This
file-sharing program lets you trade MP3 files,
as well as other types of video and picture files,
with people over a decentralized network. WinMX
lets you track and resume broken transfers and
shut down your computer after it has downloaded
your chosen files. And perhaps most refreshing,
the program proclaims that it comes with "no
bundled spyware, no ads, no B.S."
Unlike rival programs like Kazaa and Morpheus,
you can configure WinMX's Share settings to limit
the number of files you're willing to share with
other users. Sound selfish? It is, and fair minded
people will want to use it with restraint. At
the same time, if lots of people are constantly
accessing your PC, it can cause your Internet
connection to become downright sluggish.
WinMX offers a variety of decentralized chat rooms
where you can talk to other music fans. Download
Winmx
Decline of WinMX
One of the major problems that led to the declining
popularity of WinMX was the increase presence
of "dummy" files, reportedly placed
by individuals and/or companies opposed to file
sharing. In many cases, one could see a desired
file, but could not download it since most of
the listed selections were inaccessible. As a
result, it took additional effort to find the
available downloads from within the list, although
with practice, this was easily done.
During March 2005, The NPD Group found that WinMX
was used in more US households than any other
P2P client or legal music downloading service
[1], although this claim is disputed.
On September 13, 2005, Frontcode Technologies
received a cease and desist letter from the RIAA
asking them to implement filters to make it impossible
for users to download copyrighted material from
WinMX, or shut down. Under the threat of litigation,
on September 21, 2005 the network and the WinMX
homepage were confirmed offline.
It is suggested for WinMX users to either apply
a patch which would connect them to a user-driven
WinMX network, or move on to a decentralized file
sharing network such as Gnutella or the eDonkey
network.
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