Filed under: Software, Internet Tools
Acquisition 2
Acquisition, the best looking BitTorrent client on OS X, has just been updated to version 2.0. This update is all about refinement. The UI has been enhanced, the search list can now have folders in it, the downloads view has been improved, and much more.Acquisition Pro will set you back $24, though there is a free version which has some interesting limitations. The free version will cap your download speeds after an hour, and some results in your searches will be randomly omitted.
We here at TUAW think BitTorrent is a cool technology, but must remind you that it shouldn't be used for downloading copyrighted materials. Stick with open source distributions or things which you know are not copyrighted and all will be right with the world.
Update: Folks have pointed out, rightly, that while Acquisition does BitTorrorent files it is more of a peer to peer client.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Beever said 8:12AM on 10-15-2007
It's not a BitTorrent client par se, its a P2P client (although it can accept BitTorrent files and download them) it is for searching and downloading from the Limewire servers. The BitTorrent client from the same company/guy is called Xtorrent.
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Schimmi said 8:21AM on 10-15-2007
Free versions are nice, feature restricted versions are fine if they are free. But omitting search results and limiting bandwidth?! Imagine Google would offer their gmail, but without registering you will not see some of your mail. Very strange idea.
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Peter said 8:26AM on 10-15-2007
"free" version = extended hacked up trial.
Isn't he generous? Firstly selling OSS code, then offering a free trial ... what a guy
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Steve Grenier said 8:29AM on 10-15-2007
Yea its not so much a torrent app as it is a p2p app. Get your facts straight people.
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Alex said 8:35AM on 10-15-2007
Most tongue-in-cheek post ever.
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DagMX said 8:46AM on 10-15-2007
mm, its gnutella client not a bittorrent client and its just based on the limewire source code, just like Xtorrent is based on the transmission source code.
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Tim Uruski said 8:48AM on 10-15-2007
Re: Peter
Oh no! A developer actually wants to get paid for making software! What kind of sick screwed up world is this. Oh wait, isn't OS X also build on OSS? Yeesh.
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Ben said 9:03AM on 10-15-2007
@Tim: Ever had to deal with Watanabe?
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DagMX said 9:14AM on 10-15-2007
@Tim
The thing is, he hasn't really done any work that can be considered worth paying for. He's using other peoples work(granted it is OSS), then charging for a different interface.
In OS X they actually have done quite a lot more than the core that they build on. Thats worth paying for.
In his work, he isn't even adding anything new. Watching the xtorrent news, he doesnt add anything until someone else has done all the hard work coding it up.
Basically its like reselling tap water.
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Luna Lovegood said 9:21AM on 10-15-2007
"We here at TUAW think BitTorrent is a cool technology, but must remind you that it shouldn't be used for downloading copyrighted materials."
But...but...NBC shows!
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Paul said 9:26AM on 10-15-2007
like Aquafina?
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JsdWdc said 9:28AM on 10-15-2007
Based on this post, I downloaded it but for some reason, even after configuring my MBP, it looses the connection after about 2 minutes. It's a great interface, though and I would love to get it working. Anyone have a suggestion?
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Matt said 9:39AM on 10-15-2007
@Ben,
I had to deal with him once. It wasn't pleasant. I asked him why Acquisition's bittorrent was so much worse than his x-torrent software, and he came back with some wise ass comment about how i should buy xtorrent.
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Jt Hollister said 10:00AM on 10-15-2007
A good UI is _SO_ well worth paying for. Moreover, it's not morally wrong to make a buck in this world.
That said, have you checked out XTorrent? I haven't seen this one so I can't say it's better, but it is pretty slick looking. Same kinda deal -- roughly $20 or $30 if you want a real version.
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Ben said 10:05AM on 10-15-2007
@ Matt
At least you got an answer, that's more than most people!
;-)
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CJ said 10:18AM on 10-15-2007
I have had to deal with him in the past with some 'crashes' issues and it was VERY unpleasant. I reminded him that as he was charging people for his products he should be providing an acceptable level of customer service... at-least be 'nice'
Also, I bought aquisition ages and ages ago (i really don't use it at-all anymore though) and i have the lifetime upgrade option, but that doesn't seem to apply to this upgrade... ?! That is SOO wrong!
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David Chartier said 10:20AM on 10-15-2007
"Imagine Google would offer their gmail, but without registering you will not see some of your mail. Very strange idea."
Imagine if people actually paid to use software.
Gmail, like most of Google's services, works because Google makes money off the advertising placed on the Gmail site.
How many users would be willing to look at ads in a sidebar to use, say, iWork? Acquisition? Photoshop? Yojimbo?
A developer doing his or her job for a living has to make a buck somehow.
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Ben said 10:27AM on 10-15-2007
David, your views on Watanabe and his products are widely publicised, but you have to admit that a large number of his customers appear to have had a very different experience of the man and his customer service than you have.
Obviously developers should make a buck for their work, but that doesn't give them the right to treat their customers like undeserving idiots and / or thieves. Unfortunately this is exactly the experience that I and apparently many others have had. When you're on the receiving end, it's very unpleasant.
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David Chartier said 10:32AM on 10-15-2007
#18: Ben I completely agree, and Watanabe certainly has a history of mistreating his customers. I haven't had the most positive experiences with him either, though I'm completely willing to admit that he's probably treated me slightly better since I write about his stuff in part for a living. However, I don't think that's a good thing; he should be treating everyone with kindness and respect, not giving bloggers or journalists a "slightly less abrasive" privilege.
I simply wanted to address the concept of handicapping software in some way or another to motivate users to purchase, Watanabe-related or otherwise.
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Neuralgia said 10:45AM on 10-15-2007
Sorry. I just can't take David Watanabe anymore. Sure, his programs look pretty, but he has the worst customer support ever. I paid for Newsfire but I just deleted it. I'm using Vienna now. Instead of Xtorrent, use Transmission and instead of Acquisition use... umm. Who uses Gnutella anymore? Anyway, my two cents. I asked for support with Newsfire and was told to bugger off and I made a feature request for Xtorrent and was told no one would care so bugger off. I wish I had back the money I spent on Newsfire. I'd give it to charity. So long as it wasn't in that jerk's pockets...
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