Acquisition

Shareware; $24

Current Version: 2.0 Build 209 (May 15, 2008)

Acquisition is a rare thing - a truly attractive Gnutella file sharing client for Mac OS X. It is reputedly better than LimeWire at returning comprehensive results for a search.

Version 2.0 Build 209 adds/changes the following:

• Interface improvements
• Connectivity improvements

Acquisition is shareware; registration eliminates "nag" messages, speed limits, and feature limitations, but the software otherwise operates very well in "free" mode.

Azureus (Vuze)

Donationware

Current Version: 2.5.0.4 (January 26, 2007) / 4.0.0.2 ("Vuze") (October 27, 2008)

Azureus is a Java application that implements the BitTorrent protocol. It comes bundled with many features for both beginners and advanced users:

• Multiple torrent downloads
• Upload and download speed limiting, both globally and per torrent
• Advanced seeding rules
• Adjustable disk cache
• Only uses one port for all the torrents
• UPnP sets the forward on your router
• Can use a proxy, for both tracker and peer communications
• Fast resume
• Can set a default download dir and move completed files
• Can import torrents automatically from a set dir
• Highly customizable interface
• IRC plugin included for quick help
• Embedded tracker: host your own torrents, automate your shares (periodic scanning of a directory)
• Distributed hash table: host on it a completely decentralised torrent and/or benefit from it when the tracker is offline

Azureus may be extended using a plugin architecture.

Version 2.5.0.4 - the latest standard version of the Azureus BitTorrent application - adds/changes the following:

• 2.5.0.4 is a maintenance release to fix up a few minor, but relatively annoying problems with 2.5.0.2.

Versions 3 and later - also known as "Vuze" - was significantly redesigned and enhanced for use with the new Vuze service, and adds/changes the following from version 2.5:

• Includes all 2.5 features
• High-resolution content platform
• Browse, share, search, discover content
• Rich streamlined interface

(The Azureus Wiki explains the differences more fully.)

Vuze version 4.0.0.2 adds the following new features:

• UIvz | Added column to detail the linkage between content and associated subscription, where present
• Core | Async request processing for non-blocking tracker
• Core | Support HTTP redirects between http/https protocols in resource downloader
• Core | Add content to UPnP authentication dialogs
• Core | Support PList mods for app registration on OSX
• Core | Added http auth helper to support authenticated search templates/subscriptions
• Core | Fix built in RSS feed parser to handle Atom feeds
• Core | RSS based search templates
• Core | Light weight seeds to allow seeding of simple content such as subscriptions
• Core | Subscriptions
• Core | Added a 'prefer UDP connections' option
• Core | Config options for max queued outgoing connections
• Core | Support dht:// URL protocol
• Core | Advanced options for specifying TCP select timeouts
• UI | Added "Column Setup" icon to the iconbar
• UI | New console command - "plugin". Displays plugin information and can toggle startup status
• UI | Console command "show" can now filter to list only torrents which are transferring
• UIvz | SideBar (F7 to Hide/Show)
• UIvz | New ToolBar with hideable text
• UIvz | Library now has Large and Small view modes. Small view mode is classic My Torrents
• Plug | Added option to remove originators IP address from stored values
• Core | Added Auto Starting rule to seed large swarms first; useful when many overseeded torrents are in the queue or the upload capacity is far above average
• UIv3 | Friend Chat (double click on friend icon to chat)
• UIv3 | Ability to share content from your computer by dragging it to a Friend
• UI | Protocol overhead is now shown in the speed graph
• UI | Downloads can now be moved and renamed while running - torrent will be auto-paused
• UI | New "rename" action which renames torrent file, save file and displayed name at same time
• UI | Plugin log views now support autoscrolling, pausing and regex filtering
• UI | Plugin menu items which in the right-click menu now appear in the "Torrent" menu also
• UIv3 | Experimental option to use Mozilla/Firefox as browser widget on any platform (XulRunner or Firefox 3 must be installed)
• Plug | Added support for plugins to easily use an external configuration file for settings
• Plug | Plugins can now have full control over on-complete and on-removal file moving
• Plug | Added resource downloader to provide way to download files from Sourceforge
• Plug | Added API methods to generically pop up the message box to a user
• Plug | Added API methods to listen to download-complete events
• Plug | Added various convenience methods for using log views and config models
• Plug | Added API to allow native UI objects to be added to config views
• Plug | Added some more methods for plugins to control some transport mechanisms
• Plug | Added ability to add menus to status entry objects
• Plug | Plugins can now open files using default application handlers

Version 4 also makes a number of other changes and bugfixes that are described in the online release notes.

