What Music Sources Are Available On The Internet

[PLAZ]

I want to record music on my CD burner from the Internet. If this can be done, I would appreciate some good suggestions on how to access the best sources on the Internet? Thank you.

[Kov-Ice]

There are alot of places with huge catalogs of music. I've used MusicMatch Jukebox, a program that also allows you to browse and purchase downloads. The new Napster site is also a popular destination for legally downloading music.

[Hi Ho]

Download Windows Media Player 10. There are 7 download services (Napster, MSN Music, Wal-Mart Music, MusicMatch, MusicNow, F.Y.E, and PureTracks) integrated into the player. You can download music (legally) and burn them to CD's all within the player. Nothing else I have seen comes close.

[puppypal41]

get limewire at www.limewire.com, get the free version. This is the best one i have found in my many years of music downloads.

[kram 2.0]

Originally Posted by puppypal41 get limewire at www.limewire.com, get the free version. This is the best one i have found in my many years of music downloads.

I believe they are a "questionable" file sharing program...I wouldn't recommend it. I've still found the best music downloading program to be iTunes (www.itunes.com) - easy to work with, and very versatile.

kram

[puppypal41]

kram, you know nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Smidget]

limewire is full of spyware, but still I don't believe P2P discussion is allowed here.

[kram 2.0]

Originally Posted by puppypal41 kram, you know nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will not flame here, but I will say this. P2P file sharing programs are on the verge of being considered illegal...by technicality, they would be "legal" as much as they would be "illegal". However, remember that that would be walking thin ice at PC Mech forums...I'll just leave it there.

kram

[Yuanji]

Originally Posted by kram8806 I will not flame here, but I will say this. P2P file sharing programs are on the verge of being considered illegal...by technicality, they would be "legal" as much as they would be "illegal". However, remember that that would be walking thin ice at PC Mech forums...I'll just leave it there. kram

downloading music off P2P is illegal even though the IRAA might not catch you. P2P sharing for other things like open source distributon or freeware distribution is legal. so far, the only legal P2P cleint i know of is Sharaza but even so, music pirating is still illegal. if ur gnna buy music, wal-mart.com, napster, itunes are all pretty good sites. don't pirate music!

[TwoRails]

A quote:

LimeWire is the world's fastest P2P file-sharing application. It enables the sharing, searching, and downloading of MP3 files. LimeWire also lets users share and search for all types of computer files, including movies, pictures, games, and text documents. Other features include dynamic querying, push-proxy support for connecting through firewalls, the ability to preview files while downloading, advanced techniques for locating rare files, and an extremely intuitive user interface.

That is a brief description of limwire. Sounds spooky to me: pushing thru firewalls? Doesn't sound right to me. I searched a little to find some legal aspects, but nobody discusses them, expect for one place that said they refuse to talk about if it's "legal" or not. If it were legit, every download site and review would mention it, IMHO.

[kram 2.0]

Originally Posted by Yuanji downloading music off P2P is illegal even though the IRAA might not catch you. P2P sharing for other things like open source distributon or freeware distribution is legal. so far, the only legal P2P cleint i know of is Sharaza but even so, music pirating is still illegal. if ur gnna buy music, wal-mart.com, napster, itunes are all pretty good sites. don't pirate music!

So there's a solid answer...thanks there Yuanji. I wasn't sure what the IRAA ruled there, whether it was "technically legal" or whether it was outrigth illegal, either way, I don't do it because it's just not moral - as someone said here a few months ago about P2P, how can you sleep peacefully at night knowing you stole someone's work?

kram

[spyder003]

Originally Posted by Smidget limewire is full of spyware, but still I don't believe P2P discussion is allowed here.

I haven't gotten any spyware from it, works great for me.

[Vigo]

Ok...

Since some people believe theyre speaking in technical terms, here are some technical rulings:

Courts rule time and time again that file sharing programs themselves are in no way illegal or responsible for any use of the program since file sharing programs or clients do not seek or intend for their products to be used illegally.

You don't blame vhs tape manufacturers for bootleg or pirated video tapes sold on the streets. You don't blam Sony (major manufacturer of blank cdrs) for giving people a medium to burn illegally obtained song tracks onto a cd. Get the point?

I didn't have time to re-search gov listings for legality and technical rights surrounding file sharing programs, but heres a gov page listed by the FTC:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/.../sharealrt.htm

Reading the article you can surmize that if file sharing programs weren't legal (in general), then they wouldn't be telling you how to properly set up a file sharing client and use your file sharing program "properly".

I just noticed going through Limewire's Website they link to that gov listing. I'll get to Limewire itself in a moment.

Now... although File Sharing Programs are *legal* by definition of the U.S. judicial system (within the U.S.) this does not mean it is *legal* to use them to obtain illegal (copyrighted material) files. The act of downloading copyrighted material is whats illegal. Doesn't matter if your using a file sharing client, an http server (old fashioned website), or a intranet/extranet network (case in point, search for lawsuits on college students who used university networks to share copyrighted files).

The thing about file sharing networks and their clients in regards to downloading music is that you *technically* can use them to download music *legally*. IF, (big if here so focus on it) the files you are downloading are not copy righted or the owners have waived their specific rights to keep their content private. Examples of the latter type are musicians or companies that allow a track to be given away and freely distributed. More specifically: Websites hosted by artists themselves that allow you to download some or all of their tracks or websites who are authorized to give away a song, and artists who simply allow their music, through written/signed permission; their songs can be freely distributed (but usually not (and almost never) sold, duplicated or possibly edited).

