Limewire Pro

From LoveToKnow Music

Limewire Pro is a fee based variant of the hugely popular free Limewire peer to peer (P2P) file sharing network. Through Limewire software, users can swap music and movie files online, and because of Limewire’s popularity, the service offers the widest variety of shared files on the internet.

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The Legal Stuff

Before we launch into a discussion of Limewire Pro, we need to talk about the legal questions behind file swapping. Limewire software in and of itself is 100% legal. The legal questions arise when that software is used to trade copyrighted material. Many other P2P networks, like Napster, have been forced by the recording industry to close down or to change their format so that they sell copyrighted material instead of trading it for free. Many private users of P2P networks have also become the targets of lawsuits by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). Limewire is currently being used by several major record labels for providing a vehicle for trading copyrighted material. The case is due to be heard sometime in 2007. For more about the lawsuit, click here.

In a nutshell, downloading copyrighted material and trading copyrighted material without permission is illegal. It is also extremely common. If you choose to download copyrighted material, be sure you are aware of the risks involved. To read more about legal music downloading, click here.

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Why Limewire Pro?

The basic Limewire program is extremely popular for a few reasons. First, it is very easy to use, even for those new to file sharing. It’s interface is more user friendly, and just plain nice to look at that, than other P2P networks like Kazaa and Soulseek. The popularity of Limewire is self-reinforcing. Because it has so many users, it has tons and tons of files available for downloading. Because it has so many files available, it attracts new users, who bring more files. Limewire is compatible with nearly every operating system out there, and was the first network to allow firewall to firewall file transfers. Last but not least, users love the price. Downloading the software is completely free.

So, why would anyone choose to shell out the cash for Limewire Pro? Well, because membership has its privileges. Limewire Pro offers users a faster downloading experience than the basic version of Limewire. The Pro version comes with 24 hour, free customer service and technical support. Unlike the basic version, there are no po-up ads, and the downloads comes completely free of adware or bundled spyware (the basic version of Limeware, comes with LimeShop, a Top Moxie related program, which is deemed to be spyware by computer security experts. Even when you remove the basic Limewire program from your computer, Limeshop remains in your system). Limewire Pro contains a spam blocker to help weed out junk search results.

Limewire Pro has still more benefits. It comes with special skins available only to Pro users. The search function connects users to more sources to get better and faster results. Users can connect directly to another person’s computer, provided they know the IP address. Limewire Pro comes with its own media player and is offers full iTunes integration. Users can even publish their own files under Creative Commons licensing. All of these benefits come for the price $19. Limewire Pro membership last for as long as you use Limewire.

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Frostwire

Limewire software is open source, and so it has many variations. Frostwire is a fork of Limewire created by some of Limewire’s original creators. Frostwire is a beta network which the developers claim offers the same downloading speed of Limewire Pro. Frostwire is free to download.

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