What will record yahoo?

[abrogard]

I've tried every prog I can find but I can't find one that will record tv from yahoo7. For instance http://au.tv.yahoo.com/plus7/the-event/-/watch/8019863/mon-27-sept-series-1-episode-1/?play=1

[jagabo]

Tried StreamTransport?

[abrogard]

Well, yep, I just did. Downloaded, installed, ran it. Tried running it first and then the tv show, tried running the tv show first and then it. didn't work either way. I did get to where it loaded up that page - yahoo!7 and looked like it was going to play the show - I did that by inputting the URL myself into the top address field and pressing 'start'.

But it loaded the page, as I say, changed the URL to 'about:blank' and showed a spinning small blue circle and didn't do another thing...

If you can download it I'd love to know how you can do it. Here's the URL again, the show is 'the event' - i liked it so much I want to keep it to watch again and to show some friends - it'll be off there soon, only there 10 days, eh? but i can't get the bloddy thing.......

http://au.tv.yahoo.com/plus7/the-event/-/watch/8019863/mon-27-sept-series-1-episode-1/?play=1

[jagabo]

I can't even view the video -- it's not available outside Australia. You could always use a screen capture utility like Fraps or Camtasia.

[abrogard]

Shows you what a tight hold they're keeping on it all. I'd like to know what technology they're using to beat all these 'download everything' progs. And how to beat it.

I'll try the screen capture things, better than nothing.

thanks again for trying...

[jagabo]

Shows you what a tight hold they're keeping on it all. I'd like to know what technology they're using to beat all these 'download everything' progs. And how to beat it.

I suspect they use an encrypted RTMPE channel to request the file (so download programs can't see what file is being requested) rather than a simple "file open" request which can be easily snooped.

[abrogard]

O.K. I'm not up on such technicalities/techniques. But if there's an flv file coming down couldn't it simply be intercepted and stuck back together and given a random name?

I wonder if there's any software does that?

I got that camtasia thing and I reckon it is going to work. It'll be better than nothing but it will only keep a small picture - too much for my computer apparently to handle decoding and displaying the .flv and reading the video display (or whatever its doing) and keeping that in camtasia. Too much. It does slow and even jerks from time to time.

They do everything, these progs, eh? Show all the details of all the files they've found and whatever. Great when its working. But I'd be satisfied with just a dumb interception and keeping of the .flv stream.

ah well......... better learn to be a video comms programmer myself I suppose....

[jagabo]

O.K. I'm not up on such technicalities/techniques. But if there's an flv file coming down couldn't it simply be intercepted and stuck back together and given a random name?

No, the encrypted channel means the capture program can't tell what video is being played, or even that the data the being transferred is a video. Say for example I send you a letter saying "Send me such-and-such video"). Then you send me back a letter saying "here's your video..."). The mail man could intercept those letters and see what video I requested and then see the video you sent me back in return. But if we first agree on an encryption algorithm I will send you a letter that says "adkdfpuoierkjadvpoijaf". You'll send me back a letter that says "ojoieqjnnbpaoinbpiunnaone...". Now if the mailman intercepts those letter he has no idea what's going on.

[Seeker47]

I can't even view the video -- it's not available outside Australia. You could always use a screen capture utility like Fraps or Camtasia.

There must be like 15 capture programs listed here, so trying all of them on a problem task would be a significant project. But one couldn't really say none of them will do the job -- with any assurance -- unless you've tried all of them on it. And If we can't "tune in" to this feed from outside that region, no one here can be certain either.

I know I should not go into any detail about this here, but I've learned there is very little I can't manage to find from other sources online, once I decide to look for it. And I've never bothered with P2P. [Hint initials: RS, MU, HF, FS, etc. etc. And too many new contenders to keep up with.]

[redwudz]

I've been using FRAPS and I find it a bit easier than Camtasia. (And a whole lot cheaper ) Whatever you can see on your screen, it can record. No stutters either. You can convert the file to something more compact once you have it in your computer.

