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DAILY NEWS AND INFORMATION
FOR THE GLOBAL GRID COMMUNITY /
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Breaking News - Operating Systems
& Middleware:
Sharman Networks Launches Kazaa
v2.6 Beta
Sharman Networks Limited launched the Beta of Kazaa v2.6, the latest update
of
the world's most popular file sharing software. The new version presents users
and the entertainment industry with features such as Magnet Links, Kazaa
Kapsules, single click purchasing and the option to run multiple searches at
the same time.
Magnet Links connect Kazaa users outside the application directly to peer-
to-peer technology. This means that through their Web sites, entertainment
companies are able to offer files to Kazaa users, downloaded via peer-to-peer.
This offers significant bandwidth savings for companies like computer game
manufacturers who often sell games that are over 500 megabytes in size. By
utilizing Magnet Links, these content providers can efficiently promote and
sell their products. This also enables consumers to benefit from faster,
cheaper and more varied content as a result of the efficiency of peer-to-peer
technology.
"Magnet Links combine Kazaa, the world's most popular peer-to-peer
application, with the world's most popular Internet browsers," said Nikki
Hemming, CEO of Sharman Networks. "The links are available to anyone who wants
to benefit from the cost savings of peer-to-peer and the popularity of Kazaa.
Magnet Links are a further example of our efforts to bring artists and
consumers closer together in the most powerful way."
With Kazaa v2.6, users can purchase individual files with a single click.
This
delivers content providers a seamless consumer purchasing system that
complements the distribution power of the application. In addition, v2.6
improves searching functionality with the ability to run multiple searches at
the same time.
The launch of Kazaa Kapsules 1.0 in this latest version is designed to
enable
artists to offer music, video and promotional material in a digital package or
"Kapsule." This gives consumers a single purchase point for multiple files of
varying formats combined together as a compelling offering. For example,
musicians will now be able to offer a much greater variety of material, such
as images, audio, video, lyrics, tour dates and band information in one place.
Equally, computer game companies can include game guides and hints, and movie
distributors can include "behind the scenes" footage.
Kapsules are designed for maximum usability with two areas -- Interactive
windows, which contain information about the offered content, and Kapsule
windows, which contain the actual files. Users will be able to view both
windows at the same time, so that information on the contents (files, price
and exclusive elements) will appear alongside the content itself.
Magnet Links, Kapsules and single click buying further cement Kazaa's
position
as the world's leading peer-to-peer software and build on its partnership with
Altnet, the world's largest distributor of licensed, secure content on the
Internet. Every month, Kazaa users download millions of licensed computer
games, music, videos and software applications through Sharman Networks'
relationship with Altnet.
"The advances in version 2.6 have been designed to meet the needs of
consumers
and content owners, who are the key forces in the success of digital
distribution over the Internet. It is encouraging to see content such as video
games, that can be up to 100 times larger and cost 30 times more than a single
music file, being purchased by Kazaa users every day," said Hemming. "Seamless
purchasing is an important step forward and these advances that tap into
powerful peer-to-peer technology will be welcomed by consumers and artists
alike."
Kazaa v2.6 Beta is available to test in unlimited numbers at www.kazaa.com. Please see the kazaa.com site
for important technical information about this release. The final version will
be available in the coming weeks.
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