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CNET Editors' review
uTorrent is a free BitTorrent client, the Mac version (officially still in beta) of the popular, open-source uTorrent client for Windows.
Much like the lightweight uTorrent for Windows (also weighing in at less than 5MB), this version of uTorrent excels at downloading files quickly with minimal resource overhead. Even more stripped down than the Windows version, uTorrent for Mac gives you a familiar, three-pane interface, with support for multiple downloads and probably more drill-down details than you even need--including graphs, tables, and other specifics on seed, peers, pieces, and more. You can also throttle upload and download rates, and stop seeding automatically at a certain ratio. uTorrent is probably not the best client for actually finding torrents (there's just a simple search bar that takes you to results pages in your browser), and users looking for browsing and viewing features should check out more full-featured BitTorrent clients.
If you don't need a lot of extra features and you're looking for a fast BitTorrent client that requires almost no configuration, uTorrent is a solid option.
Publisher's Description
From BitTorrent:
uTorrent is the world's most popular BitTorrent client, and is now available for Mac.
uTorrent Mac introduces uTP, a new lightweight BitTorrent protocol that makes incredibly efficient use of network bandwidth while reducing network problems.
uTorrent also supports the Protocol Encryption joint specification (compatible with Azureus 2.4.0.0 and above, BitComet 0.63 and above) and peer exchange.
uTorrent was written with efficiency in mind. Unlike many torrent clients, it does not hog valuable system resources - typically using less than 6MB of memory, allowing you to use the computer as if it weren't there at all.
- Native Cocoa Mac client
- Lightweight and Fast
- Multiple simultaneous downloads
- Protocol encryption
- Peer-exchange
- Trackerless support (Mainline DHT)
What's new in this version: ul>
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All versions:
3.5 starsout of 28 votes
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Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
My rating:
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"Very useful"
Version: uTorrent 1.6.5
Pros
easy to use
Cons
none so far
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"Does not work on PowerMac G5 with Power PC970 processor"
Version: uTorrent 1.6.5
Pros
Not able to evaluate
Cons
I could not get the new version 1.6 to work on my Power Mac G5 with PowerPC970 processor running OSX 10.5. I had to revert to the old version 10.5.13
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"I tried other torrent apps but this one is the best"
Version: uTorrent 1.5.10
Pros
uTorrent tries to get the least available parts of a file first. This saves you from the disappointment of an incomplete download if only part of the file is actually available. Uploading goes much faster than with other torrent apps I tried, so it takes less time to upload enough to balance the giving and taking. uTorrent seems to make more efficient use of bandwidth and CPU than some other torrent programs I tried. I was used to notice diminished responsiveness in the browser when I was downloading. With uTorrent this is not the case.
Cons
If you want to search torrents with your torrent programme then you need another app.
Summary
uTorrent does not have the slick the look of more professionally developed torrent programmes. And it also is not a program that offers many bells and whistles. But it is very good in the core functionality for which is was made: downloading and uploading files using the bittorrent protocol. I actually prefer to use my browser to visit torrent websites and to download the torrents from there. Then I can read more information about the torrents I select, then is possible using the searching facility in some torrent apps. So I do not need searching capabilities in my torrent program. uTorrent get much sooner involved in uploading a file that is being downloaded, than I have seen in other torrent apps. Pretty soon the upload speed exceeds the download speed (I have a symmetrical connection) and so it is very easy to compensate the downloading with sufficient uploading: by the time the download is complete, the amount uploaded often is already more than the amount that was downloaded. This is good and necessary for the torrentnet to complete the distribution of a file to all who want it. The more I use uTorrent, the more I am pleasantly surprised at how well it does what it is made for. Recommended.
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"Does what it's supposed to."
Version: uTorrent 1.5.6
Pros
user friendly, not a system hog.
Cons
maybe better search options?
Summary
Hard to Beat!
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"The most efficient, simple and easy-to-use torrent yet!"
Version: uTorrent 1.5.6
Pros
Speed, clarity, ease-of-use, small 'footprint,' etc
Cons
for me none!
Summary
You are daft if you don't use it!
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"Easy to Use But Flawed"
Version: uTorrent 1.5.2
Pros
Easy to use interface.
Cons
Transmission refused to download a torrent it said was invalid, so I tried uTorrent as a test. I was happy when it started and DL'd all 520MB. Unfortunately it was a bad file after all, and the DL was empty.
Transmission is also faster.Summary
Transmission is better and at least as easy to use.
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"Preferences Don't Stick"
Version: uTorrent 1.5.2
Pros
Seems a bit more responsive
Cons
Fails to utilize prefrences
Summary
Setting the download location in preferences is ignored. All downloads end up buried in the uTorrent folder in the Application Support folder of the user library.
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"Premature Release"
Version: uTorrent 1.5.2
Pros
- displays bandwidth on the doc
- a little faster
-Cons
- freezes
- doesn't delete torrent file after openingSummary
stick to the previous version, it looks nice but is still not ready for release.
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"convenient"
Version: uTorrent 1.0.2
Pros
if have web search, it is better.
Cons
good to use
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"there is no much difference to its previous version"
Version: uTorrent 1.0.2
Pros
user friendly
Cons
some times u ll get connection errors
Summary
there are some bugs have to be fixed
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