It all begin withNapster . As the music industriousness keep an eye on , jillion of strangers log on to the famous file cabinet - sharing site to switch MP3s for free . In 2003 , the original Napster was keep out down by acopyrightinfringement lawsuit , but it was too late to put the genie back in the bottle . The world had tasted the power of peer - to - match ( p2p ) single file - sharing , and it need more .
Next cameGnutella , a new kind of p2p connection . Gnutella take issue from Napster because it does n’t have central servers that store information about which data file are being shared . Gnutella is n’t a Web site or a software download . It ’s a internet communications protocol – a standardized system of queries and response that allows item-by-item computers to speak directly to each other .
For more information on Gnutella - base p2p file - sharing , read our articleHow Gnutella Works .
LimeWire is enormously popular . By December 2007 , it had been installed on 18 percent of Windows PCs worldwide [ source : TorrentFreak ] . But the same controversy that surrounded Napster – the illegal downloading of copyright material – now chevy LimeWire , even though LimeWire cautions its users against apportion songs and videos that are under copyright protection .
In August 2006 , the music industry process LimeWire for enabling and promote " Internet piracy " of copyright - protect euphony and picture [ reference : Cnet ] . LimeWire insists it ’s a software dick for de jure partake non - copyright file . The case is still pending .
In this HowStuffWorks clause , we ’re locomote to walk you through the BASIC of using LimeWire , look at some ripe features like LimeWire Pro , share troubleshooting tips and correct the question : Is LimeWire really sound ?
allow ’s start with LimeWire bedrock .
Installing and Using LimeWire
Here ’s how to install LimeWire on your calculator :
Before you could download the installer program , LimeWire asks if you ’ll use it for " right of first publication infringement . " If you serve " yes , " you ’ll not be allowed to finish the download .
Once the initiation is complete , launch LimeWire and take a feel around . The programme will always open to the Search Tab . At the screen ’s top odd recess are hunting category for dissimilar types of media files : Audio , Images , Video , Documents , Programs and All Types .
When you press one of these search categories , it ’ll open customized search plain in the windowpane below . Under Audio , for example , you could look for for song title , creative person , album , genre and license type . you may stop the " More Search Options " clitoris for advanced hunt domain like track figure or strain duration .
At the bottom impart side of the Search Tab windowpane is a button that says " What ’s New . " Click the What ’s Modern button to see the late file that have been added to the Gnutella web under each hunting category . If you do n’t know what to search for , it ’s a good way to see what ’s fresh and popular .
Press Search and the search results will begin to fill up the chief part of the Search Tab window . Depending on your connexion , it may take a couple of minutes to find all of the link filing cabinet on the web . Results are listed from most popular ( more copy of the data file available at high download speeds ) to least pop ( few copies at slower download speed ) .
dual - press a file to begin downloading it . If LimeWire ca n’t find a licence for the file , it ’ll ask if you want to scrub the download or proceed without a licence . The filing cabinet will then seem in the Downloads window at the bottom of the screen , along with a advancement streak show the percentage of the Indian file download and from how many host .
Once the file is downloaded , it ’ll come along in your program library . fall into place the Library Tab at the cover ’s top . sink in the Saved Files pamphlet on the left side of the Library windowpane to see all the download file . Within Saved Files are subfolders for unlike media types ( sound recording , video , et cetera ) .
two-fold - select any file in the Library , and it ’ll be added to the Playlist at the bottom of the Library window . habituate the LimeWire Media Player moderate at the bottom rightfield of the CRT screen to intermit , stop and play audio files in the Playlist . Other file types will be launched in their associated media player or software package program program .
Now have ’s look at some innovative features of LimeWire , include LimeWire Pro .
Other Features and LimeWire Pro
LimeWire hold several feature for monitoring your connexion on the Gnutella internet . Under the View bill of fare at the screen ’s top , go to Show / Hide and take Connections . The Connections lozenge express to which computers you ’re connected on the Gnutella connection . You have the option of tally or removing connections as well as browsing the shared folders of a fussy computing machine .
Click the Monitor check at the top of the windowpane to see which files are being download from your shared brochure and by whom . These are calleduploadsand are list in the Uploads section at the bottom of the Monitor window . you may press the Kill Upload button to finish another user from downloading a particular file . At the top of the Monitor window is the Incoming Searches loge , which shows the most recent search keywords entered into the Gnutella web .
you could even chat with other users on the Gnutella internet . select one of your connections in the Connections tab and score the Browse legion button at the bottom of the screen . Right select one of the file on the master of ceremonies ’s computer and take the " schmooze with server " choice . you could also right - press any Indian file in your search solvent to chat with that file ’s legion .
Another useful LimeWire lineament is separate out . Go to the Filters menu and prefer Configure Content Filters . If you check the Enable Content Filters box , LimeWire will liken all downloaded or uploaded files with a list of copyright content supply by the entertainment diligence . All message on that lean will be filtered from your search results .
Also in the Filtering card are options for detritus , Keywords and Hosts . Under debris , you could increase the sensitivity of LimeWire ’s automated junk filter , either removing all junk from search results or just keeping it at the bottom of the results list . Keywords permit you to filter out search result containing certain words . There are also check box for filtering out adult mental object and certain character of data file that could contain viruses ( .html , .vbs , .wmv and .asf ) . The server choice allows you to enter the IP savoir-faire of a specific host to ostracise them from sending or receiving queries from your machine .
