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Download YouTube Videos in Higher-Quality MP4 Format
Posted by Kevin Purdy at 10:29 PM on April 14, 2008
YouTube recently started offering video playback in higher-resolution, better-sounding formats like MP4, and that bump in quality can now be downloaded for desktop use as well. The Google Operating System points out two easy methods for grabbing files: A bookmarklet that adds a "Download as MP4" link to video pages when clicked, and a Greasemonkey script that automatically creates the link. Both require that you right-click and assign the to-be-downloaded file the ".mp4" extension, and both may violate YouTube's terms of use, but, as blog author Ionut points out, the same files are available in your browser cache after watching. Hit the link to grab the bookmarklet and Greasemonkey script for Firefox (and Opera) users.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Daniel Mahony
Posted April 15, 2008 1:54 PM
The best way to save youtube or any other embedded video is to create a shortcut on your desktop that points to your temp file.
The path for Ubuntu is so simple!
/tmp
Honestly,this beats every other method hands down.
googeling
Posted 10:47 PM 14/4/08
I always wait for the video to finish loading, and then I grab it from Firefox's Cache. I also covert it to AVI if there's a need.
Is this method faster or better?
googeling
A3sthetix
Posted 11:57 PM 14/4/08
This appears to beat using [vixy.net]
I've been using DownloadHelper extension for FF to grab vids otherwise.
A3sthetix
mathmonkey
Posted 11:45 PM 14/4/08
It's much nicer if you're in the middle of other things and don't want to come back later to the cache. I just wish there was something like this for other sites. The Firefox solutions never seem to work just right. The best way I've found is to open up the activity (apple-alt-a) in Safari and double-click the appropriate resource.
mathmonkey
scott johnson
Posted 12:55 AM 15/4/08
This reminds me: are we going to see updates to BetterYouTube anytime soon?
scott johnson
Gonzie
Posted 2:33 AM 15/4/08
actually it's even better than that on a Mac with the Safari and SafariStand combo. that normally allows you to download flv's from youtube, but add &fmt=18 to the end of what your watching to get high quality and do the same gets you the mp4 file instead :D
Gonzie
fuhrysteve
Posted 2:46 AM 15/4/08
@scott johnson:
Also, will this script be included in it?
fuhrysteve
chinkzsta
Posted 3:23 AM 15/4/08
I don't understand how to get this to work =S
chinkzsta
bbobjoe
Posted 6:09 AM 15/4/08
@chinkzsta: If you are using Firefox, Drag the "Get Youtube Video" to your Bookmarks or the Bookmark tool bar (below your address bar). Then when you are at a Youtube video, you just need to click that bookmark and the link will appear in the about video box to the right of the video (below more info and embed).
bbobjoe
chinkzsta
Posted 9:05 PM 15/4/08
@bbobjoe: And what if I'm not using firefox..?
chinkzsta
webcreation
Posted 8:56 PM 16/4/08
Here is the easy way, to watch YouTube HD - higher definition, and download MP4 videos, check this site :
[www.ouideo.com]
Really good !
webcreation
mertumba
Posted 1:51 PM 18/4/08
This is old news,
FilmFo.comt has been doing this for awhile now
mertumba