BitTorrent

Open source; $0

Current Version: 4.27.2 (December 1, 2006)

BitTorrent is a unique distributed file sharing system (written in the Python scripting language built into Mac OS X and other UNIX-based operating systems) that follows a slightly different paradigm than many other file sharing systems. Normally, when a file is made available using HTTP, all upload cost is placed on the hosting machine. With BitTorrent, when multiple people are downloading the same file at the same time, they upload pieces of the file to each other. This redistributes the cost of upload to downloaders, (where it is often not even metered), thus making hosting a file with a potentially unlimited number of downloaders affordable.

Version 4.27.2 - the latest available Mac OS X version with a graphical interface wrapper - makes the following changes:

• Universal Binary support.

The online documentation has more details.

Carracho

Current Version: Client: 1.0b10r4 (August 3, 2004) / Server: 1.0b13 (September 24, 2004) / Tracker: 1.1.1 / Tracker X: 1.0

Carracho is very similar to the commercial Hotline series of products - an Internet/intranet, client/server system for chatting, electronic conferencing, and file transferral - all in one app. Once connected to a Carracho server, you can chat, send messages, and transfer files with other users. The latest versions are "Carbonized" to run natively in OS 9 and OS X.

Release notes are available online.

EasyShare

Shareware; $20

Current Version: 1.2

EasyShare is an elegant little application that allows you to share the contents of your Mac's clipboard or files with others on a local network, intranet, or the Internet. Operation is a smooth and simple as it should be; the interface is nearly self-explanatory. EasyShare is shareware, and site licenses are available. Version 1.2 adds native Mac OS X (Carbon) support.

FrostWire

Open source; $0

Current Version: 4.17.1 (November 12, 2008)

FrostWire is an open source, Java-based Gnutella client, created in 2005 by "concerned" developers of LimeWire's open source community. Its goal was to "protect the developmental source code of the LimeWire client and any improvements to the Gnutella protocol design." Features include:

• Free and open source
• BitTorrent support
• No spyware or adware
• Connects to more sources
• Creative Commons license support
• Maximum speed network connections
• Junk result filters
• Community chat rooms
• iTunes integration
• Firewall-to-firewall transfers
• Proxy support

Version 4.17.1 adds/changes the following:

• Half sized installers
• It will attempt to add the default Library folder of 4.13.5 so users won't feel like they lost their old library
• FrostWire now can be auto-started when Windows starts. This setting is available from the 'Option' menu ('Windows boot') and from the initial setup.
• File Association issues fixed. FrostWire will open automatically on Windows and MacOSX upon clicking on .torrents (files and links), and magnet links.
• Fixes compatibility issues with iTunes 8
• Heavy work on all translations. Translation files now work with launchpad.net for more open collaboration of worldwide translator volunteers
• Default Community Chat chatroom auto join update (in your own language) makes chatting friendlier to non-english speaking users. Users that speak the following languages will auto join to rooms of their own language: Dutch, Portuguese, French, German, Spanish, Turkish, Norwegian, Danish, Italian, Swedish, Polish, Czech, Filipino, Japanese, Finnish and Hungarian. No more unexplained kicks to international users!
• Updated "FrostWire" font logo on the Logo Pane
• Icons updated
• Volume toolbar graphic replaced
• Fixed playback Issue when continuous playback was selected
• Valid Chatroom links will now open on the user's default browser

iSwipe

Donationware

Current Version: 1.7.11 (February 4, 2008)

iSwipe is a novel concept: this (free!) program searches the Web, WWW, FTP, Hotline, Napster, OpenNapster, Gnutella, Carracho, OpenFT, iTunes, eDonkey and FastTrack (Kazaa, Grokster), BitTorrent, Ares and Seeqpod networks for files simultaneously. It includes a download manager that allows retries and resumable downloads, as well as an "AutoSearch" feature that maintains a list of files that you want to search for repeatedly. The software's interface, while simple, is a little clunky, but it generally works well and is best geared toward use when your demands for searching these networks are not as great as the demands typically placed on specialized (Hotline, FTP, Napster, etc.) file search applications.

Version 1.7.11 adds/changes the following:

• Support for the Seeqpod network.

Unfortunately, access to FastTrack, eDonkey and OpenFT through giFT and MLDonkey are only available for OS X users, and that's not likely to change in the near future.

Donations in excess of $10 will gain you a registration number, which is valid for all HMS software. It also entitles you access to e-mail support.

