So when I happed upon VideoSpiritLite and saw that it could convert video files from and to any of these formats, VCD / SVCD / DVD / MPEG / AVI / DivX/ASF / WMV/DAT / SWF / FLV / 3GP / RM / MP4 / MOV, I was pretty happy and I hadn’t even downloaded the application yet.

While I started downloading the LITE version that is free from here I read through its features and it does some really neat stuff, other than converting, like extracting audio or still pictures from video. They do have a PRO version that costs money the only difference between the two products is the ability to edit the videos. Let’s take a look at what we can do with the free version.

The download was 10.9MB and once I downloaded it, I extracted the exe file and started installing. When it was completed in about 45 seconds it launched the application. You will see an info box when the application starts, prompting you to check that you have each of these three codec packs installed. They are K-lite which I wrote about here, Real Alternative and Quick Time.

With these three codec packs you can convert video files to and from any of the above formats for free! If you do not have any of them installed follow their respective links to grab and install them. I had all of them installed on my system so I was good to go.

Once you complete that, you will click close and you will then see the application. It looks like this:

I know, I know, you want to see how to convert a video file… So here we go. Start with Add Task

Then I chose Convert One File and that brings up the Wizard to get your video converted. Just fill out the fields

I chose the type I want to convert my video to, then I chose the input video and it automatically gives you the most reasonable settings but, if you know what you are doing you can go in and modify most settings.

When you are done hit OK. This will not start the conversion yet. The program can do batch processing – meaning you can set multiple files to convert and then start it. We will just be doing one today though. After you hit OK you will see a task like so:

Hit Start and you are off…

Once the conversion is complete you can view or copy the file from the output folder to where it needs to go. Very easy, and VERY handy!

To use the other features we were talking about it is as simple as going back to Add Task and selecting one of the other options:

You will see options to Split, Join and extract images. You can also convert a DVD. I was not able to figure out how to extract audio only from a video file but their website listed it as a feature. If you figure out how to do it – let us know in the comments!

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New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

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Using Grab Tube’s Web Converter you can convert any online or downloaded video (.flv, .mp4, .3gp, .avi) and using their service, convert it to MP3, 3GP, AVI, FLV or MPG. This is really useful to grab a friend’s youTube video and throw it on your phone to share.

Let’s see how it works…

First we browse on over to http://www.grab-tube.com/converter where the converter lives and you will see a screen that looks like this:

The URL bar at the top of the screen let’s you simply paste a URL of an online video to download. Drop down the format next to it and hit the download button.

You will see the next screen with links to download the file to your computer. With the file, you can then use the service to convert it to another file type.

Click the link to download the file and save it to your computer.

Then after you have the file on your local machine, click the logo at the top of Grab Tube to take you back to the home page. Once there, browse to your file, choose the format to convert it to and hit the Convert file! button below.

Once the conversion is complete, you will get a link to download the newly converted video, like you see below. Now, you can do what you need to with it! Enjoy.

Do you have another method of doing this? Well then, what are you waiting for?? Share it with us in the comments!

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• xVideoServiceThief – Ultimate Download Manager for Online Videos (25)
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I know there are dozens if not more Youtube downloaders out there but this one is really different. Let’s quickly go over some of its features.

1. Cross Platform

The program is available for Windows (both XP and Vista), Mac and Linux PCs. So it can be installed pretty much everywhere.

2. Download more than one video at a time

As you would expect from any other download manager it can download several files simultaneously. In the screenshot below you can see that I was downloading 4 videos at the same time.

3. Built-in video converter

xVideoServiceThief comes with integrated video converter which can convert downloaded videos to AVI (Windows), WMV, MPEG 1/2, MP4 (Apple iPod), 3GP (mobile phone) and MP3 formats. For more advanced users there are optional settings to control the output video resolution, audio sampling and video frame rates.

The really cool thing about it is that it can be fully automated. You simpy enter the URL of the video you want to download and xVideoServiceThief will then download, automatically convert it to the selected video format and store it in the specified folder. Sweet.

4. Supports 50+ Video Websites

xVideoServiceThief can handle videos from 50+ video sharing sites. I have successfully tested it with videos from Youtube, Dailymotion, Google Video and some other popular video sharing sites. Other than a couple of errors with Metacafe videos there were no problems whatsoever.

The full list of sites xVideoServiceThief can download videos from:

* 123video
* 5min
* aBum
* Aniboom
* Bebo
* Blip
* Boingboing TV
* Break
* Broadcaster
* Caught On Video
* Ceknito
* CinemaVIP
* Clip4e
* ClipFish
* Dailymotion
* Dumpalink
* GameSpot
* GameTrailers
* Glumbert
* Google Video
* GodTube
* LiveVideo
* Lulu TV
* Metacafe
* MySpaceTv
* MySpass
* MyVideo
* Sclipo
* Spike
* Stage6
* Tu.tv
* Tudou
* Video.ca
* VideoLeak
* Yahoo Video
* Yikers
* YourFileHost
* YouTube
* YouTubeIslam
* Zaable
* ZanyVideos
* ZappInternet
* Zedge
* ZippyVideos
* Zuuble

Other Cool Features

* Pause/resume downloads (though the pause/resume feature doesn’t work for all websites)
* Session Manager: Save/Restore your download lists
* Keeps a list of all downloaded videos (Date + Title + URL)
* Control which websites are allowed and which websites must be blocked.

Download xVideoServiceThief.

Do you ever download online videos? What software or websites do you use? Let us know in the comments.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• Use GrabTube To Convert YouTube Videos Online (13)
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So if you are a YouTube fan and would love to download some of the videos to your computer so that you may watch them again, without the need to visit the site again, then here are 4 quick ways to do that.

1. Add a ‘ Kiss ‘

Yes, you heard me right You just need to add the word ‘kiss’ to the YouTube video URL and then it directs you to a website where you can download it as a .flv video or convert it other formats as well.

Let’s take the most viewed video of all time – ‘ Evolution Of Dance ‘.

Its URL is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg

Now in order to download it, just replace it with this – http://www.kissyoutube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg . Then when you press enter, you’re directed to the website where you can download it. (see the screenshot)

2. YouTubeLoader Firefox Plugin

The youtubeloader firefox plugin is a Greasemonkey script, which adds a Download MP4 link below the YouTube video (as seen in Firefox 3)

Now, after you click on that Download MP4 link, it takes you to a separate page where it gives you more download options. From there, you can finally download it in the desired format.

3. YouTube Catcher

YouTube Catcher allows you to copy paste the YouTube video link and then download it. It also offers an FLV player to watch the videos on the PC.

4. Tube Leecher

Tube Leecher is a very simple, no-frills YouTube videos download site, which allows you to download the videos in flv format through the YouTube video link. It’s probably the simplest of all the tools mentioned.

I’m sure there are many more such tools available. If you know about any other tool which you think is better than the above, then mention them in the comments!

Abhijeet Mukherjee is addicted to the internet and loves blogging and freelance writing. He blogs about tech tweaks, blogging tips, productivity hacks at Jeet Blog

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

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