uTorrent Becomes Ad-Supported to Rake in Millions

[krumm]

All utorrents after 1.8.5 are crap anyway...


To tell the truth the only reason I still use 1.8.5 is because one of the 2.0 versions caused me problems and 1.8.5 is the newest one before 2.0 that is white listed here.  I kept utorrent updated until then, but its not worth the effort to change versions or programs when what I have works fine.

[zherok]

Maybe the upcoming changes will convince me otherwise, but I really don't get all the hate for current versions of uTorrent. I know my client looks about the same as much older versions did, and it's still a pretty lightweight client otherwise.

[BaronVonBull]

I've personally don't have a problem with 3.1.3. Then again I'm really not that much of a nitpicker either. Also that little "ad" really isn't all that bothersome really. It's actually pretty damn easy to ignore, and if you have to option to shut it off, i really don't see the problem. Let alone the fact that it's a free software, to supply you with free content, really have no reason to  legitimately complain about it.

However if the "ads" do become bothersome then I'll think about switching, but for now, no worries.

[Slysoft]

http://www.oldapps.com/utorrent.php?old_utorrent=38

[datora]

.

All utorrents after 1.8.5 are crap anyway...

I use 2.0.4.  It's virtually identical and has given me no issues while remaining compatible with every tracker I use.  I was up to the 2.2.* series briefly, but it was definitely using more resources on an old P4 1.8 GHz CPU w/ 333MHz bus.  Dropped back to 2.0.4 and recovered ~20%-25% of CPU use plus 100 MB memory ... so, haven't looked back.


Really love http://www.oldapps.com/ ... have recovered a number of critical utilities from there.  Essential toolbox for hacking around old hardware & operating systems. 

[Tatsujin]

I've generally not been too unhappy with the way utorrent's developed so far, and I certainly don't agree with all those people who insist it's turned completely crap and only use 1.8 or whatever, so normally I'm happy to keep upgrading to the latest version. I think, however, I'm going to stop and just stick with what I'm currently using (3.1.3) now, because I can't be doing with this. Ads I can accept to an extent, but as soon as they start impacting on the user experience - and adding 'sponsored torrents' to your torrent list definitely does that - it's too much for me.

So yeah, I for one am not impressed.

I'm using version 3.0, I stopped upgrading it after seeing all the crap they're adding to uTorrent. I don't need the extra junk they're adding. I just need a simple, light and fast torrent client.

I'm still considering to revert back to version 2.0 or 2.2.

[Saras]

Weren't magnet links only fixed/fully implemented in 3.2? How the fuck do you use magnet links on 1.x/2.x?

[Bob2004]

No, Magnet support has been in since 1.8. The only really big, useful feature that's been added since is the Micro Transport Protocol, or uTP, which not only meant that peers can be connected to via UDP, but is more efficient and is designed to minimise network congestion (in particular, if you're doing other online stuff on the same PC as utorrent, such as streaming a video, utorrent can in theory adjust itself to make sure it doesn't interfere with that application, and make sure it has enough bandwidth).

I think that was added in 2.2 or thereabouts, so I can understand the argument that there's no point in upgrading beyond that because there isn't really any benefit to doing so (though personally I think the bugfixes and efficiency improvements are worth it). Those who insist on staying on 1.8.x are deliberately shooting themselves in the foot for no good reason, though.

[undetz]

I've personally don't have a problem with 3.1.3. Then again I'm really not that much of a nitpicker either. Also that little "ad" really isn't all that bothersome really. It's actually pretty damn easy to ignore, and if you have to option to shut it off, i really don't see the problem. Let alone the fact that it's a free software, to supply you with free content, really have no reason to  legitimately complain about it.

Just because you don't have to pay for it with your money doesn't mean it's free.

[BaronVonBull]

I've personally don't have a problem with 3.1.3. Then again I'm really not that much of a nitpicker either. Also that little "ad" really isn't all that bothersome really. It's actually pretty damn easy to ignore, and if you have to option to shut it off, i really don't see the problem. Let alone the fact that it's a free software, to supply you with free content, really have no reason to  legitimately complain about it.

Just because you don't have to pay for it with your money doesn't mean it's free.