KDX

Current Version: 1.600 Client (October 4, 2004) / 1.600 Server (October 4, 2004) / 1.110 Tracker

KDX is similar to Hotline in that it is a complete client/server system that allows you to chat, send messages, and share files with other users. That said, this unique system from Haxial is not a Hotline clone; it is an all-new system that uses its own proprietaray protocol and has several features that Hotline currently lacks. It also features a slick interface, and integrates the formerly-separate NetFone product. Some highlights include:

• Encryption for chat, news, and file transfers.
• One copy of the program can connect to multiple servers; there is no need to duplicate the program and run multiple copies.
• Remote administration (server settings are configured using the client, allowing you to administer your server from afar).
• Cross-platform Mac OS and Windows support

Version 1.600 (Client & Server) added/changed the following (complete release notes also available):

• New access privilege "Can See All Volumes". Turn this on for your account and then refresh the base of your files, and it will change to a list of the volumes on the server computer, and you can navigate inside them, giving you access to all files.
• You can also Get Info on a volume using the context menu.
• Added a "1 Up Q For All, 1 Down Q Per Server" file transfer queuing option in the client that is good for people with large download bandwidth, but capped/low upload bandwidth.
• The preview text in the Font Chooser window now displays samples for a number of languages, not only English. You can also type into it.
• In future, warnings about the client and server versions being different will only be displayed if there is sufficient difference. Minor upgrades with no compatibility issues will not cause a warning.
• Fixed a couple of bugs when changing the admin login via the local settings window in the server.
• Fixed top secret feature for Jin.
• Mac: As per Apple's convention, added .app to the names of the program files. The differing file name will cause remote server upgrade to fail this one time, sorry. Don't forget to upgrade KDXUpgradeHelper to the new version as well.
• Mac: Does not always display the correct icon for volumes, despite 8+ hours trying to solve this single problem, due to pathetic Mac APIs.
• Mac: Fixed a memory leak noticeable when cataloging (thanks Searcher!).
• MS Windows: Fixed bug which sometimes caused an endless stream of errors when disconnected from a server.
• Unix: Fixed bug with deleting files.
• Unix: Remote server upgrade now preserves the unix RWXS/UGO access permissions on the server program file. This is important if you use SUID.
• Mac Unix: Fixed problem with unicode file names with diacritical marks.
• Mac Unix: Hide ".DS_Store" (annoying little files that the Mac Finder creates everywhere).
• Mac Unix: Empty Trash now empties the real Mac Trash instead of ~/.Trash, thanks to special mac-specific code.
• Mac Unix: Moving a file to the trash (deleting) now uses the real Mac Trash instead of ~/.Trash.
• Mac Unix: Fixed bug with times in Process Monitor.
• Mac Unix: Support Mac file/folder comments (more special mac-specific code).
• Mac Unix: Fixed bug with Shutdown Computer command, but still requires root access.
• Mac Unix: Launch Program command now launches the file exactly the same as if you had double-clicked it (uses the MacOS "open" shell command).
• Mac Unix: Renamed program file to correct file name extension (was ".app" should have been ".command"). Consequently, you can now simply double-click the program file and it will open in a terminal window.
• Mac Unix: Added support for View/Control Display.

Version 1.110 (Tracker) adds/changes the following (complete release notes also available):

• Updated for Unicode and KDX 1.2.
• Minor bug fixes.

LimeWire

Freeware/Shareware

Current Version: 4.18.8 (September 22, 2008)

LimeWire is a Java-based Gnutella client that is available in an easy-to-use (but, at over 4 MB for "Classic" Mac OS, rather large) installer. LimeWire claims to be the first Gnutella client to totally block website and web browser access, allowing access only to those who are sharing files on the network (preventing "lurkers" from hogging resources without giving something back).

While no information is available regarding version 4.18.8, the most recent major release for Mac OS X (presumably, it is a bugfix release), version 4.18.6 brought a small number of enhancements that are detailed in the release Wiki.

While LimeWire is free, there is also a "Pro" version available which which has no ads, no bundled software, and 1 year of free updates for $34.95.

