Exeem arrives

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

P2P News and information

Check this site out: http://www.slyck.com/index.php Lots of good news and guides on there.

Sharelive and Torrentlinks

Heres a site with links to other Torrentsites: http://www.torrentlinks.net Just found this site too for Torrents. Looks ...er... interesting. http://www.sharelive.com/

Suprnova Mirror Site

Ned Kelly has found a link to a Suprnova Mirror site "bi-torrent.com" that is still up and running. Its all very basic text only stuff - but it has all the main categories there - but the "Recent Torrents" part has stopped at 19/12/04. Check it here I am on the lookout for some sort of website or application that shows recent torrents that have been announced to various trackers. If you know of one, then post a comment below! Oh. and happy xmas.

The New Nova?

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

SuprNova Alternatives

Well. It appears that the world has ended. For Bittorrent as we know it at least. Suprnova.org has been closed - until further notice due to pressure from the MIAA (Music Industry and Artists of America). There are other Bittorrent sites being closed down too - it looks like its gonna get serious. People around the web are suggesting that Suprnova.org will probably re-launch at some point - but in what guise they do not know. I have just found a forum post that mentions other Torrent sites which do not require registration to get to: BeatKing Music Forums -> SuprNova Alternatives So, for now - you will have to use these alternatives.

WAREZ, Another P2P Program

warez pronounced "weirz". A term used by software pirates use to describe a cracked game or application that is made available to the Internet. This is a pretty common term across the internet to describe any matter of illiegal material, programs, films, porn and MP3s. So what would you expect to find when visiting http://www.warez.com? A site full of porno popups and links to never ending "we are the best warez site - vote for us here" type pages? Suprisingly not. What you will find is a link to a smart new P2P program called "Warez" that looks and operates very similar to Kazaa and is apparently growing in popularity at a great rate. I did a quick test this morning (before setting off late to work again) and i was pleasantly suprised to find that it is quite quick to download stuff from! I managed to get a fistful (or should that be sackfull) of Christmas MP3s for our up-coming xmas drinks party within 10 mins or so. After each download has finished a small window pops up a-la MSN Messenger notifications to say that the file has been "delivered" to you. A nice touch - which i have not seen before. I hope i can turn the option off though as it may get a little annoying. There was only 1 million users connected at the time which you may think is not too bad - but i have seen Kazaa reporting over 7 million users connected when it was at its pinnacle. And as the Warez client can be downloaded from the mighty www.download.com i expect that more people will jump on board. I found the file searches fast which are only marred by the fact that there are not too many people connected at present which means not many results. I will still have a use for Kazaa/Soulseek/Bittorrent when an obscure track is needed but Warez looks like a promising start! Let me know if you try it and what your thoughts are.

Soulseek - another P2P program

I have just started using a new music download service called Soulseek. It is similar to kazaalite but the real benefit is that it allows you to right click on a file and download the "containing folder" - which means that you get the whole album - instead of 1 track. You can also right click and browse the persons files where you can download whole folders and therefore get the whole album. You sometimes have to enter a queue to get your files, but if you find someone who is sending the files to you at a fast rate, you can browse them and get some more. The system is also built around a form of chatrooms which allows you to go and ask if people have certain things to share. I spent a few minutes in the Jazz chatroom as i was going to download a Jazz Christmas album but i wanted to find out what it was like first. And the people there were very helpful! The first morning i used it i got about 3 really rare albums that i have never seen on Kazaalite or Bittorrent. The actual program is alot more basic than Kazaalite and takes some getting used to - but is worth it. If you fancy giving it a go, check their site here - the program is all spyware and adware free. Also check out their "Soulseek guide for the dummies" page

Slacker Manager

Slacker Manager Ahhh... a man after my own heart.. Also, Check out his Slacker Manifesto here.

Video Conversion

VideoHelp.com This is an excellent website regarding Video file ripping/conversion/recording etc. It has lots of tutorials and guides.

Links for NedKelly

Virtualdub: http://virtualdub.sourceforge.net/ TMPGEnc: TMPGEnc Net

QWIX Tutorial for SilverFox

QWIX MAIN Here is a guide on how to use Qwix to copy ISOs from your PC to the Xbox.

Taoski calling Silverfox... come in Silverfox

Silverfox, Thought you might find these 3 pages interesting. Its about converting DIVx to DVD! Part1: http://www.ircspy.com/guides.asp?mode=display&id=569 Part2: http://www.ircspy.com/guides.asp?mode=display&id=570 Part3: http://www.ircspy.com/guides.asp?mode=display&id=571 Also, a message for my friend with the numpty jobs from the Midlands... here is a guide (from the same website) that tells you how to make VCDs from DIVx files: Page1: http://www.ircspy.com/guides.asp?mode=display&id=510 Acually - the website they come from has all sorts of HowTo articles: http://www.ircspy.com/guides.asp Enjoy!

