Nov 13
If you think your peer-to-peer file sharing can be kept under wraps, think again. A federal judge in Vermont has ruled that you should have no expectation whatsoever that your P2P data is ever private.
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Aug 27
BitTorrent promised that its Sync Beta service would get an iOS client, and the company is making good on its word with plans to launch the app this week. As with the Android release, iOS users will get to sync files of any size, send content to other mobile devices and back up photos. And if you’re not carrying an Apple device, BitTorrent still has a small treat in store: it’s rolling out a localization update that supports 10 major Asian and European languages. Whatever your platform of choice, you’ll find more details at the source link.
Filed under: Cellphones, Storage, Internet, Mobile
Source: BitTorrent Blog
Aug 05
Comcast rumored to have new, less punitive anti-piracy measure in the works
Posted in: Today's Chili
The Copyright Alert System, more popularly known as the “six strikes” policy, hasn’t exactly received a warm welcome thanks to the disciplinary measures it calls for (like throttled connection speeds). According to Variety, Comcast is currently developing a new way of dealing with piracy that’s arguably less punitive than CAS. In the proposed system, users that have been flagged for illegal downloads via peer-to-peer file sharing services like BitTorrent would be provided with links to legal means of accessing the same content through Comcast’s own Xfinity service or third party providers like Amazon. Unlike CAS, this system doesn’t seem to focus on penalties so much as it would gently nudge subscribers towards legal options. While it’s not likely that the program is intended to replace CAS, it could potentially signal a shift away from an unpopular policy. Though little information is known about Comcast’s plans at this time, we’ll keep you posted as we learn more.
Filed under: Internet
Source: Variety
Jul 17
BitTorrent Sync Alpha isn’t ready to equal rivals like Dropbox or Google Drive without a mobile component. It’s a good thing that BitTorrent just launched Sync Beta, then — the more polished release includes an Android app that syncs with computers and shares files with fellow Android users. The update also brings versioning through SyncArchive, which stores previous file iterations in a folder. Sync Beta is available on both Android and the desktop today, and BitTorrent promises that an iOS equivalent is coming in the near future.
Filed under: Storage, Internet
Source: BitTorrent Labs, Google Play
Mar 12
Last November, BitTorrent put out a call to all “qualified broadcasters,” seeking to build out a solid based for Live, its new P2P streaming protocol. Now, just four months later, the company’s opening the beta service up to all users, giving a real-time platform to anyone with a webcam, a pulse and a broadcasting dream. The live streaming service works mainly the same way traditional BitTorrent does, utilizing BitTorrent clients throughout its user base to deliver a more solid and “resilient… stream.” Effectively, the more people sign up for BitTorrent’s virtual soapbox, the better quality your broadcast will be. So, if you’ve got a decent internet connection and a burning urge to express yourself, hit up the source and start sharing live.
Filed under: Internet, Software
Via: The Next Web
Mar 12
Livestreams are great and all, but they’re all subject to a terrible reality: the more people who want to watch, the more likely it is the stream goes down. BitTorrent’s P2P streaming service BitTorrent Live stands to change all that by actually drawing strength from the crowd, and it’s here to start shaking up the scene. More »
Feb 04
Silent Circle’s encryption app could revolutionize mobile privacy, if Uncle Sam lets it
Posted in: Today's Chili 
If CEO Mike Janke’s boasts are to be believed, his company Silent Circle and its eponymous encryption apps could stand to “revolutionize… privacy and security.” And he’s willing to push the tech forward at all costs, even if that means raising the ire of the federal government. While the feds have yet to officially weigh in on his startup’s novel software — and Janke’s certain they will — others who’ve tested the peer-to-peer service’s new Silent Text app claim its benefits for human rights activism worldwide far outweigh its potential use as a criminal aid.
