LimeWire is a peer-to-peer file sharing (P2P) client for the Java Platform, which uses the Gnutella network to locate files as well as share files. Released under the GNU General Public License, LimeWire is free software. It also encourages the user to pay a fee, which will then give the user access to LimeWire PRO. Recently Limewire opened its own store. Windows Vista (pronounced ) is a line of operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, Tablet PCs, and media centers. ... For other uses, see Software developer (disambiguation). ... A software release refers to the creation and availability of a new version of a computer software product. ... A software release refers to the creation and availability of a new version of a computer software product. ... A programming language is an artificial language that can be used to control the behavior of a machine, particularly a computer. ... Java is an object-oriented programming language developed initially by James Gosling and colleagues at Sun Microsystems. ... In computing, a platform describes some sort of framework, either in hardware or software, which allows software to run. ... A cross-platform (or platform independent) programming language, software application or hardware device works on more than one system platform (e. ... This article is about the properties of language in general. ... File sharing is the activity of making files available to other users for download over the Internet, but also over smaller networks. ... A software license is a legal agreement which may take the form of a proprietary or gratuitous license as well as a memorandum of contract between a producer and a user of computer software. ... GPL redirects here. ... A website (alternatively, web site or Web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or more web servers, usually accessible via the Internet. ... File sharing is the practice of making files available for other users to download over the Internet and smaller networks. ... The Java platform is the name for a bundle of related programs, or platform, from Sun Microsystems which allow for developing and running programs written in the Java programming language. ... Gnutella (pronounced: with a silent g, or alternatively ) is a file sharing network. ... GPL redirects here. ... Free software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with minimal restrictions only to ensure that further recipients can also do these things. ...

As with all file-sharing programs, using LimeWire to download or upload copyrighted files without permission from the authors is generally illegal, although in practice it is widely used for this purpose^{[citation needed]}. Using it to distribute files with permission from the authors, or files that are out of copyright, is generally legal. For more information, see File sharing and the law. This article looks at file sharing and the law, including controversies, copyright issues, legislative regimes, and notable cases. ...

Features

Written in the Java programming language, LimeWire is able to run on any computer with Java Virtual Machine installed. Installers are provided for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. Support for Mac OS 9 and other previous versions was dropped with the release of LimeWire 4.0.10. From version 4.8 onwards, LimeWire works as a UPnP Internet Gateway Device controller in so far that it can automatically set up packet-forwarding rules with UPnP-capable routers. Java language redirects here. ... A Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is a set of computer software programs and data structures which implements a specific virtual machine model. ... Windows redirects here. ... Mac OS X (pronounced ) is a line of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. ... This article is about operating systems that use the Linux kernel. ... Sherlock 2 for Mac OS 9 with the new metallic appearance Mac OS 9 is the final major release of Apples Classic Mac OS. Introduced on October 23, 1999, Apple positioned it as The Best Internet Operating System Ever, highlighting Sherlock 2s Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple... Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) is a set of computer network protocols promulgated by the UPnP Forum. ...

LimeWire offers the sharing of its library through Digital Audio Access Protocol. As such, when LimeWire is running and configured to allow it, any files shared will be detectable on the local network by DAAP-enabled devices (e.g., iTunes). The Digital Audio Access Protocol (DAAP) is the protocol introduced by Apple in its iTunes software to share media across a local network. ...

Limitations

• LimeWire limits queries to 3 - 30 characters. This prohibits searches for specific files ( although there are ways around this). This limitation also means that the network will return more results than necessary.^[1]
• LimeWire does not forward SHA-1 searches, which find exact copies of files. Magnet links use SHA-1 searches, which can also be used to find more sources for a download.
• Like all Gnutella clients, LimeWire uses SHA-1 and tiger tree hash cryptographic hash functions to ensure that downloaded data is uncompromised. Researchers have identified theoretical weaknesses in the SHA-1 algorithm.^[2] A 'vulnerability' in SHA-1 suggests that it may, at some future time, be possible to crack SHA-1, which would allow files to be spoofed (mis-described) on the network. In practice bogus search results are more problematic. ^[3]

SHA redirects here. ... In computer science, hash trees, also known as Merkle (hash) trees or Tiger tree hashes, are an extension of the simpler concept hash list, which in turn is an extension of the old concept of hashing, for instance, a file. ... In cryptography, a cryptographic hash function is a hash function with certain additional security properties to make it suitable for use as a primitive in various information security applications, such as authentication and message integrity. ... A spoof is a humorous take on an established idea, cultural movement, television program, movie, play, or book. ...

