Congratulations, you just upgraded to Video DownloadHelper 7.3.0 for Chrome
This is a long overdue update, but it is finally available: Video DownloadHelper is now running on the same code base as Video DownloadHelper 7 for Firefox !
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What changed from the former VDH 2.0.1.0 for Chrome ?
Everything you could do with the old version is still available, plus a number of new download capabilities like HLS streams or DASH videos from Vimeo, or the ability to convert videos from or to almost any format.
About the Companion Application
Like with the Firefox version, a number of features are only available through an external Companion Application that is to be installed separately. Once installed, this application is completely transparent, the VDH extension starts, stops and communicates with it in the background. The Companion App basically provides what is missing from browser extensions: the ability to access the computer file system (in particular to write files), to perform downloads that mimic exactly the original Web page ones and to perform video conversion.
To ensure trust in this companion application, transparency is key. Not only the companion application is free but it is also open-source so everyone can see what it does and how it does it. The application comes in various packagings to cope with the most popular operating systems: Windows, Mac and Linux. To date, the companion app has been installed over 10 million times.
If you request the download of a video that does not absolutely require the companion application, you will be given the choice to use the browser or the companion application. You can decide to remember this choice, so you won't be asked about it every time.
To summarize, to perform what you could do with VDH 2 does not require to install and use the companion application. Most new features will request it as this is a technical requirement to be able to do the job.
What about YouTube ?
We are sorry but like the previous VDH 2 for Chrome version and unlike the Firefox version, downloading from YouTube is not available, and you will get a specific message about this if you try to do so.
This is in no way our decision nor a technical issue, but the Google policy to forbid Chrome extensions from downloading from YouTube. If they ever change this policy, be ensured that we will update our add-on within the hour.
What about the Premium mode ?
The Premium mode gives access to some additional capabilities. You can upgrade to Premium within the VDH extension, for instance in the add-on options page. You can then choose between a lifetime status from a single payment, monthly or yearly subscriptions.
All the features that were available on VDH 2 are still there and do not require Premium status.
Premium status allows to download HLS streams without restriction (otherwise, it is limited to one download per 2 hours). It also permits to convert videos and download separated audio/video DASH streams without the watermark (in-video QR code) in the final video file. Premium status allows to convert to audio-only formats like MP3.