How can I save videos from YouTube and play them on my iPod?

There are a variety of ways to save videos from YouTube and play these files on your video-capable iPod or simply within iTunes.

YouTube generally uses the Flash Video (FLV) format and the iPod uses the MPEG-4 (MP4) and H.264 formats. Consequently, getting a video from YouTube onto the iPod involves:

1. Bypassing the restrictions that make it difficult to save YouTube videos.
2. Converting the video from FLV to MP4.

The quickest way to perform each of these tasks is to download a program that does both steps for you.

For the Mac, inexpensive options inlclude TubeSock and MyTube (as first noted by "RandyInBC" in EveryiPod.com's own forums) as well as the freeware Tooble (as first mentioned by the always excellent Macsimum News). For Windows, there is AresTube and the appropriately titled Free YouTube to iPod Converter.

Mac Software Options

TubeSock is a relatively expensive US$15, but converts the first thirty seconds of a video clip for free. To use TubeSock, you need to paste the URL from YouTube or DailyMotion into the program -- or use the "bookmark" script -- but it also offers a useful MP3 audio "extraction" option for those interested in saving the audio from a YouTube clip without the video.

MyTube is a Widget for MacOS X 10.4 "Tiger" and higher that allows one to search for, sort, and view YouTube videos directly in the Dashboard application. To save videos from YouTube, convert, and import them into iTunes, the author requires an extremely modest donation of US$1.99.

Tooble is a free standalone application that makes it easy to search for and view YouTube clips, as well as save, convert, and import videos of interest directly into iTunes for later viewing. The program is completely free and reported to have "no spyware, malware, viruses or advertising".

Windows Software Options

AresTube is free, and likewise is reported to not contain "any spyware or adware". To use AresTube, you simply paste the URL of the YouTube, Google Video, Blip TV, DailyMotion, or MetaCafe video clip into the program and it saves the file, converts it to the iPod compatible MP4 format (or MPEG), and adds it to iTunes.

The Free YouTube to iPod Converter also pledges that the program contains "no spyware or adware" and works in much the same way as AresTube, but provides additional format options.

Website Options

If you want to save videos from YouTube, but not automatically convert the clips from FLV format and import them into iTunes, the easiest way to save clips from YouTube is to use KeepVid. Just copy the URL of the video you want to save from YouTube, paste it into the appropriate field provided by the website, hit return, and click the provided download link. Of course, these sites only save the video file, so if you want to be able to view it on an iPod, you still will need to convert the video to MP4 format.

For Mac users who do not like the integrated software options, this is when the excellent -- and free -- MacOS X iSquint program comes into play. iSquint makes it quick and easy to convert YouTube videos to MP4 format and add the converted clips to iTunes. The company also offers a far more advanced VisualHub program with a variety of advanced video conversion features for the interesting price of US$23.32.

It is hoped that this information will make it easy for you to start expanding your collection of iPod video clips.