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.
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.
Danni63
September 05, 2014
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Version: Video DownloadHelper 4.9.12
2014-09-05 12:31:46
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By Danni63
Pros
Captures almost everything!
Cons
Sometimes have to wait for updates to keep up with FireFox...
Summary
I've been using this tool for YEARS and wish it was available for Chrome, too. My only complaint is that some FireFox updates make this stop working, and we have to wait for VDH to make the necessary changes to make it compatible again.
SisterPuce
December 13, 2012
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Version: Video DownloadHelper 4.9.12
2012-12-13 22:31:03
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By SisterPuce
Pros
I've managed to download some great stuff with Video downloadhelper.
Cons
It's hard to get it to do what you want. First of all, you have to wait until the movie/episode that you want to download has been buffered and fully loaded. The catch to that is: Video downloadhelper doesn't want to stay with you long enough to actually download a fully loaded vid. It's all about the timing. Otherwise, there is the issue of the actual downloads themselves. They do come out more pixelated than they originally were but aspect ratio is untouched. The sound can screw up but not horribly. Worst is...that it sometimes cuts your downloads off early.
Summary
I wish that I could find something more stable than this...but right now, it's all that I have to download quality vids with aside from torrents and I've had so much trouble with them.
