How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP4 from Your Mobile

Probably the most frustrating thing about watching YouTube videos on your mobile is that you just cannot find a good enough way to convert and download the file to the mobile device directly. Everyone knows that video converters are pretty useful when it comes to downloading online videos in the format that you require. However, not all allow the tool to be used or access from the mobile device itself. 

Unless you have a dedicated video conversion app, you might not be able to convert videos in an effective manner. However, this is the case only with standalone applications. Online video converters have taken convenience to a whole new level where the tools can be accessed on the browsers, especially mobile browsers. Due to this specific feature, it has become possible to for users to immediately convert their favorite video and get it on the mobile device directly. 

Mobile compatible online video converters can be accessed on the mobile web browser by simply opening the URL in the browser and then using it just like you would use it on a desktop. While copying the URLs from YouTube, make sure you check the structure of the entire line. Since the video is being viewed on a mobile, the URL would have a modified structure which would be relevant for the mobile platform. 

This should not cause a problem in detecting the video for the conversion process. However, if you get error in reading the file from the source, then try to get the URL of the YouTube video from the search results or get it from the ‘share’ option rather than copying the URL directly. This should take care of the issue in an effective manner. 

For converting your favorite YouTube videos to MP4, simply access the online video converter, provide the URL in the specified field, select MP4 as the destination format and tap the “ convert” button to initiate the conversion process. It should be done in no time. Once the file is converted, you will be provided with a download link. Don’t worry. This is a simple download link and you won’t be redirected to any other site or get bundled malware in any form. Tap the download link to get the file. The download speed will depend on the speed of your internet connection. 

There you have it folks! This is the best way, in my opinion, to get YouTube to Mp4 conversions directly on your mobile device without using any other peripheral device or your computer. This means you can get your favorite video converted while being on the move. Just make sure that you have a good and working internet connection and you should not have any problem at all. 

If you found this useful, then do share your feedback in the comments section below.

How to Download YouTube Videos to Your Mac in 5 Different Ways

Who doesn’t know about YouTube? It is the largest video sharing website in the world and has a vast collection of videos that people love to upload and share. This single platform has been responsible for the popularity of various artists who uploaded their videos and shared them across various social networks. When we come across a video that we like, we (obviously) would want to download it so that we may view the video whenever we want and as many times as we like.

Here are 5 methods by which you can download YouTube videos to your Mac and enjoy high quality media at your disposal. 

With Real Player

When you download RealPlayer, you get the RealPlayer downloader along with it. After installing the player on your Mac, the download option will show up automatically whenever a video is played. If you want to download the video, then you may do so from the window itself, or you may clear the list. 

With Safari

It is possible to download your favourite YouTube video with Safari. Just follow these steps for downloading the video.

• Open the URL of the video

• Let the video play for a few seconds and then pause it

• Wait for the video to buffer completely. You will be able to detect this as a grey progress bar that gets filled up gradually. 

• When the bar has filled up completely, click “Windows”.

• In this option, select “Activity” and find the line that represents the video (that you selected for download). 

• Double click on the line and your download should begin. 

The benefit of this method is that you do not require any third party software or online tool to download the video. However, you have to wait for the entire video to buffer before it can be downloaded. There is also the lack of control over the resolution, aspect ratio and quality of the video. So, the default settings would be applied to the downloaded video. 

With Chrome

Chrome is a popular web browser which has garnered a lot of attention due to the integration of Google’s features in the browser. While there is no direct download option in this browser, you can manage downloads with the appropriate plugin. Visit the Chrome Web Store and search for the plugin called “Ultimate YouTube Downloader”. When this plugin is installed, you would be able to download any video by simply clicking the “download” button in the widget that appears near the player. With this plugin, you would be able to choose the video format (MP4 / FLV) as well as the video quality. This makes it a really handy plugin. 

With Firefox

Firefox users are more than familiar with the role of plugins / add-ons and the convenience that they provide. Click on the “Tools” option in the menu bar and select the “Add-Ons” option. From here you would be able to search the required add-on and install it. While there is no need to wait for the entire video to be processed (when using the add-on in Firefox), there is a time limit so you need to click the add-on as soon as the limit expires. For example, if the limit is 8 mins, then you would have to click it again after 8 mins (and in further intervals of 8) for any video that exceeds this length. 

With Online Video Converter Tools

Online video converters are becoming quite popular mainly due to their platform agnostic nature. You can use them on a desktop, laptop or even a smartphone. Moreover, they use online processing to covert and download the video instead of relying on any software or downloaded elements. They can work with any OS as the online tool is accessed via a browser. So OS and other specifications should not make any difference. Just follow these steps for downloading the video.

• Open the online tool in the browser. 

• Find the video that you wish to download and copy its URL.

• Paste the URL in the respective field and select the format in which you would like to get the video.

• Modify the details related to resolution, aspect ratio, etc. 

• Click on the “convert” button and wait for the download link to be provided. 

• When the download link appears, click on it and the download will begin. 

This is one of the best way to download YouTube videos and ensure that you get them in the highest possible quality. Moreover, you can get the videos in your preferred formats. Personally, I would recommend this method over others. 

Do Buffering YouTube Videos And Downloading These Videos Consume the Same Amount of Data?

Probably everyone has this confusion regarding the amount of data consumed while downloading videos from YouTube and streaming them online respectively. Some believe that both of these processes consume the same amount of data, while others believe that data consumption is different in both the processes. This is a never ending debate with each faction having their own explanations and reasons for supporting their view. Let’s try and get to the bottom of this confusion and arrive at a conclusion. 

When you download YouTube videos, you get the option of selecting the resolution and based on your selection, the file size is determined. An HD file will obviously have a larger size as compared to one with a lower resolution. So when it comes to downloading a video file, the size gets fixed according to the selected resolution. Make sure that you keep this consideration in mind before making any comparison related to speed or data consumption. 

Basically both streaming and downloading consume almost the same amount of data. It is an obvious understanding because once you fix the resolution for the video file, the file size gets fixed also. However, streaming a video on YouTube might require a little more data as compared to the downloaded file. This is due to the constant interchange of data between the online video player and server which is done to accommodate packet errors, buffers, etc. The size of this “extra” data is very small, to the point that it can easily be considered insignificant. For example, the extra bandwidth for a 1 Mb/s video would come out to be between 10 kbits/s and 20 kbits/s.

Apart from the very minor difference in data consumption, both streaming and downloading consume the same amount of data. During streaming, the file’s data is directed to the browser’s cache while during download, the file is directed to the storage location specified by you. Once the file is downloaded, you can view is over and over again without the need for any part to be downloaded again. However, in the case of streaming, some part of the video might have to be downloaded in the cache again if it is lost.