LimeWire

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1 Overview of LimeWire
2 Features
3 Negative Aspects
4 LimeWire Free?
5 LimeWire Headed to $0.00
6 References

Overview of LimeWire

LimeWire is a free peer-to-peer file sharing (P2P) client for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and other operating systems supported by the Java software platform [1]. Users must download the software off the LimeWire website. Once downloading and installation is complete users are free to search and download music and movies. All of this can be done without having to pay a single penny. LimeWire uses the Gnutella network and also the BitTorrent protocol[2]. It also uses Digital Audio Access Protocol (DAAP), which offers the sharing of its library[3].

Features

LimeWire was the first file sharing program to support firewall-to-firewall file transfers[4]. There are three versions of LimeWire available to download. Users can either download the free version, which is just LimeWire Basic; LimeWire Pro, which is available for $21.95 per 6 months; or LimeWire Extended Pro, which is available for $34.95 per year[5]. Features shared by all three versions include fastest P2P downloads on the planet; share with friends; international versions; no spyware, adware or bundled software; download from multiple hosts; enhanced security features; and Windows, Mac and Linux compatible[6].

LimeWire claims that the Pro versions provide faster downloads and 66% better search results[7]. They also have added bonuses like Free tech support and software updates. The company is constantly upgrading their software in order to improve these aspects. The newest versions now include BitTorrent support, however, uploads and downloads are limited[8]. The main feature that keeps LimeWire so popular is that users can get most of these bonuses with just the Basic version, which is FREE.

Negative Aspects

In the older versions of LimeWire, prior to 5.0, users could unintentionally share documents or applications, allowing the software access to personal documents and information[9]. Luckily, the newer versions prevent users from accidentally making these mistakes. Since LimeWire is a file-sharing network, inexperienced users can run into problems such as identity theft and lawsuits. Users are able to download music for free, transfer it to their iTunes, and then transfer it to iPods, iPhones, and even CD's, which can then be redistributed. This action is illegal, which is why some users can run into heavy lawsuits from the creators of the media documents. On top of this, an investigation of 123 randomly selected downloaded documents showed that 37, approximately 30%, contained malware and viruses[10]. Although new versions are improving these downfalls, it is still a problem for users.

LimeWire Free?

Although so many users take advantage of LimeWire's Basic version because of the fact that it is free, the question to be asked is, "is it in fact actually free?" In the article "The Long Tail," the author Chris Anderson states, " Intuitively, consumers know that free music is not really free: Aside from any legal risks, it's a time-consuming hassle to build a collection that way. Labeling is inconsistent, quality varies, and an estimated 30 percent of tracks are defective in one way or another."[11] Here Anderson is talking about Kazaa and other peer-to-peer networks, such as LimeWire. This statement holds true for games and movies, which can also be downloaded from this network. So in the end it truely isn't free, and as Steve Jobs puts it, when you are using these networks, "you're working for under minimum wage"[12].

LimeWire Headed to $0.00

In his article, "Free! Why $0.00 is the Future of Business," Chris Anderson talks about how so many things in the business world are becoming free, or so cheap they should be considered free. Anderson states, "As much as we complain about how expensive things are getting, we're surrounded by forces that are making them cheaper."[13] All of this is happening without most people even noticing. LimeWire used to be something you had to pay for, at least the Basic version that is available for free today, cost money to download a few years ago. The only thing that continues to cost money is the updated Pro versions of the software. However, as those upgrade, so does the basic version, which is still free. So, as time goes on, users are able to recieve more and more of the benefits of this network for cheaper or even free.