Aug 27, 2001 05:54 PM
2394 Views
Audiogalaxy is an mp3 sharing site. However, to download songs, you need a small program called the Audiogalaxy Satellite. It is free to download (try cnet, and read all the comments on it first). It does have a small problem, in that it comes with another program called Webhancer, which reports back on your web usage, but this is easily removed by using add/remove programs in your control panel. When installing audiogalaxy, do not accept any of the bundled programs with it (for instance one which offers money off coupons). These are apparently harder to get rid of than Webhancer.
Once you have installed Audiogalaxy, however, it is very simple to use. You open up the program, and click on Go. This takes you to a webpage, listing your shared songs. You put your search term in the window at the top of the page, and get a list of results. Just click on the satellite icon next to the title you want, and it is added to your download list. You can go down a page of results and add several songs to your queue in no time. If you are after a particular version of a song, click on the song title, and you can select a version by song length, bitrate, or other criteria.
Once you have a download queue, you just leave the program running. It will see which songs are available, and automatically download the nearest and quickest one on the list. Until you have received 25 songs, you can only do one at a time, but after this, you can choose how many songs to download at once. If you leave your computer connected, it will go on downloading until no more songs on your list are available, or the list is empty. If you move songs out of your shared directory, so you have less than 25 in it, you can only download one at a time again.
Now, here is the clever part! If a person you are downloading from disappears, Audiogalaxy will automatically resume from another person with the same file, or from that person next time they are online. You very rarely get incomplete songs (only if a person removes it from their shared file). I have got over 50 complete songs this week, and I am only using a 56K modem, not cable. Another good point is that you can adjust how much bandwidth you allow Audiogalaxy to have, so it wont slow down your surfing too much.
Audiogalaxy can sometimes have trouble connecting, due to large numbers of people using it, but it is quieter during the week rather than weekends, and in the day or after midnight.
Despite the Webhancer, and despite some connection problems, Audiogalaxy is brilliant! It contains songs that I could never find on Napster or Bearshare, and it is much more reliable than either of them. The choose version section helps you avoid downloading incomplete songs, as you can choose which song length you want. I'm afraid, in my case, its bye bye Napster, I no longer need you! It is file sharing at its very easiest, no checking on it, no need to choose your songs as each finishes. You make your list as you come online, and don't need to look at it again until you want to listen to your songs. Unfortunately, you can't prioritise your list, but hey, we can't expect everything!
Popular songs are generally immediately available, only less well known songs have to be waited for. This week I have got a song from the Rugrats movie soundtrack for my little boy, which, surprisingly was downloaded straight away, but I have been waiting weeks for a couple of PJ Harvey songs I want.
