available if resumption of downloads and multiple downloads was included in this version but i guess the developer has to find a way for making it worthwhile.
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"Was working great..."
Version: YTD Video Downloader 3.9
Pros
When it worked, it was fantastic.
Cons
For some reason it stopped working. Kept getting the failed(6) error message. Followed the instructions from YTD on facebook - didn't help. Uninstalled, reinstalled, still no difference. Can't even put my registration number back in to make it the pro version like before. Not happy at all.
Summary
If it works, it's great. If it screws up, good luck.
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