Question regarding 'Reading List' in the left pane of Safari

Question

Question regarding 'Reading List' in the left pane of Safari

'Reading List' in the left pane of Safari does not download and store youtube videos (the actual video), it only lists the location (URL). Is there an App or extension that will download youtube videos so I can watch them offline when I can't get an internet connection ?

(I know that Google Chrome does have one or more extensions that can save youtube content - but I would prefer not to have to download and install Chrome just to do that)

Second related question -

If Reading list can't download and store video files, what can it download and save for viewing or reading later when there is no internet connection ? Just plain text ?!!?

Seems to me Safari needs something that can actually download media files.

Thanks

MacBook Pro

Posted on Apr 1, 2016 2:11 AM

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Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,470 points

Apr 1, 2016 10:40 AM in response to Chris_Sutton1964

The role of the Reading list is not store actual media, but only the links to the destination content, just as other bookmarks do. With attention to copyright and other original content restrictions, one can copy/paste a YouTube video link into the VLC media player and save the video locally.

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Answer 2

Apr 1, 2016 10:38 AM in response to VikingOSX

This below in italics is what you get when you click the 'help' in Safari and type in 'reading list'....

It states that you can read webpages even when not connected to the internet - which is clearly not the case. It seems to be just another list of URL's (the same as the favourites list). If someone knows how any of a 'reading list' can be viewed or read when not connected to the internet, I would very much like to know! .......

"Keep a reading list

To save webpages that you want to read later—even when you’re not connected to the Internet—add them to your Reading List.

Add a page to your Reading List: Move the pointer over the Smart Search field, then click the One-Step Add button that appears at the left end of the field.

You can also Shift-click a link on a webpage or in your Shared Links list to quickly add it.....etc......."

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Answer 3

Apr 1, 2016 10:56 AM in response to VikingOSX

http://mac.eltima.com/save-youtube-videos-mac.html

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Answer 4

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,470 points

Apr 1, 2016 11:33 AM in response to Chris_Sutton1964

Think about it. What is actually stored in a Reading List is a URL. How on earth are you to read the contents that the URL references without an actual Internet connection?

Do not believe everything that you read in Apple Help pages, or on the Internet. There also is no assurance that the particular Help page item is current for the given product version.

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Answer 5

Apr 1, 2016 4:11 PM in response to Chris_Sutton1964

Right click on the video and choose "Open in new window". This downloads the video to your computer and is then available when your computer is off-line.

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Answer 6

Apr 2, 2016 12:06 AM in response to his divine shadow

I tried that but there is nothing in downloads. If it's actually saved the video to my computer (which I doubt), I have no idea where it's saved it.

Update:

I've searched my computer using 'Spotlight' and there is nothing. What you are saying does not work

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Answer 7

Apr 2, 2016 12:15 AM in response to Chris_Sutton1964

Has anyone tried ' Airy ' ?

http://airy-video-downloader.en.softonic.com/mac

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Answer 8

Apr 2, 2016 12:31 AM in response to VikingOSX

I was going off what Apple say themselves in their own help files. It falsely gives the impression that when the URL is added to the reading list pane, the video file is actually downloaded.

Obviously that is not the case.

I will probably try what you said about VLC media player.

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Answer 9

pinkstones

Level 5

4,246 points

Apr 2, 2016 4:31 AM in response to Chris_Sutton1964

Chris_Sutton1964 wrote:

Has anyone tried ' Airy ' ?

http://airy-video-downloader.en.softonic.com/mac

You shouldn't download from an aggregate download site. Many times the installers are bundled with malware or adware and will be installed when you install whatever it was you were originally looking for. Only download extensions, plugins, drivers, or applications from the developer's website or from the Mac App Store.

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Answer 10

pinkstones

Level 5

4,246 points

Apr 2, 2016 4:32 AM in response to his divine shadow

his divine shadow wrote:

Right click on the video and choose "Open in new window". This downloads the video to your computer and is then available when your computer is off-line.

No it doesn't. It literally does what it says — it opens the video in a new window. It doesn't download or save anything. I don't know where you read that, but whoever came up with it was dead wrong.

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Answer 11

Apr 2, 2016 3:57 PM in response to pinkstones

El Capitan 10.11.4 Safari 9.1 Clicktoflash extension

I've been downloading videos since 9.5 by right clicking on the video. When I do, another browser pops up, and the download thing activates. I always find the downloaded video in the Downloads folder.

I discovered this by accident, I've never read about it.

I just tried it and it works (for me).

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Answer 12

pinkstones

Level 5

4,246 points

Apr 2, 2016 7:12 PM in response to his divine shadow

his divine shadow wrote:

El Capitan 10.11.4 Safari 9.1 Clicktoflash extension

I've been downloading videos since 9.5 by right clicking on the video. When I do, another browser pops up, and the download thing activates. I always find the downloaded video in the Downloads folder.

I discovered this by accident, I've never read about it.

I just tried it and it works (for me).

If you're going to give someone advice and tell them to do something, you have to tell them the whole story. Otherwise, they're going to do exactly what you say to do and not get the same results. I just right-clicked on the URL for a YouTube video, selected "Open in new window," and nothing was downloaded to my hard drive because I don't have that extension installed. You can't assume the person you're speaking to has the exact same setup on their computer that you have on yours.

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Answer 13

Apr 3, 2016 10:19 AM in response to pinkstones

There is an extension for doing this -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djP-ZE0gFFg

But I don't know how reliable it is or if it's 'clean'. I think many have downloaded it and I haven't seen any negative comments about it on Youtube

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Answer 14

Apr 3, 2016 11:38 AM in response to Chris_Sutton1964

Update; Apparently ' SaveFrom.net ' contains adware

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