Versions

It has been suggested that Acquisition (software) and Cabos be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

Lime Wire LLC, the New York City based developer of LimeWire, distributes two versions of the program; a basic version for free, and an enhanced version sold for a fee of US$21.95 (1 YEAR $34.95)^{[citation needed]} that offers faster downloads. This is accomplished by facilitating direct connection with up to 10 hosts of an identical searched file at any one time, whereas the free version is limited to a maximum of 8 hosts.^[4] Prior to April 2004, the free version of LimeWire was distributed with a bundled program called LimeShop (a variant of TopMoxie), which was considered by computer security experts to be spyware. Among other things, LimeShop monitored online purchases in order to redirect sales commissions to Lime Wire LLC. Uninstallation of LimeWire would not remove LimeShop. With the removal of all bundled software in LimeWire 3.9.4 (released on April 20, 2004), these objections were addressed.^[5] Image File history File links Mergefrom. ... Acquisition is a Gnutella-based peer-to-peer and BitTorrent client for Mac OS X. It is based on LimeWire and is a shareware product, priced at $18. ... Cabos is a Gnutella file sharing program under the GNU General Public License. ... USD redirects here. ... A large number of toolbars, some added by spyware, overwhelm an Internet Explorer session. ... is the 110th day of the year (111th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Being free software, LimeWire has spawned several forks, including LionShare, an experimental software development project at Penn State University, and Acquisition, a Mac OS X–based Gnutella client with a proprietary interface. Researchers at Cornell University developed a reputation management add-in called Credence that allows users to distinguish between "genuine" and "suspect" files before downloading them. An October 12, 2005 report states that some of LimeWire's free and open source software contributors have forked the project and called it FrostWire.^[6] The makers of the LimeWire software have now installed a security device that can track most viruses in files. Free software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with minimal restrictions only to ensure that further recipients can also do these things. ... In software engineering, a project fork or branch happens when a developer (or a group of them) takes a copy of source code from one software package and starts to independently develop a new package. ... LionShare is a software project facilitate file-sharing among educational institutions around the world. ... The Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (commonly known as Penn State) is a state-related land-grant university in Pennsylvania, with over 80,000 students at 24 campuses throughout the state. ... Acquisition is a Gnutella-based peer-to-peer and BitTorrent client for Mac OS X. It is based on LimeWire and is a shareware product, priced at $18. ... Mac OS X (pronounced ) is a line of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. ... Cornell redirects here. ... Credence is a distributed object reputation management scheme that counteracts content pollution in peer-to-peer filesharing systems. ... is the 285th day of the year (286th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... ... Comparison of LimeWire and FrostWire in Windows Vista FrostWire is an open-source peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing program. ...

LimeWire was the first file sharing program to support firewall-to-firewall file transfers, a feature introduced in version 4.2, which was released in November 2004. LimeWire also now includes BitTorrent support, but is limited to 3 Torrent-uploads and 3 Torrent-downloads, which coexist with ordinary downloads.

Business model

LimeWire LLC generates its revenues from the sale of LimeWire PRO, and items such as t-shirts and caps, which display the LimeWire logo. A LimeWire PRO license costs $13.95, and provides the user with a 6 month license to download updated PRO versions. A 1-year "Extended PRO" license is available for $34.95. While commonly mistaken by many users to be a license to the content accessible via LimeWire on the Gnutella network, in fact, it is only a license to the software. Gnutella (pronounced: with a silent g, or alternatively ) is a file sharing network. ...

The PRO version offers some improvements over the Basic version:

• It offers personalized technical support.
• It provides more search results by connecting to 5 UltraPeers instead of 3 UltraPeers.
• It comes with extra skins, including a special "PRO-only" skin.
• It allows downloads to come simultaneously from 10 peers rather than only 8.

Criticism

LimeWire has experienced several trials of criticism. According to a June 2005 report in The New York Times, Lime Wire LLC was considering ceasing distributing LimeWire due to the outcome of MGM v. Grokster.^[7] The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... Holding Producers of technology who promote the ease of infringing on copyrights can be sued for inducing copyright infringement committed by their users. ...

Gregory Thomas Kopiloff of Seattle was arrested on September 7, 2007 in what the U.S. Justice Department described as its first case against someone accused of using file-sharing computer programs to commit identity theft. According to federal prosecutors, Kopiloff used LimeWire to search other people's computers for inadvertently shared financial information and then using it to obtain credit cards for an online shopping spree. ^[8] is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

See also

• Ares
• FrostWire
• MP3 Rocket

Ares Galaxy is a peer-to-peer file sharing program. ... Comparison of LimeWire and FrostWire in Windows Vista FrostWire is an open-source peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing program. ...

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

LimeWire

• Advanced Peer-Based Technology Business Models. MIT Sloan School of Management (2002).
• Silverthorne, Sean (2004). Music Downloads: Pirates- or Customers?. Harvard Business School Working Knowledge.

Notes

Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Slyck. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• LimeWire Official Website
• LimeWire Official Blogs
• LimeWire linked to Identity Theft
• LimeWire Bears Brunt of Identity Theft Concerns