TechAttacks are not necessarily attacks on software or websites that I dont understand. TechAttack #2 is a look at a program that has revolutionised the way I get music.

I have spoken about Last FM before in Music 2.0 and an update, with regards to finding new music and integrating myself in to a community where music is the master. Well once I have found and listened to the music that Last FM finds for me I make us of Limewire to download them.

Limewire is quick and easy to instal, its easy to search and find music and easy to download. Search areas include Album, Song, Band, Genre type and License type. You can also use it to search for and dowload Images, Videos, Programs and Documents. Downloading times vary depending on the available connection with a file. T3 is the fastest connection (not sure what that stands for. kinda makes me think of Arnie and the metal face) then you have T1, cable/dsl and modem. Find the file you are looking for, double click and save away! Here is a screenshot of my Limewire as I search for the band Live


Limewire also makes use of "swarm" downloading, which means that the file is downloaded from multiple sourced simultaneously. Very cool, very fast, very effective. I like, Alot.

Now I know all the copyright issues surrounding this program, I get it, the music industry suffers. I also know that it isn't the big "cash cow" bands that are affected by this, it's the little bands who are just starting out that get screwed. Technically. I believe that bands have much to gain by using the web as a resource to create a fan base. The perfect example is Myspace where bands are launching albums and singles to the Myspace community before anyone else. Brilliant idea I think. A good example is a band that I found through Ange on myspace called Cartwheel Club, just launched and have thousands of listens per song.

I think that programs like LimeWire need to make the music industry big wigs wake up and smell the 2.0.

Labels: Copyright, Last FM, Limewire, Music, TechAttack, Web2.0