LimeWire
 | |
| File:LimewireWindowsXP.png The LimeWire interface shown in Windows XP. | |
| Developer(s) | Lime Wire LLC |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 4.13.0
/ 30 October 2006 |
| Operating system | Cross-platform |
| Type | File sharing |
| License | GNU General Public License |
| Website | http://www.limewire.org/ http://www.limewire.com/ |
LimeWire is a peer-to-peer file sharing client for the Gnutella network. It is free software released under the GNU General Public License. LimeWire was the first file sharing program to support firewall-to-firewall file transfers, a feature introduced in version 4.2, which was released in November 2004.
Features
Written in the Java programming language, LimeWire runs on any computer with a Java Virtual Machine installed. To facilitate installation for casual users, installation packages are available for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and in the RPM format for Linux. Support for Mac OS 9 and previous versions has been dropped with LimeWire 4.0.10. The Windows version of the LimeWire installer includes a version of Sun Microsystems' Java installer which will download and install version 1.5 of the Java Runtime Environment if it detects the machine does not have a recent version of Java installed.
LimeWire uses the SHA-1 and tiger tree hash cryptographic hash functions to ensure that downloaded data is uncompromised. Although researchers have identified possible vulnerabilities in the SHA-1 algorithm, because LimeWire does not rely on SHA-1 alone, these vulnerabilities do not have many adverse implications for LimeWire's verification of downloaded files.
If a user has iTunes on their computer, LimeWire can user ines to play downloaded music instead of LimeWire's built-in music player.
Versions
Lime Wire LLC, the developer of LimeWire, distributes two versions of the program; a basic, free version, which some consider illegal, and an enhanced version (LimeWire PRO) sold for a fee of US$18.88, or available to download from LimeWire itself, which as the developers claim offers faster downloads. This is accomplished by facilitating direct connection with up to 4 hosts of an identical searched file at any one time, whereas the free version is limited to a maximum of 2 hosts.[1] Prior to April 2004, the free version of LimeWire was distributed with a bundled program called LimeShop (a variant of TopMoxie), which was considered by computer security experts to be spyware. Among other things, LimeShop monitored online purchases in order to redirect sales commissions to Lime Wire LLC. Uninstallation of LimeWire would not remove LimeShop. With the removal of all bundled software in LimeWire 3.9.4 (released on April 20 2004), these objections were addressed.[2]
Being open source, LimeWire has spawned several free forks, including LionShare, an experimental software development project at Penn State University, and Acquisition, a Mac OS X–based Gnutella client with a proprietary interface. Researchers at Cornell University developed a reputation management add-in called Credence that allows users to distinguish between "genuine" and "suspect" files before downloading them. An October 12, 2005, report[3] states that some of LimeWire's open source contributors have forked the project and called it FrostWire. The FrostWire developers emphasize that they will never place any sharing-related restrictions on the client.[citation needed]
The latest version of LimeWire is 4.12.6. The latest beta version is 4.13.0, incorporating a rewrite of Limewire's handling of metadata and including BitTorrent support.
Legal issues
According to a June 28, 2005, report in The New York Times, Lime Wire LLC was considering ceasing distribution LimeWire due to the outcome of MGM v. Grokster.[4] On September 25 2005, it was reported that Lime Wire LLC was working on a version of the program which will refuse to share files that lack valid license information[5]. Neither of these events occurred, and as of December 2006, it is still possible to download LimeWire and share copyrighted files.
On June 21 2006 LimeWire 4.12.3 was released, including a new option to filter out files marked with a copyright flag.[citation needed]
On August 4 2006, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) sued LimeWire, alleging that it was profiting from unauthorized downloads.[6]
On May 12 2006, the BBC reported that "Limewire" and "Lime wire" were among search terms likely to return links to malware from an Internet search engine.[7]
A song by parody artist "Weird Al" Yankovic called "Don't Download This Song" mentions LimeWire in addition to other file sharing references. The song was made available for free download on August 21 2006.
On September 25 2006 LimeWire countersued the RIAA for antitrust Violations.[8]
References
- Felten, Edward W (2004). "SHA1 Break Rumored". Freedom To Tinker Discussion Forum. Retrieved 2005-07-08.
- "Advanced Peer-Based Technology Business Models" (PDF). MIT Sloan School of Management. 2002.
{{cite web}}:|first=missing|last=(help); Text "Ghosemajumder" ignored (help) - Silverthorne, Sean (2004). "Music Downloads: Pirates- or Customers?". Harvard Business School Working Knowledge.
- ^ http://www.limewire.com/english/content/download.shtml
- ^ http://www.limewire.com/english/content/features_history.shtml
- ^ "FrostWire Beta Released", from Slyck.com
- ^ Tom Zeller. June 28, 2005. "Trying to Tame an Unruly Technology". New York Times. Section C, Column 2, Pg. 1.
- ^ http://www.slyck.com/news.php?story=927
- ^ http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2006/08/copy-of-complaint-in-arista-v-lime.html
- ^ BBC News: Warning on search engine safety
- ^ http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2006/09/lime-wire-sues-riaa-for-antitrust.html
