Limewire alternative

Posted by ppatio (153 days ago)

So far I have been using Limewire to download music from the internet. For some reason (?) my PC does not connect to Limewire anymore.

Now I would like to use another program to get songs for free from the internet. Any suggestions ?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

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Tags livewire

Posted by axptguy38 (153 days ago)

After the obligatory "piracy is illegal" comment, I would suggest using bittorrent. It's not a client in the Limewire sense but a way to construct ad-hoc peer-to-peer networks. Bittorrent is by a very wide margin the most used file sharing mechanism today.

There are several bittorrent clients. The current favorite seems to be utorrent. Google it.

Once installed, use google again to find torrent sites. These have links to "trackers". A tracker is a mechanism that makes sure users are connected. You search for what you want, then click on the relevant tracker link. This loads the tracker into the torrent client and starts the download process.

As soon as a few pieces of the torrent have been completed, the client starts sharing these to other users on the same tracker. That's how bittorrent can achieve blazing speeds if there are many seeds (clients that are done downloading and are only uploading) and peers (clients that are still downloading) on a tracker. Conversely a tracker with few peers and seeds will give bad speeds.

You will likely find new and popular releases have good trackers, while obscure ones do not.

A final note is that torrents can easily swamp your connection. Use the built in bandwidth limits in your client to keep upload and download speeds from killing the connection.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ppatio (153 days ago)

Yes, helloooo !! That sounds extremely complicated compared to Limewire.

Does anyone know something more easy to use ?

And, no, I have no moral issues with downloading music. I have spent money on buying vinyl, compact discs and CD's over the years, and I am not going to spend anymore. Paul McCartney is sitting on 500 million + pounds, so I am sure he does not mind.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (153 days ago)

Complicated? Maybe. It just works on a different principle. My friend's wife, not a very computer savvy person, had no problem starting with torrents.

The Limewire/Kazaa type clients are dying out because they are big huge targets for recording industry lawyers. For now, torrents are pretty much the only game in town.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ppatio (152 days ago)

I am going to give it a try this weekend. Considering that I got 800 (of the best classic) songs on Limewire already, and that I am not interested in all that 'modern' pop music, maybe I just stick with what I have. Madonna can stick her 'Hard Candy'......

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Wupper (151 days ago)

wasn't a guy convicted in Hong Kong and put in prison for three months about two years ago for uploading a few movies using bittorrent? Make sure that the Hong Kong police can't track you.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (151 days ago)

Wupper does raise a good point. As I pointed out piracy is illegal. Authorities can ask for IP records. The Bit Torrent mechanism means that you are sharing the already downloaded parts while downloading the rest.

Bit Torrent in itself is not illegal. In fact the mechanism is used by many company for legitimate file distribution purposes. However sharing pirated content is illegal.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by 4G (151 days ago)

I have a mac which has no problem at all You can use apple

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (151 days ago)

"I have a mac which has no problem at all You can use apple"

Huh? What does a mac have to do with anything at this point?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by m_gz (146 days ago)

Thanks a brilliant explanation axptguy38. Much appreciated. Thanks for taking the time.

(I am based in Guangzhou)

Posted by axptguy38 (145 days ago)

No problem m_gz. ;)

(I am based in Hong Kong)