How to Put a YouTube Video on Your iPod (for free!)
October 8th, 2008
With the help of a bookmarklet on your web browser (Firefox, Opera, or Safari) and iTunes, you can easily and quickly put YouTube videos on your iPod without the need for any other software. With the large amount of videos on YouTube, you will always have something to take with you watch on your iPod.
First, you will need to create the bookmarklet to download the high quality MP4 version of the desired video. Note: the credit for the great javascript behind the bookmarklet goes to Lawrence Albert at Unlock for This. Create a new bookmark, name it (something like YouTube Download) and then copy and paste the following as the location:
javascript:window.location.href='http://youtube.com/get_video?video_id='+swfArgs['video_id']+"&fmt=18"+"&l="+swfArgs['l']+"&sk="+swfArgs['sk']+'&fmt_map'+swfArgs['fmt_map']+'&t='+swfArgs['t'];
Now, go to YouTube and find a video. Once you have browsed to the video’s page, click on the newly created bookmarklet. A download prompt will appear. Accept the prompt to begin downloading. The video will download with the name video.MP4. Rename the file to the appropriate name.
Open iTunes and add the downloaded file to your library. Connect your iPod and sync. Your video will appear in the Movies section on your iPod.
If you own a Microsoft Zune, follow the above steps to create the bookmarklet, download the video and then use your Zune software to convert and sync the video with your device.
No other software is required. Please note that the bookmarklet will not work properly with Internet Explorer.
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:08 am
Hi,this tip is so cool. Could I make some necessary translation and post it in some Chinese mac forums?
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:35 pm
@Leo That would be fine with me, please make sure to reference my site in your post.
October 31st, 2008 at 12:17 am
I’m so gonna do a screencast for this and i’ll post it on Youtube in spanish, of course, referencing you as the source. I knew of a similar way to do this that I saw in google operating system’s blog, but this is way simpler. Just a note: the Youtube Download link to add to the bookmarks has your url on it and hence it doesn’t work. Fix the link posting only the javascript code you gave us and i’ll work flawlesly =)
Thank you so much man.
October 31st, 2008 at 12:21 am
I mean, it’ll work flawlesly, sorry about my typing and english =)
November 1st, 2008 at 1:58 am
can anyone give the Screen shot for this in English?
November 2nd, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Wow! That is definitely amazing. Thank you SO very much for this. I was about to go through all the trouble of downloading applications or complicated procedures. It worked like a charm.
December 8th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Video Download Studio™ is a powerful video downloader and converter tool which can help you download videos and free music from popular online social websites like YouTube.
December 10th, 2008 at 1:10 am
Can it do?
I can not believe.
December 11th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
What is a bookmarklet? Sorry I am not good with computers.
December 11th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Oh never mind. It will not work properly with Internet Explorer. So I can’t use this advice. Oh well
February 17th, 2009 at 12:16 am
Thank you for such a great video. I have learned a lot by reading on this website and great information.
March 25th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I’m with the ? dude. I have Firefox, but i have no clue what a bookmarklet is, and I have no idea where to put the code. would you mind telling me?
April 15th, 2009 at 4:41 am
What im well stuck. I dont get the copy and paste address thing, and when i go to my bookmark thing (or am i using the wrong thing, im on safari) it just disappears
May 1st, 2009 at 7:07 am
[…] Kayla wants to learn the dance from the new Hannah Montana Movie, so I’m going to try to have Itunes downloaded on the new laptop and see If I can get the You Tube Instructional video on her Ipod while she is gone. Instructions on how to do that can be found over at Digital Street […]