What we liked: JDownloader is a longtime favourite of Web User and it remains our top download manager for good reason. It delivers the goods in all the areas where a download manager should, offering lots of control, whether you’re scheduling downloads or downloading several large files.
JDownloader has been available in one form or another since 2011, and its developers have used that time to evolve a program that responds to just about every requirement you might need. It’s quick and hassle-free to use – just copy a download link to the program and JDownloader automatically picks up the URL from the clipboard without you needing to paste it in. There’s also strong support for multiple, prioritised file downloads, all of which can be managed using the ‘playback’ buttons in the ribbon toolbar.
To get to your files faster, the software helpfully fills in CAPTCHA codes and extracts files, so they’re ready and waiting for you. There’s also a handy browser extension that intercepts downloads and diverts them directly to the software.
One of JDownloader’s best features is its support for video streaming sites. Grab a link from YouTube or Vimeo and add it to your download queue. The first time you do this, you’re prompted to add FFmpeg software – which JDownloader will do for you – but this also lets you re-download videos you’ve uploaded at their original quality. This puts it a cut above rivals who struggled with this basic task and frequently redirected us to the original web page or failed to download anything at all.
How it can be improved:
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
What you must… NEVER CLICK ONLINE
Don’t get caught and scammed by the web’s latest mouse traps. Wayne Williams reveals all the things you should avoid clicking and tapping on the web, and explains how to spot them
Realme X2
An affordable Android smartphone with features beyond its price
How to... Dual-boot Linux Mint with Windows 10
Dual-booting gives you the ability to use Linux at its best without removing Windows. Wayne Williams shows you how
Reverse-search the web using photos
Uncover fake pictures, identify faces and catch photo thieves with a reverse image search. Jane Hoskyn reveals the best ways to search the web without words
Charge of the fight brigade
Barry Collins is tired of waking up to rows over unplugged devices
STOP USING SOFTWARE
Why download hefty programs when you can run everything in your browser instead? Wayne Williams reveals the best free online alternatives to desktop software
Restore missing KEYBOARD tools
Does your keyboard lack useful options that make typing quicker and easier? Nik Rawlinson explains how to access your keyboard’s missing features and reveal its hidden functions for free
How to... Create your own retro gaming arcade for free
Wayne Williams shows you how to play a huge collection of classic games while staying on the right side of the law
Best download managers
Whether you need to download a large individual file or multiple items, or you want to schedule a download for later, a dedicated download manager can make things easier. Steve Clark compares six of the best free tools
Beat online obstructions
Don’t let annoying popups and widgets block your access to websites. Robert Irvine reveals the best workarounds for common web hindrances and distractions
LAWMAKERS CALL YOUTUBE KIDS A ‘WASTELAND OF VAPID' CONTENT
A House subcommittee is investigating YouTube Kids, saying the Google-owned video service feeds children inappropriate material in “a wasteland of vapid, consumerist content” so it can serve them ads.
Formula D
2-10 PLAYERS | 60 MINUTES | AGES 8+
The Preteen's Guide to Getting Rich Off YouTube
Ryan Kaji’s video empire makes most of its revenue from merchandise, not ads
DEMI LOVATO: DRUGS SAVED MY LIFE!
DESPITE a near-fatal overdose in 2018, songbird Demi Lovato still insists drugs also saved her life! The former Disney darling said drug abuse prevented her from turning to suicide.
The Receipt Keeper D'Angelo Wallace always knows how to cut through the chaos.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW what’s going on with YouTubers or anybody else with a modicum of influence online, you’ve got two options. You can watch their videos and scour Instagram—or you can get thee to a YouTube drama channel. And no one does a channel quite like D’Angelo Wallace. The Texas-based 22-year-old packs his superlong explainer videos (many of them run over an hour) with timelines, charts, and commentary—a hybrid model that perfectly encapsulates the messiness of the influencers he covers. He now has more than 2.18 million subscribers. “I will say it’s not necessarily a case of me always striving to have the best research, or I’m always going to be 100 percent correct,” Wallace said. “I just am obsessed with the storytelling of it all.”
No Mercy
Ralph Macchio Talks Tech, the Switch to Netflix, and Season 3 of Cobra Kai
Razer Cynosa V2
A $60 keyboard from Razer?
MIKE FARRINGTON
Woodworker, content creator; a lesson in contradictions
how to hit the reset button
When emotions are spiraling out of control, it’s time to go within and meditate.
GMAIL, YOUTUBE DOWN BRIEFLY AS GOOGLE SUFFERS BRIEF OUTAGE
Google users in the U.S., Europe, India and other parts of the world were briefly unable to access their Gmail accounts, watch YouTube videos or get to their online documents during an outage this Monday.