MacFreenet

Current Version: 0.3.9.2 ("alpha 8") / 0.5.2rc2

MacFreenet is a Mac implementation of the The Freenet Project's client/server software (version 0.3.9.2 for "Classic" Mac OS and ). Freenet is "a distributed decentralised information storage and retrieval system. It is designed to allow the free distribution of information on the Internet without fear of censorship. To achieve this it provides anonymity to those placing information into Freenet, and those accessing information from Freenet. It is also totally decentralized, nobody is in control of Freenet, not even its creators. This makes is virtually impossible to force the removal of a piece of information from the system. Further, Freenet provides many efficiencies over more conventional means of information distribution such as the World Wide Web through its dynamic caching and mirroring of content." Freenet is a Java-based system, so the "Classic" version of this software requires a copy of Macintosh Runtime for Java, which is available from the Orchard's Helper apps page, if you don't already have it. Much more information about Freenet in general is available at the Freenet web site.

Miro

Open source; $0

Current Version: 1.2.4 (June 10, 2008)

Miro is a fantastic new free, cross-platform media player, BitTorrent client, and media organizer based upon VLC Media Player, but with a refined user interface and many, many more features, including the following:

• Miro can play MPEG, Quicktime, AVI, H.264, Divx, Windows Media, Flash Video, and almost every other major video format.
• Set your Miro preferences to either play videos one after another (in the order they appear) or to play a video then stop.
• Keyboard shortcuts for all the key playback commands makes it easy to configure a remote control.
• Bring together your favorite videos into a playlist. You can drag them one by one or select a few and right-click to add to a playlist or odd create a new playlist that they will be added to.
• Miro will create a thumbnail for any video that doesn't have one.
• Group your channels by topic by creating folders. Do the same for playlists.
• Videos can come in from lots of places -- a web browser, email, a p2p application, or Miro. Miro can watch any folder on your computer and include those videos in your collection. So when you save something to your desktop, for instance, it will show up in Miro without needing to be added manually.
• Miro can move your video collection to any location on your system, such as an external hard drive.
• When you install Miro, you can search you computer to find all your video files and list them in your Miro Library.
• Miro can download individual BitTorrent files and torrents that are in feeds. When a video torrent is downloaded it will be in your channel and library ready to watch, just like any other video download.
• A menu item lets you paste in individual video URLs to start downloads.
• After you watch a video on a channel, it will stick around for a few days and then delete itself. You can choose to keep it permanently if you like and you can set the channel to save every video permanently.
• Simple tell Miro to reserve a certain amount of space on your hard drive and it will stop downloading new videos when it reaches that limit.
• Easily pause and resume any individual download, all downloads in one channel, or all Miro downloads.
• Video RSS feeds provide a simple system that any publisher can use to distribute their content. Viewers can bring feeds from anywhere together into one place.
• Set any channel to download new videos as soon as they are published. You can also tell channels to stop downloading new stuff if unwatched videos are piling up.
• Miro works beautifully on all three major operating systems. We make this effort because a new model for internet television has to be accessible to everyone.
• Miro is free, open-source software (licensed under the GPL). Anyone is free to change the source code, contribute bug fixes and features, and make new versions.
• Miro can search and download from the biggest video sites including YouTube, Yahoo!, Google Video, Blip, and more.
• Save any search to get new videos as they are published.
• Save any search within a video feed as its own channel.

Version 1.2.4 adds/changes the following:

• Miro logs os.system and os.machine on startup--this will help make it easier to know more about a user's system from the log.

Miro requires Mac OS X 10.3 or later and QuickTime 7, although some video formats require 10.4 or later.

Panorama

Current Version: 1.1.1

Panorama (formerly Master Hotline Socket, or MHS) is a relatively new (2001), well-regarded, feature-filled clone client for the Hotline system. Some of Panorama's most intriguing features include:

• 1.5+ news support, allowing you to read and post news at 1.2.3 and 1.5+ servers.
• File Previewing.
• You can fully customize the colors and fonts in chats, news, and messages.
• AppleScript support.
• Multiple tracker support.
• Customizable chat window.
• Iconlist support. Just name your icon set "MHS Icons" and put it in the same folder as MHS.
• TIDE Protocol extensions. Send files directly to your friends, bypassing the server totally.
• You can ignore people in chat. Control-click the hand icon to see a list of people you've ignored.

The version 1.1 series - "Carbonized" to work under OS X - makes a huge number of changes that are fully detailed in the release notes included with the download.

Poisoned

Donationware

Current Version: 0.5191 (August 8, 2006)

The Poisoned Project's "Poisoned" is a beautiful, flexible and powerful file sharing application for Mac OS X. Unlike applications like LimeWire or Kazaa that connect to only one file sharing network, Poisoned can connect to several seamlessly. Unlike Kazaa and several other file sharing applications, Poisoned contains no spyware and no adware. In addition, Poisoned, is free and open-source software.

