Downloading from YouTube and Megavideo

There are lots of sites out there that present videos in a non-downloadable way, wrapped in flash video players. For instance, there are Megavideo and YouTube. For those running Safari, there is an easy way to download these videos:

1. On the page with the video, click ‘Window’ and the ‘Activity.’
2. Scroll through the list until you find something plausibly large (at least a few megabytes)
3. Select that item and copy it, either with the hotkey or from ‘Edit > Copy.’
4. Click ‘Window’ and ‘Downloads’
5. Paste the item, with either the menu or the hotkey.
6. The file will download to your desktop.
7. Add the extension .flv to the file
8. They can be played in video players like VideoLAN.

The same trick can be used to grab other forms of embedded media from all sorts of websites, and it’s much easier than digging around in search of temporary internet files.

Author: Milan

In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford. Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here. View all posts by Milan