YouTube + VideoDownloader + iSquint
August 29th, 2006 | Published in tech | 6 Comments
What one learns during Globalization of World Politics POSC108: how to rip YouTube videos into your iPod without shareware (well, I would buy it if I still had cash left over from buying rubbish online and assorted rubber contraptions for my camera that cost a bomb…).
Ingredients: Firefox, VideoDownloader plugin, iSquint.
Download the VideoDownloader plugin for Firefox. If you use other browsers like Safari or Camino you can always go to this website and enter the address manually each time. On Firefox the plugin sits nicely at the bottom right of your screen.
Click on VideoDownloader plugin on bottom right of Firefox status bar when you find the YouTube movie you want to download. It gives you a window with a direct link to the .flv video. Control-click/Right-click the link and save as yourfilename.flv.
Drag the .flv files into iSquint, to convert into iPod-ready format.
Now, to actually own a video iPod (I still use a mono screen third generation). Even without one, getting to watch YouTube videos locally on iTunes, without skipping and buffering, is quite nice too.
August 31st, 2006 at 8:20 am (#)
I can’t believe I have to school you on a Mac thing, but if you use Safari, you can just open the Activity window when you’re on YouTube, click on the biggest file (which will be the FLV file) and it will download onto your desktop. No need for plugins or websites.
August 31st, 2006 at 1:52 pm (#)
;) I never used Safari, so I have no idea, but thanks. Haha.
September 18th, 2006 at 3:26 am (#)
Great tips for ripping YouTube videos, thanks ;)
It’s also possible to rip Google Videos to your Ipod:
http://www.ripzor.com/
September 18th, 2006 at 1:08 pm (#)
Hey. You don’t need a video iPod. You have an N73! (It is the same screen resolution.) Seriously, I watch “The Daily Show” on my phone all the time.
I have been using Quicktime pro to export video to .mp4
iSquint should be able to do it too, but i will have to play with the custom settings some more. I will post a solution here if I find it.
September 18th, 2006 at 1:50 pm (#)
Ok. I found it. A (free) program called MoviesForMyiPod
http://www.digigami.com/moviesformypod/
I just converted a file for my N73 using these settings.
Convert to - Phone Video 3gpp
When you go to customize, choose the following:
File Format: 3GPP (Mobile MP4)
Video Format: MPEG-4
Data Rate: 384 (this is good quality but larger file size)
Image Size 320×240
Frame Rate: 15
That’s it! Transfer it to your phone. High quality video on your N73. No need for a video iPod.
September 18th, 2006 at 2:05 pm (#)
I feel like an idiot but I’d never thought of that before.