Considering you don't really have to work in order to obtain the program, no trade, nothing but point and click, and the only real stipulation is "Oh, you just have to deal with an insignificant advert that for the most part blends with the interface, oh, and you get to turn it off"...I'd consider that free. It's not like they're literally twisting your arm and forcing your to use their program or upgrade either. Especially since you can freely go and switch to something else, since this being the internet, a resource of just about unlimited capacity and everything you need at your disposal, and plenty of people offering to try something else instead, should you be dissatisfied with it.  A lot of you sound like spoiled kids who just got a free toy and start crying and pitching tantrums because it wasn't the exact model you wanted or didn't come with the special "super duper internet person thingy" action figure with karate chop action. Even though you got it free. Now if it started manifesting itself to something like Tetsuo from Akira, then I can see it becoming a problem a problem. However if it's that much of an issue, use something else. That simple. Plenty of torrent programs out there that people use instead of utorrent and would recommend, some light and basic, some not.  So yes, it's free, most of you are just nit picking.  You act as if they're taking your right to choose. -.-'.

[Xycolian2332]

This goes against the purpose of piracy.
I'm switching to another client.

http://torrentfreak.com/utorrent-becomes-ad-supported-to-rake-in-millions-120810/

You act like uTorrents sole purpose was/is piracy. If it was, they would've been gone long ago due to a govt seizure or some BS.

Despite that, I agree that uTorrent is heading in the wrong direction. I'll probably download a previous release as an interim measure while I'm searching for a client that suits my tastes.

[occasional]

You act like uTorrents sole purpose was/is piracy. If it was, they would've been gone long ago due to a govt seizure or some BS.

Well, that's its major purpose, and I think it's unacceptable to profit off of piracy.
Limewire could be used to share all sorts of files, not just pirated songs and movies, and yet it was taken down. There's really no logic behind government seizures and takedowns, just money.

Despite that, I agree that uTorrent is heading in the wrong direction. I'll probably download a previous release as an interim measure while I'm searching for a client that suits my tastes.

I think you should take a look at Deluge and qBitorrent.

[datora]

.
Yep, magnet links are fully supported in 2.0.* and up.  I use them regularly these days.  Fun fact: once utorrent gets the magnet, you can copy the *.torrent file out of the utorrent directory to anywhere else and archive it for possible future use.

Micro Transport Protocol, or uTP, [bandwidth management]

I think that was added in 2.2 or thereabouts,

It's in 2.0.4, and I recall it being in 2.0.2, so safe to say implemented in 2.* which was probably the reason for utorrent v2.

However, I disable it.  I find that it chokes my upload by about 10%-12% under most circumstances, which really adds up on a seedbox running 24/7.  I'm on a 15 Mb download/5 Mb upload connection, so if there is any impact on my general internet download speeds, disabled uTP has negligible impact if any at all.  On my download activities, I haven't noticed any impact.  I'd much rather have fully saturated torrent upload 24/7 ... so, some folks might want to experiment with that & see what trade off they experience one way or another and decide whether or not uTP is even useful in their circumstances.


My complaints with 3 and up are that I hate the garbage they added to it the interface, and I hate how they've crippled the torrent management pane.  They added a bunch of features I don't use and never will, yet removed several critical features important to managing my torrents.  A small ad space doesn't really bother me so long as it has absolutely zero performance impact on my system, unless they are also data harvesting ... in which case they've stepped over the line into privacy invasion.

[xShadow]

I'm still using 1.8.5.

[Slysoft]

A better question is, why upgrade to 3.0?

[Xycolian2332]

I just downgraded to 2.2.1 but I'm sad that I can't add more than one label to each torrent now.

Oh well It's better than having adverts

[Bob2004]

Ads will now be opt-in only! So that problem is solved. Additionally, they're removing the apps feature altogether (because lets face it, who's ever actually used it?), are apparently re-examining all the features they've added to see if any can be removed again without negatively impacting functionality (to slim it down), and are also considering releasing a special lightweight, cut-down version of Utorrent in the future. "Something like 1.6, 2.0 or similar", apparently.

They may come up with silly ideas like ads, but at least they listen to feedback. I'm very satisfied with this news indeed.

[Freedom Kira]

Considering that BitTorrent owns two clients that are currently basically the same, I think it'd be a good idea for them to fork uTorrent away from BitTorrent and make it exclusively the lightweight torrent it used to be known as, instead of having two basically identical clients.

uTorrent has really gone downhill since BitTorrent took it over. It's high time they fixed that. And while I'm happy with the announcement that they may fork a leaner version, I really think there's no need to because they already have two clients.

[Hadouken]

A better question is, why upgrade to 3.0?

New = better

[Xycolian2332]

New = better

That's pretty faulty logic imo.