SponsorBlock for Firefox, worth it? And which YT free downloader?

[Cham2000]

I'm using Firefox with the uBlock Origin and PrivacyBadger extensions to cut the ads and the privacy invaders on the internet. I was wondering about the SponsorBlock extension to chop the ads in YouTube videos:

SponsorBlock YouTube- Enlève commerciaux intégrées â Adoptez cette extension pour ð¦ Firefox (fr)

Télécharger SponsorBlock YouTube- Enlève commerciaux intégrées pour Firefox. Passe automatiquement les messages commerciaux intégrés et publicités dans les vidéos YouTube. Soumettez les segments commerciaux dans les vidéos que vous regardez pour aidez les autres.

addons.mozilla.org

Is it worth it and trustable? Could there be some issues or interaction with uBlock? What is your experience with SponsorBlock in YouTube? Do you recommend this plugin, or is there a better alternative for YouTube?

Also, which free and trustable Firefox plugin would allow direct YouTube video downloads?

 

[KaliYoni]

Also, which free and trustable Firefox plugin would allow direct YouTube video downloads?

Even though you prefer free, Downie is well worth its (low) cost. I first became aware of it a few years ago when Apple "accidentally" suspended their developer account–there was a fair amount of coverage in Mac media outlets–and I happened to be looking for a reliable and safe video downloader. I had tried several free methods but never felt completely comfortable trusting the apps, plugins, browser extensions, or proxies.

In any case, I've been using Downie regularly since then. Most importantly, the developer regularly updates the software and is very responsive to user questions.

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ETA: I don't use SponsorBlock so I don't have any specific opinions about it. But unless you are a coder and can review all of the code yourself, open source software isn't necessarily more secure or more private than non-open source software. This is especially true of software that isn't used by lots and lots and lots of people and organizations. More discussion here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/lastpass-hacked-again.2382255/post-32000460

ETA 2: Surveillance capitalism software, including every one of the familiar names, all contain open source components. Again, open source is not a guarantee of anything related to privacy or security.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Downie is good.

Just remember if an app is free, that usually means you are the product being used and sold.

 

[Cham2000]

What about SponsorBlock? It's Open Source, apparently, so I guess it's a trustable free extension...

Maybe there's also a free Open Source YT downloader...

 

[Diskutant]

I can't live without SponsorBlock anymore! I use it in Firefox, and on my LG TV. It's just awesome!


For downloading YT videos I use this Alfred Workflow https://alfred.app/workflows/vitor/download-media/
I think it needs the Alfred Powerpack, so not really free.
Alternativly just use yt-dlp https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp

 

[Cham2000]

I can't live without SponsorBlock anymore! I use it in Firefox, and on my LG TV. It's just awesome!


For downloading YT videos I use this Alfred Workflow https://alfred.app/workflows/vitor/download-media/
I think it needs the Alfred Powerpack, so not really free.
Alternativly just use yt-dlp https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp

Is there a "normal" web page that shows the usage and the interface of yt-dlp? It's installation feels pretty unsafe to me!

 

[Cham2000]

Downie is good.

Just remember if an app is free, that usually means you are the product being used and sold.

And what if the said free software is Open Source?

 

[Diskutant]

Is there a "normal" web page that shows the usage and the interface of yt-dlp? It's installation feels pretty unsafe to me!

It's a command line app.
If you have brew installed just use "brew install yt-dlp" after that just type "yt-dlp" followed by space and paste the yt url, the video loads into the current directory. Done.

 

[Cham2000]

It's a command line app.
If you have brew installed just use "brew install yt-dlp" after that just type "yt-dlp" followed by space and paste the yt url, the video loads into the current directory. Done.

That's very unMac style. I much prefer an option directly in YT (i.e in the browser). It's much easier and faster.