XP Service Pack 2 and Bittorrent

This is something i saw a while ago regarding a new restriction put in place with XP Service Pack 2. Basically Microsoft have implemented a fix where by the PC is only allowed 10 concurrent outbound connections at the same time. If you are downloading via Bittorrent then only 10 connections at any one time can be made - the others all queue up behind and make the connection when needed. Someone has produced a fix for this but patching a file called TCP.SYS to allow as many connections as you want! I have mine running at 255 but i have read others putting it up to 10000! Since running this i have noticed an increase in my download speed via Bittorrent! Check out the patch here on the creators website. This post is made with no warranties or guarantees. If you screw your machine, don't email me pal!

Firefox is just COOL!

Ahh. Firefox keeps impressing me! I have now downloaded and installed an Extension called "Adblock" which allows you to right click any image and block it from ever being show again! It even works with Flash animations too but puttin a little tab at the top or bottom of the image that you can click to block. Simple, sweet and cool.

First Firefox fault found

Thought i would flag up my first failure of Firefox. When attempting to load a site with "Macromedia Shockwave" content - it attempted to download the plugin, failed, asked for a manual install of the plugin, which i did - but it still refused to show it. Not major really - just annoying - also not so bad as i might get in trouble hanging out at that site anyway! eek!

Firefox

First, a question from a reader: "Firefox? Any good? I've been using Opera recently. Quite good once you get used the orientation. Nice and fast and gives a nice progress / feedback bar when browsing. " Ghone, MK, UK I have pretty much used all the browers on the planet... well... not all - but i have tried opera and a few others. I used to use Firefox when it was called Phoenix ( i think ) and it was [pretty good then but now they have made available a proper "version 1" release it is alot better. I think i am someone who likes to tinker with new software/interfaces/UIs but also tends to go back to the original settings - just cos i am so used to using things that way. Firefox is probably one of those moments - as was StyleXP - but at the moment - Firefox is pretty good! It is skinnable - but i quite like the original setting and it does load the pages quickly. It does appear to give me quite alot of "Page cannot be located" error messages with an OK dialog. If i click OK and then try the link again it loads the page fine. It is probably something to do with the fact i have AOL as my provider - as they have no download limits ;). I guess i can modify the Firefox ini file to get round that. I think i just need to set the timeout a little higher. Firefox also supports extra plug-ins and extensions that augment the interface and usability - although i have not messed with them as yet. The RSS feeds one looks handy - but i am not sure i would ever get to read all the stuff! I will try to stick with it for now - just for a change really. My real quest will be to switch to Linux! Why? Why not... i bet it will only last a month. Maybe i should blog "a Linux Month" as i attempt to convert.... I feel a new blog coming on.

Updated Howto!

Just a quick update to tell you where i am at with my blog at present. Bittorrent: I have been messing around with quite a few other bittorrent clients like Azareus and Shareaza to attempt to get good speeds since i am now on a 1meg link with AOL. I still think that Bittornado is the best though - so stick with that one. Get it from bittornado.com - although at this time of writing - the site appears to be down - or hacked! Kazaalite and other P2P Apps: I have pretty much given up using Kazaa now. The jolly folks over at suprnova have provided me with enough stuff for a lifetime so i only ever pop onto Kazaa to get single tracks. I am also currently using WinMX and also Limewire Pro. I am only using the others as they all provide content from different P2P networks and therefore are a useful resource. Limewire Pro seems to be pretty good and i can get good download speeds from them too. When searching for stuff you are able to see which clients have a faster connection - which is a useful way of getting stuff quicker. You can get the Limewire Pro client from Suprnova. Easynews: I have cancelled my Easynews account. I never hit my 6gb download limit and found that alot of the stuff on there i never wanted. I might go back there one day. Its nice to have a fast connection to something like that if i need to get something in a hurry. AntiVirus: I am now sticking to Symantec AntiVirus Coroprate Edition. I went off McAfee big style after me emails ground to a halt as they went through its scan procedure. Also, the coprporate version of the software comes without all the usual bells and whistles that the retail versions have. This makes for a client that has low memory usage - and also - one that never expires! AdAware/Pop-up Stoppers etc: I still swear by Ad-Aware to clean off spyware/adware and nasties. They have a new version out which can be downloaded for free from their website. Remember to use the Update function on the program each time you scan so you can ensure it is looking for all the latest stuff. I am now running with XP Service Pack 2 so i no longer use the Google Toolbar pop-up stopper in Internet Explorer. The one with XP SP2 does such a good job that it is no longer required. I still have the Google Toolbar running though - as i am used to searching from there. I am also now trying to switch to using Firefox which is an alternative browser (not made by Microsoft!).

"Choice... the problem is choice"

Mr Anderson... the problem you face is choice. The door on your left leads to McAfee antivirus and the destruction of Zion. But the door on the right leads to Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition V9 and the return of the systemic anomaly to the core of the matrix. Left door.... Right door.... Choice...

In the beginning...