Poisoned connects to the FastTrack network (Kazaa, Grokster, iMesh), the Gnutella network (Limewire, Acquisition), and OpenFT. This is all made possible by something called the giFT daemon (http://gift.sf.net), the same people behind the OpenFT network. The different networks supported in Poinsoned are actually plugins for giFT. Right now, network plugins being developed for two high-profile networks: OpenNapster and eDonkey. This means that in a little while, Poisoned will support 5 networks within one application, all with a low strain on your system. Poisoned supports multiple source download, so your files will download quick and painlessly. Poisoned integrates with iTunes beautifully, automatically importing into iTunes and deleting the original file if iTunes manages your music library.

Version 0.5191 adds/changes the following:

• Update To Gnutella
• Update to Fasttrack
• Update to Ares
• Fixed the update system for updateing nodes lists.
• Cleaned up several network issues.
• Fixed some of the options.
• Updates to nibs and everything releated to Ares.
• Improved some of the connection related code
• You should see much better responce from Poisoned now.

ShareWay IP Gateway

Commercial; $39

Current Version: 3.0 (October 25, 1999)

Open Door Networks produces the ShareWay IP Gateway software that lets any AppleShare-compatible server provide Macintosh file service using Internet protocols.

ShareWay IP is standard Macintosh file sharing, but using TCP/IP rather than AppleTalk. ShareWay IP runs with Mac OS 7, 8 or 9's built-in File Sharing to enable Macintosh file sharing over your home network, intranet or the Internet. ShareWay IP is the only way to have Personal File Sharing on a pre-X system share files with Tiger (Mac OS X 10.4), since Tiger cannot access AppleShare files shared over AppleTalk. (Apple included a limited version of ShareWay IP with Mac OS 9. When you check the "File Sharing over TCP/IP" checkbox under Mac OS 9, you are running a basic version of ShareWay IP.) If you are running Mac OS 9, the "full" version includes additional security features and bug fixes.

Transmission

Open source; Donationware

Current Version: 1.40 (November 10, 2008)

From the Transmission web site: "Transmission has been built from the ground up to be a lightweight, yet powerful BitTorrent client. Its simple, intuitive interface is designed to integrate tightly with whatever computing environment you choose to use. Transmission strikes a balance between providing useful functionality without feature bloat. Furthermore, it is free for anyone to use or modify.

"Transmission runs natively on over five operating systems. Seamless configuration of your network, intelligent banning of peers who send corrupted data, and built in Peer Exchange are some of the features which enable Transmission to download your files as quickly as possible. All this is done in the background, without the user having to worry about complicated settings.

"Transmission is fully open source, with most code licensed under the liberal MIT License and with select code licensed under the GNU General Public License."

Version 1.40 adds/changes the following:

• Tracker communication uses fewer resources
• More accurate bandwidth limits
• Reduce disk fragmentation by preallocating files
• Better stability, security, and performance in the Web UI and RPC server
• Support compression when serving Web UI and RPC responses
• Simplify the RPC whitelist
• Fix bug that prevented handshakes with encrypted BitComet peers
• Fix 1.3x bug that could re-download some data unnecessarily
• Lazy bitfields
• Option to automatically update the blocklist weekly
• In the file inspector tab, show progress and size for folders
• Scrollbars correctly appear when the main window auto-resizes
• Sparkle updated to 1.5b6
• The Web Client is now out of beta
• Minor display fixes
• On iPhone/iPod touch, launching from the home screen hides the address bar
• Added the ability to get detailed peer information on torrents
• Fix bug that didn't handle --config-dir and TRANSMISSION_HOME correctly
• Windows portability

XNap

Open source; $0

Current Version: 2.5r3 (July 28, 2004)

XNap is a pure Java OpenNap file sharing client licensed under the GNU Public License that works particularly well. XNap was formerly known as JNapster then forked as XNapster but is now actively maintained again and one of the most efficient OpenNap clients available. It provides a modern "Swing"-based user interface (and also supports the Mac OS X "Aqua" look and feel) and console support that runs nicely on every platform with a recent JRE or JDK (1.3 or higher), such as Mac OS X. Features include:

• plugin architecture
• supported protocols: OpenNap, giFT, gnutella (cvs only)
• multiple concurrent searches
• fine grained result filter
• resumable auto downloads
• bandwidth throttle support
• socks and http proxy support
• integrated file preview (pluggable) and mp3 player support
• integrated command line

Version 2.5r3 comes with updated server list providers, because napigator.com (the site XNap used to fetch servers from), has been down for some time.