BitTorrent
BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer file sharing protocol. Said to account for nearly 35% of all traffic on the entire internet, BitTorrent is among the most popular protocols for transferring large amounts of data. Designed by Bram Cohen in April 2001 and first implemented on July 2, 2001, the protocol is now maintained by BitTorrent, Inc.
The originator of a complete file acts as the first "seed". When you download the information, you also upload the data to other peers known as "leeches". This exchange of files between seeds and leeches can be accomplished even when the user acting as a seed does not have the complete file. In this way, as soon as a leech has some portion of the data, he or she can act as a seed simultaneously. A server called a "tracker" keeps a record of who is downloading what files, and which portions they have, so the software employed by seeders and leechers can know where to send and receive data.
The protocol is used by many companies and individuals to transfer all sorts of files, and much of its use is uncontroversial, however the protocol is famously used to distribute copyrighted works such as films, video games, and music for free. As such, it's at the center of many of the debates and trials regarding copyright law and infringement.
Technology news All News
-
11/17/09 3:50pm Computing The Pirate Bay BitTorrent tracker taken offline indefinitely, replaced with newer tech
The Pirate Bay founders are talking to other tracker admins to convince the community to switch to the DHT and PEX protocols. dig deeper
Around the web: TorrentFreak
, Techmeme
, GigaOM
, arstechnica.com
, Mashable! (3 comments)
, downloadsquad.com (9 comments)
, neowin.net
, theregister.co.uk 
Profile pages: BitTorrent, The Pirate Bay, piracy, web browser
-
11/13/09 7:04pm Computing Microsoft Office 2010 beta leaked to BitTorrent trackers
Microsoft's response to the news was restrained. The official beta release comes next week. dig deeper
Around the web: news.cnet.com (2 comments)
, techmeme.com
, BetaNews.Com (1 comment)
, computerworld.com (2 comments)
, cravingtech.com (11 comments)
, Neowin.net / Main
, downloadsquad.com (2 comments)
, news.softpedia.com 
Profile pages: Microsoft, BitTorrent, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office 2010, piracy, Beta
-
10/02/09 6:36pm Computing Time suggests a "Hulu for magazines," Google search dropped The Pirate Bay then reinstated it, Facebook now available in Latin
Magazine publishers are considering getting on board with Time, Inc.'s idea for a "Hulu for magazines" — a website that… dig deeper
Around the web: mediamemo.allthingsd.com
, Techmeme (9 comments)
, TorrentFreak (24 comments)
, Techmeme (9 comments)
, blog.facebook.com
, Techmeme (9 comments) 
Profile pages: Search engine, Amazon Kindle, Amazon Kindle 2, Facebook, Time Inc., Amazon Kindle DX, Google, Google, piracy, BitTorrent, Facebook, The Pirate Bay, Hulu
-
08/26/09 6:00pm Computing, Gaming, Mobile Apple may intro new iPods at September 9 event, PlayOn for Wii beta costs $39.99, Mininova ordered to remove links to illegal torrents
Sources told AppleInsider that the upcoming September 9th Apple event will bring with it a new iPod lineup. Apple hasn't made any… dig deeper
Around the web: AppleInsider (53 comments)
, Techmeme (9 comments)
, gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com (1 comment)
, torrentfreak.com (146 comments)
, techmeme.com 
Profile pages: Apple, Apple iPod touch, Apple iPod classic, Apple iPod nano, Apple iPod shuffle 2005, PlayOn Digital Media Server, piracy, Nintendo, Streaming video, BitTorrent, Mediamall
-
08/24/09 6:31pm Mobile, Computing Rhapsody for iPhone announced, The Pirate Bay taken down by authorities, Windows 7 Family Pack and upgrades confirmed for Europe