Right.... where to begin... Firstly - download kazaalite from my webspace and install it. http://taoski.users.btopenworld.com/klitekpp242e.exe This will allow you to download music and apps etc. But... make sure you have got an up to date anti virus on your PC first! If you have'nt - there is also a full copy of Mcafee antivirus on my webspace too. As for games etc..... the latest greatest place i have found at the moment is http://www.suprnova.org which is a site listing torrent files. What are torrent files i hear you cry? Don't blubber any longer friend.... here is the answer. Bittorrent is a program that downloads the torrent files - the torrent files are the descriptor of the file/files you are getting from the people sharing and downloading. you will need to get the bittorrent software 1st from here: http://www.bittornado.com/ Install it - then go to suprnova - see a game/movie/app/comic/tv show/audiobook you like. http://www.suprnova.org :- The website shows 2 days worth of files available to download. They are split up into various sections - Games, Movies, Music, TV etc. :- The content changes every day but they also keep a database of old .torrents too which you can search by clicking on the search button at the top of the Suprnova screen. :- The numbers next to the entries are to show the number of people sharing a full copy of the file and the number of people currently downloading that file. The people sharing the full copy of the file are known as "seeders" and the people downloading are known as "peers". :- Right Click a link of a file you want to download and save the .torrent file to a handy folder you created earlier (i just save them to my desktop). :- Double click the torrent file you saved (it will default to the bittornado application) and a window will open asking you to choose where you want to save the file to. :- Choose where you want to save it to. I always save the files to the same place and then move them into a relevant location after they have finished downloading. :- If you need to reboot or something happens to your PC and the transfer is cut off - double click the .torrent file again and point it to the same save location and it will carry on where it left off. :- By the way, there is no "program icon" for the Bittornado program - It only kicks in after you load a .torrent file. Note: Do don't choose anything in the listings with a red 0 - or you will be in for a long wait. :- You sometimes get red error messages on the bittornado window about being "unable to connect to tracker". The tracker is a server where the torrent files are "announced" to the world and it keeps the records of who is downloading the file at that time. When you attempt to download a file - it goes to the tracker server first to get the details of who has the file - which are sometimes down or too busy. I just minimise the windows and leave it running. You will get on it eventually. :- When you minimise the bittornado window, it appears in the system tray next to the clock. The icon is grey when it is still downloading or white when it has finished. Just double click it to see it again. :- Sometimes Bittorrent is not the fastest thing on the planet - but all the downloads are regulated and are killed off if they are not what they say they are. There is also a forum on there where u can request stuff and inform people of bad files. :- There are other sites listing torrents too - but most of them are in a forum type format and you need to register. Suprnova is the best. Easynews: :- For fast downloads - I pay for access to a website called http://www.easynews.com where i get 6 gigabytes a month download for about £7. Easynews is a web interface to all the newsgroups. Most normal newsgroup servers only have a file retention of a few days - but easynews has 25 days! :- You could get the stuff from other free newsgroup servers - but i have tried... and it aint easy.... you have to go all over the shop looking for missing file parts and stuff... its rubbish. :- There is loads and loads and loads of stuff on easynews and it goes as fast as my little ADSL legs will carry the data to my PC! 60kb a sec max all the time - and you can also use the download accelerator program with it too for extra stability and speed. Well worth looking into. I get all my XBOX games, music and apps from easynews and my films and TV episodes from suprnova. Other stuff / links you might need: :- http://doa2.host.sk is/was the original link for kazaalite. It was removed by the real Kazaa people but there are a few tools/utils on there that are useful.. especially the Kazaalite Codec Pack needed for watching Dixv films and stuff you have downloaded. :- Install the google toolbar as it comes with a good popup window blocker... essential if you are messing around on some dodgy sites that decend into popup hell. http://astalavista.box.sk - a good place to get cracks/serals for programs. :- BITTORRENT FAQ: http://www.dessent.net/btfaq/ Get a copy of WINRAR - you will need this for unzipping/unrarring files you get from suprnova. Its like winzip - only better. Get it from suprnova/kazaa. :- If you are after a "download app" that will keep the downloads going after a line drop - or a reboot - i use Download Accelerator (or DAP). Do a search on Kazaa under applications for DAP or download accelerator and u will find one with a crack/serial too. Version 5.3 i think... The Real World: In my so called "real world" - as an example - i hardly ever use Kazaa that much anymore. Sites like easynews and suprnova make like alot easier for me as i can look at the list of stuff available and think "oh - i'll get that, and that ... and that" rather than going to kazaa and thinking... what shall i search for. I use Kazaa for getting the odd song here and there - in fact mostly one off songs and stuff for the kids. Suprnova and easynews also have music posted as the entire album ripped by the same person at the same MP3 rate... not just one track at a time - like you used to do with kazaa. You can also find things on Suprnova like. "Pink floyd - entire discography" ripped as MP3 - as 1 file to download. And the beauty of the torrent files is that often you will download a link like that and when the files are created - they are all in their own album folders already and named correctly. Most excellent. Also suprnova lists 2 days worth of new stuff on the homepage - so you can just scroll through and see whats been added in the last few hours. And there are links along the top for other files type you can go back to if need be. The End.... for now: Check back here for more updates soon as things never stand still for long on my PC. Send me a comment too - just to let me know that this has all been worth it! Taoski.