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YouTube introduces paid and free downloads
After years of trying to convince us that, no -- we really shouldn't want a way to watch YouTube content offline, the company has officially confirmed that they are rolling the ability to download YouTube videos. The program is still evolving, but right now, both free and paid downloads are available from a small list of providers.
I'm can't help but be struck by a sense of déjà vu . If you recall, the now defunct Google Video initially offered paid downloads -- it was an epic failure. I don't want to be too quick to judge, but unless YouTube implements some changes, like FAST, it is going to end the same way.
Here are the problems as I see it:
- The partner channels testing paid downloads are, for lack of a better word, unimpressive. I'm sorry, but I really don't want to pay $0.99 for a math lesson, a so-called hacking lesson or to see a new media douchebag. I'm perfectly content to watch that content online if the alternative is paying.
- If the free content from Stanford University is anything to go by, the downloaded quality isn't that great. If I'm going to pay for a download (or even take the time to download a 245 meg file of a free program), at least make it worth my while.
- Again, the content selection thus far sucks. What's the use of promoting all this commercial content if there's no way any of it is going to be downloadable, since it appears everything has to be licensed either by the Creative Commons or public domain?
- They hide the stuff you do purchase under http://www.youtube.com/my_purchases. Take a cue from Apple, make it easy to access your purchased content. Maybe put a link in the main YouTube menu.
- It's unclear how many times you can download content and whatnot.
Comments
15
Subscribe to commentsmichas_piFeb 12th 2009 3:45PM
This is stupid. I use KeepVid for they few videos I download, anyway.
JackFeb 12th 2009 3:51PM
KeepVid.com....so unless they can offer higher quality downloads than the standard FLV....what's the point?
And if you have any sort of stream ripping software, then just view "HQ" or high quality version and it will automatically save the higher quality mp4.
DaveidFeb 12th 2009 4:00PM
http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2008/04/download-youtube-videos-as-mp4-files.html
Simple Google Search.
It Will Download Any YouTube In High Quality Mp4 Format. Better Than FLV.
AND FREE. Stupid YouTube, I Just Tried This Method On A Paid YouTube Download And Got The Video For Free, So Obviously They Aren't Putting Any Security Into This... Just Trying To Rip People Off
dirty dixieFeb 12th 2009 4:07PM
or just use greasemonkey scripts. there's plenty to auto-select best quality, increase the player size, and add download links for multiple formats.
The GnomeFeb 12th 2009 4:19PM
Why would I do that?
dfosterFeb 12th 2009 4:29PM
Why wouldn't you just used Tooble?
AbscissaFeb 12th 2009 4:49PM
I use the firefox DownloadHelper plugin.
Also, DownloadSquad: You're bullet-point vertical alignment is completely screwed up. Might want to fix that.
AbscissaFeb 13th 2009 2:09AM
Thank you :-)
Much easier to read now.
NeilFeb 12th 2009 5:42PM
There are just too many free ways to download videos from youtube to justify paying money to do it....so best of luck with this youtube, but don't count on it being very successful.
kingabraham3Feb 12th 2009 6:29PM
$10 sais there gonna change their system so that like hulu and some other sites, it'll be much harder to download the videos.
thecolbyFeb 13th 2009 2:32AM
Ya know, it seems as if they might be providing an out for those who just don't have what it takes to figure out the hundreds of free ways you can accomplish this... I guess the good thing is you can score it now with a clear conscience that you did it within their guidelines...good grief.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXmnaagOytQ
KevinFeb 13th 2009 2:52AM
Why are your bullet points in nearly-illegible light grey? It's annoying and makes me not want to read.
r3loadedFeb 13th 2009 4:21AM
What's the point of this when you have YouTube Downloader HD? http://www.youtubedownloaderhd.com/
RUGRLNFeb 13th 2009 9:17AM
I wonder which idiot will use this service...I mean programs like RealPlayer and others can download them for free...so why would one pay? Or let me guess, YouTube downloaders will become illegal and as bad as P2P with movies...anyhow, only way this is gna work is if the videos up for download are in the original format they've been uploaded in, and not FLV or MP4 downscaled to UTube quality...
mechanicFeb 15th 2009 1:04AM
video and/ or audio : tryout freemusiczilla.com ; or rivaux.com
[free]
Doug