Users of the BitTorrent file-sharing protocol* on Mac OS X might be interested to know Xtorrent 1.1 is out. It boasts improved stability and increased download speed, among other features. I tested it out last night and I’m really impressed, so much so that I’ve already bought a license. It downloads faster than either Bits on Wheels or Azureus in my anecdotal test, and doesn’t eat up my system resources the way those two clients always did (after running either overnight I usually had to restart my computer before it was usable again).
The interface is simple and easy to understand, and the settings are plentiful and easy to adjust. It’s not really missing any features I feel like I need, though I’ve yet to figure out how to check the percentage done on a specific file (though it does show when a file has been completed). That might just be me being an idiot though, so I’m not going to count it as a negative. even if it’s not a supported feature, no big deal. It’s more of a convenience than anything else. Without a doubt, it’s the easiest to use, most Mac-like BT client I’ve used.
And what can probably be said to be its killer feature is the built in torrent search functionality. Out of the box it simultaneously searches Google and Yahoo, though it’s possible to easily add more engines easily. Results are presented in an application window, and all it takes to download one is a double-click. The .torrent file itself is downloaded in the background and the information is loaded into the program automatically. The .torrent file itself is deleted as it is no longer needed.
It also supports torrentcasting, which is a way of using bittorrent to automatically download files embedded in RSS streams.
*This protocol has plenty of legal uses. I’m not advocating piracy. Please don’t sue me. Thank you.
I should note that by blogging about this software release, I will be allowed to participate in the NewsFire 2 private beta. So in essence, I’m participating in a benign (in my view) viral marketing venture. I am not making any money off this arrangement. I would still mention Xtorrent even if I wasn’t, though, because the software is that awesome.
[tags]macintosh, mac, software, bittorrent, bit torrent, torrentcast, torrentcasting, xtorrent, mac os x, os x, azureus, bits on wheels, newsfire, rss, really simple syndication[/tags]