youtube downloader

YTD Video Downloader

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.
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Publisher's Description

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  • All versions:
    3.5 stars
    out of 3,645 votes
    • 5 star:1317
    • 4 star:964
    • 3 star:379
    • 2 star:190
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Results 1-10 of 3584
  • 1.0 stars
    "Intrusive garbage"
    November 1, 2013  |   By NikonMike
    Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.5.1
    Pros
    None, read below.
    Cons
    Installs "helpful" Firefox plug-ins, changes home page and search engine to Yahoo! Home page setting also changes to "show home page" when Firefox starts, so my "show windows/tabs from last time" was simply disabled without me knowing and I lost all my tab groups upon browser restart. Horrible.
    Summary
    Avoid, don't support this trash. Shame on cnet for even listing such crap.
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  • 5.0 stars
    "very easy & fast software"
    October 28, 2013  |   By tapkar
    Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.5.1
    Pros
    easy, fast, and perfect download...mp3 and mp4 Multiple download in few minutes. I lost my software due PC problem,customer service helped me within 48 hours Free of charge software
    Cons
    Not tested in variouis other platforms / but easy to use it.
    Summary
    From many software this was the best. Multiple download in few minutes. u will love it.
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  • 5.0 stars
    "Use this all the time."
    October 23, 2013  |   By carrr4111
    Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.5.1
    Pros
    Fast downloads; converts to other formats; easy to use
    Cons
    sometimes it pauses and runs slow but it could be my connection.
    Summary
    I use this program all the time and it is most definitely worth the money to do the upgrade. I started out using the free program which works quite well, but the upgrade is just so much better.
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  • 3.0 stars
    "No 1080p download, try ChrisPC VideoTube Downloader"
    October 21, 2013  |   By David_M13
    Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.5.1
    Pros
    Doesn't work most of the time. Can't download 1080p videos from YouTube.
    I found a much better YouTube video downloader: ChrisPC Free VideoTube Downloader.
    Cons
    Doesn't download 1080p videos.
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  • 5.0 stars
    "Good for YouTube Downloads"
    October 16, 2013  |   By int_revisor
    Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.5.1
    Pros
    I have this software specially for YouTube downloads. It works good. Stable and clean interface. Probably the best.
    Cons
    The only problem with this software is the installation process, If you don't want extra things, you should decline that. Fortunately for me, many guys install extra things, so this software will remain free and usable for me, lol.
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  • 1.0 stars
    "Cruddy software"
    October 3, 2013  |   By Michaelpqseo82
    Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.5.1
    Pros
    No charge. Other than that.....:-(
    Cons
    I cannot believe i was fooled on this one.Totally unusable. Made my computer slow as hell. I wasted way too much time.. Period.
    Summary
    Simply dangerous by far better. . Seriously
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  • 1.0 stars
    "Installs malware"
    October 2, 2013  |   By Workfaster
    Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.5.1
    Pros
    Software functions as advertised.
    Cons
    Installs AVG search engine malware, regardless of user unchecking box during installation.
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  • 1.0 stars
    "use to be good"
    September 28, 2013  |   By tracyne12
    Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.5
    Pros
    does download and convert like it says.
    Cons
    install pup optional b on my computer.
    Summary
    malwarebytes detected a malware called pup optional b on my computer. which is too bad i really did like this software. wish they had never updated to 4.5.
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  • 1.0 stars
    "It Contains a Trojan and will change system settings."
    September 26, 2013  |   By Purple_Moose
    Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.5.1
    Pros
    It does work as stated!
    Cons
    It contains a Trojan! When you install it from here you can avoid the addition of a toolbar, change of homepage, and search engine, but when you are ask if you want to download a newer version, it adds all of this, including a Trojan. I didn't want a YTD toolbar, my homepage set to Yahoo, and my search set to Yahoo. I also didn't need the pop ups. Even McAfee didn't want you to go to their site. I removed all of it and recommend you do the same.
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  • 4.0 stars
    "Alternatie"
    September 26, 2013  |   By madnanbashir
    Version: YTD Video Downloader 4.5.1
    Pros
    http://howbees.com/2013/08/08/how-to-download-youtube-video-in-5-seconds-to-computer-quickly/
    Cons
    http://howbees.com/2013/08/08/how-to-download-youtube-video-in-5-seconds-to-computer-quickly/
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