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What is a torrent file and can it be broken down to smaller files and recorded to CDs/DVDs? Torrents, typically ending in ".torrent", are control files for the peer-to-peer file sharing technology called BitTorrent. It's actually pretty cool technology that really just boils down to another way to download files. So really, you just use .torrent files to download other files. BitTorrent is a distributed file distribution technology. Yes, "distributed distribution". When you download a file using BitTorrent, the file is actually broken up into chunks, that you BitTorrent client program then downloads and reassembled into the final file as the pieces arrive. To over-simplify, what makes it interesting are two things:
The ".torrent" file is simply the bootstrap for this whole process. You download that normally, for example in your web browser, and then it is read by your BitTorrent client. It has the information that the BitTorrent client then uses to begin to locate other BitTorrent clients that are serving up the file you're interested in. "Torrent" is sometimes used to refer to the file being shared using BitTorrent, but a ".torrent" file is a specific file with specific information that is used to bootstrap the file download. Note I haven't talked at all about what kinds of files are actually being downloaded. That's because the answer is "any". Typically the types of files being shared using BitTorrent are large - audio files, video files and programs. But just saying "a torrent" doesn't tell you what it is or what you can do with it. Let's get concrete. Let's say you've discovered that some "Public Domain Movie" is available via a torrent. You download the ".torrent" file, and open it in your BitTorrent client. It then goes out to the internet, locates other BitTorrent clients that are serving up that file, and begins downloading all the various chunks until it has a complete copy of the file. When it's all done, you'll end up with something like a "PublicDomainMovie.avi" file. Or ".mpg", ".mov" or something else. What you then do with that file is up to you. Yep, you could burn that file to a CD or DVD, but that's all something you would do after it's downloaded, and has nothing to do with the fact that you got it via BitTorrent. I don't have a tremendous amount of experience with BitTorrent clients, so I can't really recommend one over the other, but I have used Azureus successfully, and it seems to be one of the more popular BitTorrent clients. I will warn you that all of the BitTorrent clients I've seen to date are still in the "geeky" stage, meaning that they sort of assume you know what you're doing to begin with. It's not a steep learning curve, but it will seem pretty obscure at first. Related:
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"Most"? I have no idea. I do know that I downloaded my client from a reputable source, and have had zero problems. There are definitely spyware infested clients out there, especially in some of the other peer-to-peer filesharing services, so caution is definitely appropriate. But with appropriate caution and downloading only software you trust from sources you trust, you can stay safe. Posted by: Leo at February 21, 2006 01:33 PMplease explain about how to set up torrents so that others can download from your own files, try this has some good info on torrents hi. what`s a peer? A peer is another user like yourself that is either hosting, or downloading, the same file. Posted by: Leo Notenboom at September 7, 2006 03:34 PMi downloaded a .torrent file but it wont work for any of my players (meaning iTunes, Windows Media Player, Quicktime, etc). What do i do? Posted by: joey at January 22, 2008 05:05 PM-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Torrents don't play directly in players. You might want to Thanks, Leo
iD4DBQFHmPWGCMEe9B/8oqERAtLXAJ40hA+rj6aTsVJY9gcU4QMJtWvu9QCXaold Is it a separate tool or component?, how to implement in .Net application? I have just downloaded an .avi file using Azureus, how i make a torrent file? Posted by: Boukraa omar at July 23, 2008 08:21 AMPost a comment on "What's a "torrent"?":
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