[abrogard]

I take your point about the encryption and the mail illustration. But I am thinking that there is a video being played - these progs frequently ask you to start the prog before the video - now once a video begins, a fairly easily detectable thing in the arcane magical world of computers I'd think (because the flash modules get called) - well then that's the stream we want..... simple as that.

Talking about achieving difficult tasks - I'd like to make this stream available outside Aus - to you guys, that'd be a good one, eh?

I'll try Fraps again, if you claim no stutters, not sure why I dropped it in favour of camtasia, I'll try again. No stutters, no slowdown.. I've only got an AMD Athlon64 3200 at 2Gig with 1Gig Ram with a Radeon X800GT. That should be enough?

Thanks for the hints. If there's anything shouldn't be said here you could PM me, I guess, or email, or I've got an unused forum at ipolli.com/forum

I will continue my search...... thanks everyone.....

[jagabo]

VirtualDub also has the ability to screen capture.

[Browncoat]

Why don't you just download the torrent? that way you can keep a week in front of whats being aired in Australia.

[abrogard]

I use Virtual Dub. I'll check that aspect out. Thanks for that.

Why not the Torrent? I just never thought of it... Somehow I kinda thought this was the only place in the world it existed... Thank you (very much) for that tip..

Still leaves a streaming video method existing that can't be beat, though.... if it matters....... presumably they'll all finish up using it... and all the download progs will be beat.... sell your shares........

[Browncoat]

The streaming video capture program of choice for me is called "speedbit video downloader". Also if the video caches on your drive as its being streamed then "videocacheview" is a very handy tool.

[jagabo]

I take your point about the encryption and the mail illustration. But I am thinking that there is a video being played - these progs frequently ask you to start the prog before the video - now once a video begins, a fairly easily detectable thing in the arcane magical world of computers I'd think (because the flash modules get called) - well then that's the stream we want..... simple as that.

The data the flash player is receiving is encrypted. Saving that won't to any good. The program would have to get at the video after it's decrypted. Which (unless the flash player is hacked) means it will also get the data after it's been decompressed. That's the same as a screen cap. Although it would be easier for the user if automated.

[abrogard]

Ah... okay... you mean the encrypted data cannot be unencrypted without - what? Surely something at the beginning of the file? All the answers must come with the file?

Well couldn't an interceptor prog catch the whole thing, beginning and all?

You are instructed to start the interceptor first, it perhaps starts catching everything like a packet sniffer and then when the flash player is called it gets some 'triggers' or some recognition points to work from to tell it where any info it wants is?

That's my (simplistic) thinking. You obviously have a better knowledge of video comms than myself.... I'm just wondering....

If getting the data after decompress is the same as screen capture then does that mean even if I'm capturing a small screen window I'll be catching the full video? Capable of being seen full screen? Or if you want to view full screen must you screen capture a full screen?

[Browncoat]

Did you even try speedbit videodownloader or videocacheview?

[abrogard]

Not yet, I added a p.s. to that last post about that, thanking you and saying I'd try them but something went wrong and it wouldn't save the edit. then it was tuckertime and the kids........

I'll give 'em a go.......

[Browncoat]

Cool, I had dramas saving episodes of "The Guild" from bing video. Those programs solved it for me.

But really bitorrent is the way to go. Try http://eztv.it/search/ The Event

[abrogard]

Well videodownloader is working now and doesn't think I'm watching a video. And I'm watching that same old episode of The Event. So it doesn't work. Even booted up firefox for it, where i prefer chrome these days. Yep, bitorrent. Done the job for me. But what happens if no one could get it and upload it? thanks for your help... the search goes on, with bitorrent saving the day meanwhiles........

[Browncoat]

eztv gets all the good shows. all the time. Every episode

[jagabo]

Ah... okay... you mean the encrypted data cannot be unencrypted without - what? Surely something at the beginning of the file? All the answers must come with the file?