This next part is also important if you get any clever ideas: Because you can obtain free and legal music through file sharing programs this does not create a loophole you can abuse to excuse the accidental ownership of illegally obtained material. You can't reason ("I didn't know *this* song was illegal to download). Thats what the real goal of the RIAA is. Not to subpoena and prosecute a few individuals in a pool of millions of downloaders. But to get the message across that "This is illegal, now you know its illegal, so you don't have any excuses."

Now; limewire.

As in the points above, its simply frustrates me when I see people who don't even make an attempt to research something, resolve ungrounded conclusions. I'm not a lawyer so I'm sure (a lawyer) could find a multitude of small errors (or more probably; legal loopholes and roadblocks) in my summary of the legality of file sharing programs. However, I *do* research and gather collaborated material/articles to learn about these programs and the legal issues surrounding them. I do use a few of them (Ive used almost all of them, though I rarely use them anymore). And for those who are judgemental with ignorance, know that although most (in my observation) of the content distributed through file sharing clients is illegal; there is a wealth of information that is not copyrighted and not associated with your popular movie and song downloads. Pictures, Articles/documents, tables and numbers are some of the other files you can search for on filesharing networks.

Limewire is a client for the gnutella network which has been around in less known forms much longer than I've been on the internet. It was a popular file sharing network long before KaZaa and Napster were noticed, but prior to Napster file sharing itself wasn't very popular. Although the network the Limewire is was established long and is the most reliable protocol there is (in terms of service spanning several years), Limewire itself I believe is relatively new to my knowledge (I know its at least a few years old, but I don't know when it first arrived... its probably been around longer).

As far as the "questions" limewires "legitimacy", you can surf their website for more information to work through any doubt you have.

http://www.limewire.com/english/content/ftc.shtml

That link will give you more information on the legality issues I outlined, as well as what Limewire is about. There is no spyware with Limewire according to the website. Sounds too good to be true because a couple years ago file sharing clients were always packaged with ad-ware bundles and spyware... however that was the downfall of those clients. People switched from Morpheus and KaZaa to other clients which didn't cause slower systems to lag from all the crap that ran when the client ran. Since them, other file sharing clients have sprung up spyware and adware free (I dont tolerate adware or spyware on my system. If I'm forced to accept anything bundled through something like a DiVX player or codec i find a way to remove all files, processes and registry keys and if I can't, its gone). Last time I used limewire it didnt come with anything hidden, but I haven't downloaded the new version so quote them on it and *not* me.

As far as the suspicion that LimeWire "breaks through firewalls" - I finally dug up some info on "push-requesting" and it does seem invasive. However, one would think that if they were on a filesharing network they would (should) be allowing access to their shared folder through the client. If a firewall blocks the connection from other peers who are trying to pull a file you have and you dont want them to be able to connect to you to get the file, then why are you on a sharing network? The only way a person can push through to you is if you are running the program, if you're running the program you are connected to the network (if you are connected... but you are only connecting to other nodes, no one can connect to you).

The truth is that if youre behind a solid firewall you shouldnt be able to connect to other nodes unless you open ports or forward ports... in that case the point of push-proxy is moot because your open to incomming connections anyway.

I used another file sharing client recently that goes through my hardware firewall without a problem, no port forwarding and it doesnt have push-proxy capability that I can see (good old Netgear).

I'll give you this though- that I would find push-proxy invasive if it wasnt a feature of a *file sharing network*... which should demand an upload connection (and sometimes min upload speed) in order to make or keep an outgoing connection. Some Bit Torrent trackers work that way... you need a min upload rate to initiate and retain a download.

But if you have concerns over the client or its features, simply look at its source code.

http://www.limewire.org/

Software thats shady wouldn't be very popular (or people wouldnt find it popular if it was easy to reveal) if their was anything "spooky" in the code. Wish I could decompile code to see for myself, but I'll just assume its safe since no one's cried foul in the past few years.

Oddly enough you'll notice that, that link points to a different domain extension. Thought maybe one was a scam site, but all the links from the .org site point back to the .com site (and some on the .com point to the .org.. how i found it). The exceptions are the developers links. I guess they created a .org initially and then created a .com to make room to generate profit (kept the .org for developing... but the downloads come from the .com site so the software may not be restricted by .org/non-profit status) Or like a lot of people maybe they simply didnt want anyone to take the similar domain name and have another company mislead people or spin hits off their name.

Hope I answered some questions and answered them accurately.

[Vigo]

And to the thread starter:

The suggestion to use services that are conveniently linked through WMP 10 (but not available soley through the media player) are the best and most reliable ways.

You can also look at Real Player. They have there own store similar to iTunes and I assume they have links to other services. (Dont' care for real player since after all these years the software still doesnt allow you to "save target" or 'download' what you 'downloaded' to play)

[roomwithamoose]

I use WMP10. The thing I like about it is that not only are you legally aquiring music, but you know that the quality of the music is going to be great, and you don't have to worry about getting cut off or recieving a mislabled file.

[Kov-Ice]

Vigo, thanks for the in-depth and informative post. I think we all appreciate your research into the matter.