FrostWire facts for kids
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FrostWire 6 on Mac OS X Snow Leopard
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| Initial release | September 2004 | ||||||||
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| Stable release(s) | |||||||||
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| Preview release(s) [±] | |||||||||
| None | |||||||||
| Written in | Java | ||||||||
| Operating system | Windows, macOS, Linux and Android | ||||||||
| Size | 23.0 MB | ||||||||
| Type | Peer-to-peer file sharing | ||||||||
| License | GPL-3.0-or-later | ||||||||
FrostWire is a computer program that helps you share files online. It's free to use and its code is open for anyone to see and improve. It first came out in September 2004. It started as a spin-off from another program called LimeWire.
At first, FrostWire looked and worked a lot like LimeWire. But over time, the people who made it added new things, like the ability to use something called BitTorrent. BitTorrent is a way to share large files efficiently. Later, in version 5, FrostWire stopped using the older Gnutella network completely. From then on, FrostWire became a program just for BitTorrent file sharing.
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How FrostWire Started
FrostWire is a project made by many people working together. It's open-source, which means its code is available for anyone to use and change under a special license called GPL-3.0-or-later.
In late 2005, some people who worked on LimeWire's open-source community decided to start a new project. They called it "FrostWire." Their goal was to protect the way LimeWire's code was developed. Over time, FrostWire changed how it handled BitTorrent files. It started using a different, more modern system. By August 2014, FrostWire completely stopped using the old LimeWire Gnutella system. It became a program that only uses BitTorrent, powered by a special library called libtorrent.
Early Days: Gnutella Sharing
The FrostWire project began in September 2004. This happened after the company that distributed LimeWire thought about adding special code to block some features. This was because of pressure from groups like the RIAA. The RIAA had threatened legal action against many programs that allowed people to share files.
The second test version of FrostWire was ready in late 2005.
Sharing Many Ways
Around version 4.20.x, FrostWire gained the ability to handle torrent files. It also got a new feature to filter out unwanted files. Later, in version 4.21.x, it became available for most Android phones and tablets.
Focusing on BitTorrent
Since version 5.0, which came out in 2011, FrostWire changed its main focus. It became a program specifically for BitTorrent. This meant that if people wanted to use the older Gnutella network, they had to use an older version of FrostWire (like version 4) or switch to a different program.
See Before You Download
Starting with version 6.0, FrostWire added a cool new feature. It lets you preview files before you download them completely. This means you can check if a video or song is what you want before it takes up space on your computer.
Dealing with Extra Software
Around 2008, some users noticed that the Windows versions of FrostWire sometimes included extra software, like a toolbar from Ask.com. However, by September 9, 2015, FrostWire officially stated that they no longer included the Ask.com toolbar. They also provided instructions on how to remove it if you had it. Later, around 2019, some users reported that FrostWire might have included other unwanted programs. It's always a good idea to be careful when installing any software and to check for extra programs you might not want.
FrostWire for Android Devices
FrostWire for Android, also known as FrostWire Downloader, is a version of the program made specifically for Android phones and tablets. It's a BitTorrent program that also lets you download videos and music from places like YouTube. This app uses the BitTorrent network to help you download music, movies, other apps, and more. It can also download music from cloud services like SoundCloud. Plus, it has its own music library and player built right in!
Cool Features of FrostWire
Here are some of the things FrostWire can do:
- Search Inside the App: You can search directly within FrostWire for files. It looks for results from places like YouTube, SoundCloud, and Archive.org. The results are shown in different tabs based on what kind of file they are (like audio or video). You can also filter the results to find exactly what you're looking for.
- Magnet Links: It supports magnet links, which are a simple way to start BitTorrent downloads.
- IPv6 Support: It works with the newer internet address system called IPv6.
- VPN Protection: (Optional) It can help protect your connection if you're using a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
- Create and Share Torrents: You can make your own torrent files and share them with others.
- Preview Files: You can preview files from cloud sources like YouTube or SoundCloud. For BitTorrent files, you can start watching or listening as soon as enough of the file has downloaded.
- Media Library: It has a library to organize your media files and create playlists.
- Audio Player: It has a built-in player for music.
- Video Player: (On desktop computers) It has a player for videos.
- Lyrics Display: (On desktop computers) If your MP3 music files have lyrics, FrostWire can show them.
- Many Languages: It's available in over 20 different languages.
- Works on Many Devices: You can use it on Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.
- Jlibtorrent: The people who make FrostWire also created a special tool called Jlibtorrent, which helps the program work with the libtorrent library.
- Media Browser: (On Android) It has a way to browse your media files.
More to Explore
- Comparison of BitTorrent clients
- Comparison of Gnutella software
See also
In Spanish: FrostWire para niños