It's not in the file. Read up on 3DES and HTTPS.

Video streaming sites are working very hard at making your life difficult.

[Ph33r_This]

I started recording shows years back on my HD capture card...but now in Aus since they are turning off the analog signal the digital signal is worse :S

Seems that if you have under 75-80% or over 95% you can start getting freezing of the screen and audio. Ok, I understand the "under" signal strength, but to get glitches all through shows when you have 98-100% signal strength is just bloody stupid. Even some recorders will cut out when the signal stops!!!

I have had to start to d/l episodes of shows as all 3 of my capture cards are doing this (and one is running on "rabbit ears"). eztv.it has saved me so many times to get the shows when the recording has failed. I don't like d/l intellectual property from the internet, but when the show has been shown "free to air", I don't see why it should be a problem if the broadcasters/transmitters are not doing what they are supposed to do....send high quality for free.

[Seeker47]

Why don't you just download the torrent? that way you can keep a week in front of whats being aired in Australia.

I'm not the patient sort . . . which is just one of the reasons the whole P2P thing has never been of any interest to me. Maybe there are some things I have no interest in that are only available that way (??), but if you're talking about things that have appeared on tv, I don't notice much of anything that can't be found far more quickly, without having to resort to torrents or waiting for them to trickle in. I'm often amazed at how quickly they turn up. (You might have to wait several more hours for the 720p versions. Big deal.) Since I already get a pretty comprehensive package that I pay for from my sat service provider, this online option is mostly used to fill gaps where I've missed something that can't be made up from VOD.

[Seeker47]

Did you even try speedbit videodownloader or videocacheview?

Haven't heard of the former, but I'll look it up. A lot of streaming stuff never goes into the cache, by design.

[abrogard]

Humm..... lots of info there. Thanks for that, everyone. I checked out the encryption stuff and I get the idea, generally. I'm still not clear on it - my intelligence is strictly limited and diminishing by the day. But I get the basic idea that we don't have a clear .flv file coming down into the computer. Which is the assumption I was working with.

I'm thinking it must be in clear as it is fed to the flash player though. And surely that feed could be intercepted from within your own computer - I mean not an 'attack' from outside but an administrator installed prog right there inside your computer with full rights....

there's a reason why not....... else it would be happening......

thanks for the eztv, what an incredible site...... keep me busy for years.........

[jagabo]

I'm thinking it must be in clear as it is fed to the flash player though. And surely that feed could be intercepted from within your own computer - I mean not an 'attack' from outside but an administrator installed prog right there inside your computer with full rights....

No, it's encrypted going into the flash player. It's only in the clear coming out of the flash player on its way to the graphics card (after it's been decompressed). Getting at the decrypted video would require hacking the flash player and finding a point where the data is transferred from the internal decrypter module to the internal FLV parser. As soon as someone found a way to hack that, a new version of the player would be released to defeat that hack. It's not impossible but I haven't seen it done yet.

[Browncoat]

Why don't you just download the torrent? that way you can keep a week in front of whats being aired in Australia.

I'm not the patient sort . . . which is just one of the reasons the whole P2P thing has never been of any interest to me.

Yeah I hate waiting 5 mins for each 350MB video..

[abrogard]

Yes, I don't understand that thing about impatience....

and at the risk of annoying everyone with my stupidity I still don't understand the flash player encryption thing. Encrypted going in to flash player, not already decrypted? then flash player is expecting encrypted files? But .flv files are not normally encrypted. Normally a flash player expects an unencrypted file, surely?

Presumably every flash player is the same - I mean the one receiving the yahoo broadcasts is the same as the one that plays the unencrypted .flv files on my machine?

So all flash players are capable of doing decryption? How do they know to do it? Because something sends them a signal beforehand? where do they get the keys? Something sends them beforehand? Can't these comms be intercepted?

Obviously not, else it would be done. What is it I don't know, don't understand? (don't say 'everything' )