FrostWire

FrostWire

FrostWire 5.0.7 on Snow Leopard.
Developer(s) The FrostWire Project
Initial release September 2004
Stable release 6.0.6 (February 18, 2015) [±]
Preview release None [±]
Written in Java
Platform Cross-platform
Size 21 MB
Available in Multi-language
Type Peer-to-peer file sharing
License GNU General Public License
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 BitTorrent support. In version 5, Gnutella support was dropped entirely, and FrostWire is only a BitTorrent client.[1] Development of the program has been active since the program was first released in September 2004.

History

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 they added support for most Android devices.

BitTorrent Client

Since version 5.0, 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]


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 good faith continuation of the original project (without adware, spyware and backdoors).[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Share Big Files. Official Website 100% Free Download". FrostWire.com. 2011-09-01. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 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. ↑ bigjx1. "WireShare". SourceForge.
  8. ↑ "WireShare (formerly entitled LimeWire Pirate Edition)". gnutellaforums.com.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to FrostWire.