LimeWire is now desegregate with iTunes , the pop digital music software . Any birdcall you download through LimeWire will automatically appear in your iTunes library . You do n’t even have to re - launch iTunes .
LimeWire Pro is an raise file cabinet - sharing overhaul offered for a one - metre charge of $ 21.95 . accord to LimeWire , LimeWire Pro look for out more connection , giving users 66 percentage more lookup results with every query [ source : LimeWire ] . increase and better connexion mean faster downloads .
LimeWire Pro users also get access to free tech funding and free software updates for six months . Regular LimeWire user do n’t have access to tech support , relying rather on message boards and forums .
Now let ’s wait at some troubleshooting tips for common problem with LimeWire .
LimeWire Tips
The most common problem with LimeWire is a failure to associate to the Gnutella connection . Here are a few different way to figure out whether or not you ’re connected to the internet :
Connectivity problems can be make by several ingredient , which you should go over in the following order :
For those who only require to download non - copyright material , you have the option we mentioned before of filtering any content already on LimeWire ’s list of copyright files . Another legal backsheesh is to only search for files with an capable license . When you seek for audio , for example , there ’s an option to show songs carry the freely distributed Creative Commons or Weedshare license .
Another common ill is that filing cabinet download too slow . LimeWire ’s answer is that a file ca n’t download any faster than the maximal bandwidth of either the uploader or the downloader . If you have broadband , but the person you ’re downloading from has dial - up , the Indian file ’s going to download at telephone dial - up speed . Also , if you ’re downloading more than one Indian file at a meter , or the horde computing machine is upload more than one file at a time , that ’s going to put a strain on bandwidth as well .
The best bakshis for speeding up downloads is to only prefer files from high - bandwidth hosts and preferably more than one host . One of the characteristic of p2p mesh like Gnutella is that they can download pieces of the same file from many dissimilar hosts at once and reassemble the whole file on the downloader ’s computer . download a song from eight gamy - bandwidth hosts should take less than 30 seconds .
If that does n’t help , you could always upgrade to LimeWire Pro , which promises faster download charge per unit , or try out one of the many third - party applications that claim to do the same .
OK , now let ’s explore whether or not LimeWire is really legal .
Is LimeWire Legal?
LimeWire , the software program coating , is completely sound . What many people do with LimeWire – namely downloading and hand out copyright cloth – is n’t effectual .
LimeWire ’s defense is that its software is a tool . Like any other tool , its consumption is pendant on the users . The same hammer that help build a business firm can be used to break up the back window and pluck it . The soul who sell the malleus ca n’t be held responsible for for how it ’s used . Right ?
In August 2006 , several large record companies process LimeWire for encouraging Internet piracy . They ’re ask for $ 150,000 for each song pass around without permission of the right of first publication holder [ seed : Cnet ] . A workweek earlier , the makers ofKazaa , another democratic Indian file - sharing practical program , get back with the euphony industry for $ 115 million and set up special filter on its software to draw a blank copyright material . As of this authorship , the case against LimeWire is still pending .
Even if LimeWire is found not guilty , its users are still vulnerable . Since September 2003 , the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) has initiated lawsuits against more than 20,000 individuals for say illegal file - sharing [ generator : Electronic Frontier Foundation ] .
The accused individual have a letter from the RIAA ’s attorney with a settlement offer to avoid going to court . The mortal are identify by their IP computer address . If the individual refuse to yield the settlement – typically between $ 3,000 and $ 11,000 – the RIAA threaten to sue them by name for a tumid amount [ source : Electronic Frontier Foundation ] .
Even with the RIAA ’s sound assault on package companies and individuals , the number of active cosmopolitan single file - partaker continues to grow . And if LimeWire gets close down tomorrow , there are already dozens of other programs balance to take its position .
Now permit ’s take up another important question : is LimeWire safe ?
Is LimeWire Safe?
The Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) has release aconsumer alertciting safety issue affiliate with p2p file - communion . Here are the FTC ’s two main concerns when using file - share software system like LimeWire :
LimeWire react to these concerns by civilise users on how to protect themselves and their children from accidentally sharing or download the wrong file .
Now allow ’s take a flying face at the futurity of LimeWire .
The Future of LimeWire
Lime Wire LLC , the New York - establish parent caller of LimeWire , is search to capitalize on the success of the single file - sharing program and expand the reach of the LimeWire brand .
Next up is LimeSpot , a newonline social internet , now in beta version . LimeSpot , like other online communities , will allow user to produce a personal profile page , host blogs , write wikis and make " friends " with other LimeSpot exploiter .
Plans for the on-line depot , which is n’t yet operational , include buying songs immediately from LimeWire hunting results , plus a standalone LimeWire Store Web site . LimeWire currently has licensing mickle with two independent medicine distributor , IRIS Distribution and Nettwerk Productions .
lay down a legal on-line store could be a means to stay live if LimeWire lose its right of first publication infringement causa with the RIAA [ source : Cnet ] . For now , LimeWire still come along to be concentrating on ameliorate its p2p service and provide more feature likeBitTorrentsupport .
We desire this HowStuffWorks article help oneself you understand more about how LimeWire software program works and the arguing around p2p file - sharing . For more information on filing cabinet - communion , Gnutella and related to topic , see some of the data link on the next Sir Frederick Handley Page .
