DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

Microsoft Reinvents Bittorrent

18 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/microsoft-reinvents-bittorrent.64222/

anandk
anandk Original post #1
Jul 30, 2007 at 9:18 AM
"Microsoft has a new Secure Content Downloader tool that sounds an awful lot like a Bittorrent clone. It's described as a 'peer-assisted technology' where '[e]ach client downloads content by exchanging parts of the file they're interested in with other clients, in addition to downloading parts from the server..."

*developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/28/1631205&from=rss
gxsaurav
Jul 31, 2007 at 12:35 AM
We can't say anything before using it. It is more like a hybrid of Torrent & normal HTTP download. You can download from the main server like http as well as other users who are downloading, without anyone finding out who you are. It a step beyond Bittorrent actually, as u don't have to wait for seeders. You can start downloading & as soon as there are seeders found you can start downloading from there.
gauravakaasid
Jul 31, 2007 at 1:02 AM
The RIAA & MPAA anyway involved in this?? :D....
aku
aku #4
Jul 31, 2007 at 3:00 AM
^lol
goobimama
Jul 31, 2007 at 4:28 AM
Holy Ganja! Do we have to maintain a good ratio at microsoft.com private tracker?
gauravakaasid
Jul 31, 2007 at 8:12 AM
^^:D:D Lol X 2....maybe they will be having an invite system too?
Thor
Thor #7
Jul 31, 2007 at 9:50 AM
:D...lol ... as some comment in the post says.."I hope Bram Cohen patented his little invention" ...xactly... God knows MS is known to get INSPIRATION from other Softwares/Strategies and make their own. For once it would feel good to see them, feel the pinch , what if some in the Bittorent community get this idea to use with regular torrent too ? In them case just now http downloads from Microsoft, but any site!
That wud be swell!
kumarmohit
Jul 31, 2007 at 9:54 AM
Remind me guys, when was the last time that MS did something on its own?
aryayush
Jul 31, 2007 at 10:11 AM
When they chose the name for the company. I don't think they needed any inspiration for that. After that, it's been a pretty consistent affair - copy, paste, sell, conquer. The last part is beginning to lose its edge now though. :lol:
Pathik
Pathik #10
Jul 31, 2007 at 10:31 AM
^^ as expected :D
btw this may be a mix of bittorrent wit DRM.. cant trust MS..
tarey_g
tarey_g #11
Jul 31, 2007 at 10:37 AM
goobimama said:
Holy Ganja! Do we have to maintain a good ratio at microsoft.com private tracker?

lol :D
gxsaurav
gxsaurav #12
Jul 31, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Not much is known about this technology yet, so stop speculating. From what is known, this technology will be used to deliever Windows Update & other such Microsoft files from Microsoft servers & other clients to your computer. This means it will be used only for providing updates for Windows.

This technology goes a step beyong Bittorrent if you read how it works. Since there is also a straight HTTP download link, I guess u don't require a tracker in this too.

But who knows.....

About DRM, nah.....the content which has DRM is specified. No compony in this world can lock u in DRM without informing you else they will be sued.

arya said:
The last part is beginning to lose its edge now
though.

Ya, I wonder....60 million Vista License, more then 4 billion in profit & revenue, Microsoft is eating dust :D.
Pathik
Pathik #13
Jul 31, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Nah.. only MS updates and applications.. for now..
satyamy
satyamy #14
Jul 31, 2007 at 12:27 PM
its a good realese :)

I dont know it will be used a lot bcoz
but we cant download movies & illegal stuff :(

but no prob let it release :)
soon some hackers will make its clone for using to download pirated stuffs :D
gxsaurav
gxsaurav #15
Jul 31, 2007 at 12:39 PM
satyamy said:
soon some hackers will make its clone for using to download pirated stuffs :D

Its already out there in form of Bittorrent. This is nothing but bittorrent basically but with added support for direct download via HTTP in the same file.
aryayush
aryayush #16
Jul 31, 2007 at 1:38 PM
And, of course, you cannot use direct HTTP for illegal downloads. So BitTorrent will stay as it is and this will be separate and I guess, Microsoft will use it for their own purposes like seeding updates, etc.

I am still confused though. Why would Microsoft, which can afford as many servers and as much bandwidth as they want, try this stuff? What is wrong with the situation as is?
iMav
iMav #17
Jul 31, 2007 at 1:44 PM
they are better than a half eaten apple hence more options, winodws update, updates thru microsoft.com and this .... better solutions ... ;)
gxsaurav
gxsaurav #18
Jul 31, 2007 at 1:46 PM
aryayush said:
And, of course, you cannot use direct HTTP for illegal downloads.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA, u really have no idea what usenet is what direct HTTP/FTP downloading is :D

arya said:
So BitTorrent will stay as it is and this will be separate and I guess, Microsoft will use it for their own purposes like seeding updates, etc.

So obvious, don't u think.

arya said:
I am still confused though. Why would Microsoft, which can afford as many servers and as much bandwidth as they want, try this stuff? What is wrong with the situation as is?

Yes, Microsoft is a godsend company :D. Arya, first learn how business is done. They just can't add servers & bandwidth like that. This way they save on there own server cost, electricity cost, bandwidth cost, DNS server fees etc. US department of electricity has already said they won't provide any more then 20% additional power to there countries west cost servers. Any kind of saving means profit.