Best free download managers
The fastest BitTorrent client yet
BitTyrant V1.1 is a hot-rodded version of the popular Open Source BitTorrent client Azureus V2.5.
The modification is fiendishly clever. While most clients only consider the number of peers available for downloading, BitTyrant also considers the capacity of each peer and the data rate required to ensure reciprocation. It then utilizes this information using a dynamic algorithm to send only to the highest capacity peers data at the minimum rate for them to reciprocate.
In plain English this translates to your downloads running faster, much faster; around 65% on my tests.
Now, the standard Azureus client may be one of the most full featured clients available but it's certainly not the fastest kid on the block. With the BitTyrant mods, though, it's a speed demon. In fact, it's the fastest client I've tried.
Here's the downside:
First, this kind of mod breaks down some of the fairness characteristics of the BitTorrent protocol. If you are not comfortable with that then don't use BitTyrant.
Second, the standard Azureus client is updated regularly but there is no guarantee that BitTyrant will be kept up-to-date with the latest version. The authors of Azureus may even knobble the product to prevent the mod.
That said, the current V1.1 version of BitTyrant based on Azureus V2.5 is the fastest BitTorrent client yet.Freeware, all Windows versions plus other operating systems, 8.11MB.
http://bittyrant.cs.washington.edu/
How to automatically download your favorite TV programs
Actually its' quite easy as there's a free open source program called Ted that's designed just for this task. It combines with your BitTorrent client to allow automatic downloads of all episodes of your chosen programs. Of course you may be violating copyright laws just like when you record a TV program to videotape. But hey, you've never done that have you?
http://www.urltrim.com/ct/t.php?l=81
More ways to speed up your BitTorrent downloads
I covered this in issue #129. Here's another take on the same subject.
http://forum.utorrent.com/viewtopic.php?id=3912
uTorrent V1.5 released
I've never seen any software product develop faster than uTorrent. Equally amazingly, each new release seems to work well without major new bugs being introduced. Sure says something about the developers. The latest V1.5 adds dozens of new features including Peer Exchange (IR peers only) and Protocol Encryption that will work with what's planned for Azureus. Additionally, the product has been tweaked for better transfer speeds. The program size has blown out though; it now takes up a massive 154KB! Yes folks, that's kilobytes. Truly amazing. Freeware, Windows 95 (with Winsock2) and later, 154KB
http://www.utorrent.com/
How to speed up your BitTorrent downloads
Here are two guides: the first is for uTorrent and the second for Azureus:
[1] http://forum.utorrent.com/viewtopic.php?id=3912
[2] http://www.zeropaid.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=17671
Azureus BitTorrent v2.4 released
The latest version of the top rated Azureus BitTorrent client includes various performance and improvements, basic support for WebSeeds plus high speed LAN transfers. However the most important enhancement is the ability to encrypt data between Azureus and other compatible clients. This provides better protection of data and can help overcome the blockages and restrictions imposed by some ISPs on peer-to-peer traffic. Free open source software, requires Java JRE 1.5, 7.4MB.
http://azureus.sourceforge.net
The best BitTorrent list
This list is simply sensational. It not only lists lots of sites but categorizes them under headings such as: Educational, Trackers, Private Trackers, Sports, Television and more. A mandatory bookmark for torrent fans.
http://web-of-knowledge.blogspot.com/2006/02/torrents-sites-general-httpweb1.html
New version of uTorrent released
uTorrent, the diminutive but highly effective BitTorrent client continues to go from strength to strength. With each successive release new features are added yet the program remains tiny compared to competitors like Azureus. The latest V1.4 release adds multi-scrape, an RSS reader, Bitcomet style add dialog and more. All BitTorrent users should try uTorrent, particularly when the whole thing is only a tiny 130KB download, is free and doesn't need installing.
http://www.utorrent.com/