This isn’t the company’s first crack at the mobile security space, though. A prior version of Silent Circle’s subscription-based app was released last fall, granting Android and iOS users secure transmission of texts, as well as voice and video calls. But now, the controversial app in question has been beefed up, adding the ability to send encrypted files (up to 60MB) with a set “burn” (read: deletion) time. And since Silent Circle doesn’t host the required encryption key on its servers, there’s no way for the company to access users’ data. What’s more, the company’s also pledged to not cooperate with surveillance requests from law enforcement, nor will it compromise the service’s integrity by introducing a “backdoor” for the FBI.
That’s a mighty strong stance to take against Uncle Sam, but Janke’s not concerned. If the United States government does eventually prove an impediment, he’s ready to move Silent Circle’s shop to a locale that understands “…every [citizens’] right to communicate… without the fear of it being… used by criminals, stored by governments, and aggregated by companies that sell it.” Based on that quote alone, we’d say Janke’s what you might call a freedom fighter. For now, the souped up app’s set to launch on the App Store February 8th, with an Android release to follow soon after. When it lands, we’d advise you to get it while it’s hot — preferably, before Capitol Hill deems it too hot to handle.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Wireless, Software, Mobile
Source: Slate
Nov 16
The file sharing crew at BitTorrent has so far taken only tentative footsteps into the living room with its certification program. If CEO Eric Kinkler’s comments to Multichannel News are any indicator, though, the company is ready to make itself at home. He reveals that BitTorrent has signed pacts with 20 electronics makers to include its peer-to-peer service for media streaming in new TV sets, some of which will ship as soon as the end of 2012. Kinkler isn’t naming the partners, but he notes that most of the torrent-ready screens are destined for Asia and Europe rather than the US — many TV builders in American shops already have a raft of streaming video deals with the likes of Netflix, the executive says. Don’t anticipate seeing a row of BitTorrent TVs in the local big-box store, then, but do expect the firm to make a name for itself beyond software and the occasional router.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
BitTorrent lands deals with 20 TV makers for peer-to-peer video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Jul 17
OnStar seals partnership with RelayRides, makes renting out your car even easier (hands-on video)
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Remember that partnership between OnStar and RelayRides we wrote about last March? Well it’s finally coming to fruition today, with the peer-to-peer car sharing service launching support for remote door unlocking via OnStar’s proprietary API. As a result, RelayRides members with OnStar-enabled vehicles no longer have to exchange keys in person if they so choose. Another benefit is that participants can list their automobile on RelayRides directly from their OnStar account — renters then benefit from the added safety and security that comes with OnStar.
We had the chance to test an early version of the functionality on a Chevy Volt at SXSW a few months ago and it worked pretty much as advertised. There was a bit of a delay between the time we sent the unlock command from RelayRides’ website on the demo iPad and the moment the doors actually unlocked on the car, but we’re told this has been significantly improved since our hands-on. Of course, RelayRides also supports remote unlocking via text message. Take a look at the galleries below then hit the break for our hands-on video, RelayRides’ video and OnStar’s PR.
Gallery: RelayRides with OnStar hands-on
Gallery: RelayRides with OnStar PR
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs, Transportation, Software
OnStar seals partnership with RelayRides, makes renting out your car even easier (hands-on video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 07:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jul 07
BitTorrent Torque alpha puts file seeds on the web, makes desktop apps look stale
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Almost without fail, BitTorrent downloads have had to spread through a dedicated client, whether it’s on the desktop or a router. Thankfully, BitTorrent Torque has just come in alpha form to liberate the peer download service from its software chains. All that’s needed now is a web browser that can parse a JavaScript app. Going the new route gives some freedom to enable sharing that hasn’t always been practical: among the tricks in the company’s Torque Labs are drag-and-drop sharing, conversion of torrents into traditional downloads and easing the burden on a server for video streaming. The alpha stage leaves Torque with awhile to go before it’s ready for the limelight, but experimenters can hit the source link to start tinkering with distributed file sharing today.
BitTorrent Torque alpha puts file seeds on the web, makes desktop apps look stale originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Jul 2012 06:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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