If you like watching videos, there are essential apps like VLC (whether you’re using a tablet, cell phone or Smart TV), but if you also like downloading authentic art gems you find online, YouTube videos to GIFs for viral TikToks, downloading the content is no longer so easy if you search a tool that works well and doesn’t bombard you with advertising.
Or that was my experience until I discovered a free open source project that does not require installation on the device that has become essential because download virtually any video from the Internet quickly and without complications.
Throughout my life on the Internet and as an editor, I have tried a long list of apps, websites and tools in general for downloading videos I have already gotten something from each of them but: it is difficult for me to pay and if I can choose, I prefer to opt for free things. On the other hand, when they don’t cost money, excess advertising and misleading links end up harming the experience.
There are others who have so many options that they make something so seemingly simple complicated. Finally, there are some that I liked but which no longer work. And then there is another reality: There are applications that contain videos whose interface does not have the function of downloading them. Downloading videos for free, easily and securely is therefore a more difficult task than it seems.
What is Cobalt Tools and what can you download
Then I discovered Cobalt and it has already become a tool to always have at hand on all my devices, since it does not require installation: just go to the project site from the browser: https://cobalt. tools/.
Cobalt Tools is a project developed by a single person called Wukko, it is entirely open source and not only does not include advertisements, but there are no trackers or analytics either. And the best part: it’s free, it has an extremely intuitive design, and it works wonderfully without a lot of fuss.
So if you want a simple tool to have videos for entertainment or editing purposes, Cobalt allows you to download audiovisual files (yes, also audio only) from platforms such as: Bilibili, Instagram, OK Video , Pinterest, Reddit, Rutube, Soundcloud, Streamable. , Tiktok, Tumblr, Twitch, X/Twitter, Vimeo, Vine, VK and YouTube. More details can be found on the project page on GitHub. As you see, there are some absences like Facebookbut the developer assures that the list will grow.
How to use cobalt
Downloading an audiovisual file is very quick and intuitive: you go to the application where the file that interests you is hosted and copy the link, then you go to Cobalt and paste it where it says “Paste the link here”. Then simply tap on the two small ‘>>’ arrows on the right and confirm for the download to begin. Once finished, you can go find the file where they are saved by default.
Note that its interface is hassle-free, with a white background and buttons without much mystery. The settings section deserves a special mention “Settings”, where, among other things, you can choose video resolution, remove watermarks, select YouTube codecs or download .gif files from Twitter.
As detailed in its warning, it is worth remembering that it is a simple tool for downloading Internet content and you are responsible for what you download, how you use it and distribute itsomething particularly sensitive if we are talking about material protected by intellectual property.
By | Pirate of life
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