Real announced today that it submitted an iPhone app version of its pay-to-stream music service (and significant iTunes… dig deeper
Around the web: Daring Fireball
, Techmeme (9 comments)
, TorrentFreak (178 comments)
, Techmeme
, The Windows Blog (16 comments)
, techmeme.com 
Profile pages: Apple iPhone, Apple iPhone 3G, Apple, Apple iTunes, BitTorrent, Rhapsody, Microsoft Windows 7, The Pirate Bay, Apple iPhone 3GS, Microsoft, piracy, Operating system
-
07/30/09 7:00pm Computing, Gaming, Mobile iPhone-hijacking SMS vulnerability discovered, Nintendo Wii demand in decline, The Pirate Bay ordered to leave the Netherlands
Researchers revealed at the Black Hat security conference this week that an iPhone can be hijacked with special sequences of text… dig deeper
Around the web: news.cnet.com (21 comments)
, techmeme.com
, latimesblogs.latimes.com
, techmeme.com (9 comments)
, TorrentFreak (5 comments)
, techmeme.com 
Profile pages: Apple iPhone, Apple iPhone 3G, Nintendo, Nintendo Wii, SMS (Short Message Service), The Pirate Bay, Apple iPhone 3GS, Apple, piracy, BitTorrent, ISP
-
06/29/09 3:02pm Computing Column The Video Bay would threaten Hulu and YouTube if it had a chance of actually working
The new video-sharing site from the guys behind The Pirate Bay could be much more threatening to the TV and movie industries than BitTorrent, but is it really legally or technically feasible? dig deeper
Around the web: pcworld.com
, bbc.co.uk (4 comments)
, mirror.co.uk
, TechCrunch (7 comments)
, appscout.com
, Gizmodo (3 comments) 
Profile pages: YouTube, Streaming video, The Pirate Bay, Hulu, piracy, The Video Bay, Google, BitTorrent, YouTube, P2P, Hulu, HTML, web browser, Kilobyte
-
06/10/09 11:32am Mobile iPhone OS 3.0 torrent caught in the wild
Install at your own risk, but reports indicate the file works just fine. dig deeper
Around the web: Mobilewhack.com
, Gizmodo (3 comments)
, Pocket-lint.co.uk 
Profile pages: Apple, iPhone OS 3.1.2, Apple iPhone, Operating system, piracy, P2P, BitTorrent
-
05/04/09 2:50pm Computing, Home A/V Soderbergh's The Girlfriend Experience premieres on Amazon before theatrical release
It'll cost you the same price as a movie ticket, but you can watch the film now, well ahead of the Los Angeles and New York public opening nights. dig deeper
Around the web: Gizmodo
, amazon.com 
Profile pages: Video on demand, Amazon, Amazon, Streaming video, DVD, BitTorrent
-
04/29/09 11:05am Computing, Home A/V feature Mega list of music download and streaming alternatives to major MP3 retailers
A list of great places to discover new music legally, for free and on the cheap. dig deeper
Profile pages: Apple, Rhapsody, Facebook, MySpace, Apple GarageBand '09, last.fm, Pandora, SeeqPod, imeem, midomi, blip.fm, Napster, MP3, Amazon, RealNetworks, Lossless, Recommender engine, Creative Commons, Open source, P2P, BitTorrent, RIAA
-
04/23/09 12:26pm Computing The Pirate Google Bay custom search finds torrents, protests file-sharing verdict
Nothing more than a custom Google search, the new site begs the question: are search engines as liable as The Pirate Bay? dig deeper
Around the web: Gizmodo
, CrunchGear (410 comments)
, p2pnet.net (2 comments)
, textually.org 
Profile pages: Google, P2P, The Pirate Bay, RIAA, Search engine, BitTorrent
-
04/17/09 10:15am Computing Pirate Bay prosecution brings guilty verdict
Popular torrent site The Pirate Bay's four founders found guilty and sentenced with a one year jail sentence they are expected to appeal; however, the ruling included no order to shut down the site. dig deeper
Around the web: Mashable! (4 comments)
, BBC NEWS | dot.life blog (2 comments)
, Techmeme
, PhysOrg
, Ars Technica
, Kotaku
, paidContent.org 
Profile pages: BitTorrent, RIAA, The Pirate Bay
Sony PS3 Slim image gallery