FrostWire

FrostWire

FrostWire 6 on Snow Leopard.
Developer(s) The FrostWire Project
Initial release September 2004 (2004-09)
Stable release 6.3.6 (September 8, 2016 (2016-09-08)) [±]
Preview release None [±]
Written in Java
Operating system Windows, OS X, Android, Linux
Platform Cross-platform
Size 23.0 MB
Available in Multi-language
Type Peer-to-peer file sharing
License GNU General Public License, Adware
Website frostwire.com

FrostWire is a free, open source BitTorrent client first released in September 2004, as a fork of LimeWire. It was initially very similar to LimeWire in appearance and functionality, but over time developers added more features, including support for the BitTorrent protocol. In version 5, support for the Gnutella network was dropped entirely, and FrostWire became a BitTorrent only client.[1]

History

FrostWire, a BitTorrent client (formerly a Gnutella client), is a collaborative effort from hundreds of Open Source and freelance developers from around the world. In late 2005, concerned developers of LimeWire's open source community announced the start of a new project fork "FrostWire" that would protect the developmental source code of the LimeWire client. The developers of FrostWire give high regard and respect to the GNU General Public License and consider it to be the ideal foundation of a creative and free enterprise market. FrostWire has evolved to replace LimeWire's BitTorrent core for that of Vuze, the Azureus BitTorrent Engine, and ultimately to remove the LimeWire's Gnutella core to become a 100% BitTorrent client that is simple to use.

Gnutella client

The project was started in September 2004 after LimeWire's distributor considered adding "blocking" code in response to RIAA pressure.[2] The RIAA threatened legal action against several peer-to-peer developers including LimeWire[2] as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in MGM Studios, Inc. v. Grokster, Ltd..[3]

The second beta release of FrostWire was available in the last quarter of 2005.[4][5]

Multiprotocol P2P client

Since version 4.20.x, FrostWire was able to handle torrent files and featured a new junk filter. Also, in version 4.21.x support was added for most Android devices.

BitTorrent client

Since version 5.0 (2011), FrostWire relaunched itself as a BitTorrent application, so those using the Gnutella network either have to use version 4, or switch to another client altogether.[6]

Preview before download

Since version 6.0, FrostWire adds preview files before download.

Ask.com Toolbar Adware

Since around 2008 some members of the FrostWire community began to notice the distribution of the optional Ask.com toolbar in the Windows installers.[7] On September 9, 2015 the official knowledge base claimed that FrostWire no longer distributes the Ask.com toolbar, and provided instructions on how to remove it.[8]

FrostWire 4 Legacy

Software based in the original FrostWire source (gnutella enabled) still exists, for example WireShare, a gnutella client that forked from the original FrostWire/LimeWire source in 2010, with the purpose of keeping the Gnutella network alive and to maintain a continuation of the original project (without adware, spyware and backdoors).[9][10]

FrostWire for Android

FrostWire Plus for Android is a native Android BitTorrent Client+YouTube downloader. It allows you to find & download any file from the distributed peer-to-peer BitTorrent Network – music, movies, apps, ebooks, images. . In addition, FrostWire is also a cloud downloader – fetching results and downloading files from two main cloud based sources – YouTube and SoundCloud. FrostWire also includes a featured Music Library & Music Player. Currently version is 1.7.9.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Share Big Files. Official Website 100% Free Download". FrostWire.com. 2011-09-01. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  2. 1 2 Thomas Mennecke (September 30, 2005). "FrostWire Prepares for Gnutella's Future". Slyck.com. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  3. ↑ Mark Hefflinger (September 22, 2005). "File-Sharing Firms May Be Heeding Cease-and-Desist Letters". Digital Media Wire, Inc. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  4. ↑ Thomas Mennecke (October 12, 2005). "FrostWire Beta Released". Slyck.com. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  5. ↑ John Newton (October 14, 2005). "FrostWire Beta Online". MP3 Newswire. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  6. ↑ "FrostWire 'Kills' Gnutella to Go All BitTorrent". TorrentFreak. June 27, 2011. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  7. ↑ http://forum.frostwire.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4834
  8. ↑ http://support.frostwire.com/hc/en-us/articles/200057329-How-do-I-uninstall-the-Ask-Toolbar-
  9. ↑ bigjx1. "WireShare". SourceForge.
  10. ↑ "WireShare (formerly entitled LimeWire Pirate Edition)". gnutellaforums.com.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to FrostWire.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/2/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.