BearShare
Version: 6.2
Downloads Count: 1,193,914
License Type: Trial
Date Added: Sep 1, 2008
Operating Systems: Windows XP
Requirements: no requirements
File Size: 8689 KB
- BearShare 1,193,914
- LimeWire Basic 997,350
- WinMX 803,604
- Morpheus 292,058
- IMesh 182,020
Editor's Review of BearShare
This file-sharing program falls somewhere between the legal Wild West of LimeWire or BitTorrent and the strictly for-pay, totally legal iTunes Music Store. If you want to preview a song before you buy it (or if you plan never to buy it), BearShare may hit the spot. It's also a good option if you don't want your kids downloading music illegally.
The program itself is friendly, well-designed, and colorful. BearShare doesn't show the progress of a download, though, unless you expressly bring up the download window. Some downloads (for example, a Tori Amos video) took a very, very long time. This is probably because the Gnutella network, the peer-to-peer network BearShare uses, connects to other people's computers across the Internet, not to a central, fast server.
The program functions as a 30-day trial for BearShare's Premium service, which gives you access to Premium content. Premium content is generally licensed and higher quality, and is likely hosted on BearShare's servers. At the end of the 30-day trial, a 30-day subscription renewal costs $1, and $8 per month after that. You can play the songs and videos you download as long as your subscription is current, so eventually, you must pay. You may burn downloads to a CD once through the software.
Notes: PC World respects copy-protected material and does not condone the use of file-sharing software for illegal purposes. The end-user license discusses the dos and don'ts of file sharing. Also, the program adds an optional Internet Explorer toolbar and it may periodically "remind" you to subscribe to BearShare's Premium service when you click on Premium content.
--Jennifer Berger
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