Using KeepVid to Save YouTube and Google Videos
Previously, we explained the difference of streaming and downloaded videos. YouTube and Google Videos are streamed, so you are not given the option of saving the videos locally. But sometimes you might just want to store a local copy.
And this can be for several reasons. First, there are chances that videos can be taken down from YouTube and Google Video–this is primarily because of copyright. Secondly, you might want to save a local copy for archive. This can come in handy when you want to watch videos even when not connected to the Internet. Of course, consider that YouTube and Google Videos are low quality (maybe you’d want a DVD or a higher-res downloaded video for that.
KeepVid keeps it simple. You just input the URL of the video you want to save and it then lets you download the file as an .FLV flash video. You don’t need to know the direct URL of the flash video itself, but you can simply input the URL of the YouTube or Google Video page and KeepVid does the rest.
So for instance, we want to download this Ask a Ninja video from YouTube, with the URL http://youtube.com/watch?v=qdS5lkeN8_8. We just paste in that URL on the URL box on KeepVid.
Then KeepVid will give us the direct download URL for the flash video: http://sjc-v40.sjc.youtube.com/get_video?video_id=qdS5lkeN8_8.
You then have to click the link to save locally. Your browser may ask you to confirm the download.
Once you have downloaded the file, you can then watch it on any compatible player. YouTube downloads should, for instance, be in the .FLV extension, and you can play these through free .FLV player such as the one available for free download here.
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This article is incorrect: in fact, Google Video (a far superior product to YouTube) DOES let you download video. You can watch it offline using the Google Video player (PC/Mac), or an iPod Video, or a PSP.
Indeed, the Google Video Player is a much better way of watching stuff: it can be in full-screen, the quality is far higher, and it can also buffer/stream videos. So, if your mac is connected to the TV, this is by far the best way to watch.
fine
This thing works i have downloaded so many videos frm u tube nd i play them on vlc player. infact the video s frm youtube are not streaming youtube makes u feel tat they r streaming they r downloaded in c\documents and settings …..jus search for files modified latest in c the file will b very large compared 2 others so u can find it very easily…chow happy downloading
[…] you ever want to save your favorite Youtube Video? With Keepvid you can save streamed videos and display them later offline. However you need to have a FLV-Player to display […]
Suddenly I can’t get Internet Explorer to go to Keepvid. It says it can’t show it and operation is aborted, yet I can see it plain as day behind the nasty little message. What gives? We have censorship here now??