downloads

Accelerate your download speed with this CNET exclusive offer on Download Accelerator Plus Premium 10

The act of downloading files online has been around for so many years that even I forget sometimes that there are apps out there to help me download faster. Even though our internet connections are so much faster these days, you know they can always be a little faster. For bigger files and updates, especially with MMORPGs, I often have to leave them on all-night, so the download is completed by the time I wake up.

I am sure you all have your own type of files you like to download online (hopefully nothing you aren't supposed to be … Read more

The old powerhouse continues on

RealPlayer SP for Mac is a free media player that comes close to mimicking the features and interface of its Windows cousin. While many users can get by with the bevy of other excellent free media players available for the Mac, RealPlayer SP does offer some nice extras in an integrated interface, such as the ability to download streaming video through a companion app (the RealPlayer Downloader) and modify it for specific outputs or devices with another companion app (the RealPlayer Converter). If you also install the RealPlayer Download Agent, the RealPlayer Downloader will automatically detect when you're streaming … Read more

Boost your downloads

Just as in previous versions, Download Accelerator Plus 10 (free) boosts your download speeds by breaking files into smaller pieces, connecting to and downloading from multiple sources simultaneously, and even seeking out faster mirrors. What's different with this newest version, though, is the more streamlined engine that now offers features in the form of "add-ons." This means you can supplement your boosted download speeds (200 to 400 percent faster in many cases) with only the additional features that you want.

One of the most useful add-ons that you can enable in version 10 is DAPsters. If you … Read more

Windows Phone users must update to 7.5 or else...

Anyone with a Windows Phone that hasn't been upgraded to version 7.5 won't be able to use Microsoft's Marketplace app store as of today.

Microsoft announced today that in order to download, buy, update, or review apps in Marketplace, users have to be running Windows Phone 7.5. This change is required for both the phone and web Marketplace storefronts.

"Most phones are already running Windows Phone 7.5, which was released last fall, and so most of you won't notice anything different about how the Marketplace works," Microsoft's director of program … Read more

Google Books Downloader saves you a trip to the library

E-books are changing the way people read, and services like Google Books are leading the way with millions of free titles as well as a growing number of new titles published in electronic book formats, sometimes exclusively. Google Books Downloader is a simple piece of freeware that downloads e-books from Google Books and converts and saves them to a folder of your choice. It can save ebooks as PDF, JPEG, or PNG files that you can view in your browser or e-book reader. With it, Google Books can become your public library.

Google Books Downloader's installer offers two options, … Read more

Download entire Dropbox folders to your Android device

Having the official Dropbox app on your Android device makes it extremely easy to access files on the go. You can even download files to your device. But what about the times you need the contents of an entire folder? With the official Dropbox app, you'd have to download each file one by one.

Folder Downloader for Dropbox is a free app available through Google Play that does just as its name says: allows you to download the contents of an entire folder in your Dropbox account to your Android device.

To get started, download and install the app … Read more

Transmit even faster

Transmit was already one of the very best FTP clients for the Mac, and it's only gotten better with its long-awaited leap to version 4.

The two most noticeable things about the new Transmit are faster speeds (especially when dealing with lots of smaller files) and a completely revamped, more Finder-like interface. Transmit's snappy, animated new interface makes workflows more natural and streamlined than ever. The file browsing has also gotten easier, with new features like "Places" (for storing shortcuts to frequently used folders) and useful Finder-style functionality (which has been showing up in other FTP … Read more

IP address doesn't ID individuals in piracy lawsuit, judge rules

In a likely setback to the MPAA and RIAA's antipiracy efforts, a federal judge has ruled that an IP address alone is not enough to accuse a specific individual of illegal downloads.

An IP address only identifies the location at which any number of Internet-connected devices may be located, much that a single telephone number can be used by many telephones, Magistrate Judge Gary R. Brown of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York said in a ruling earlier this week.

"Thus, it is no more likely that the subscriber to an IP … Read more

Android malware now spreading through hacked Web sites

Android users are now facing another malware twist.

A new Android Trojan dubbed "NotCompatible" is being spread through compromised Web sites. Though the threat seems to be minimal at this point, security provider Lookout says this is the first time hacked Web sites are being used to target mobile devices.

Further, Lookout believes the new malware could be used to break into private networks via an infected Android device.

The Trojan works by automatically downloading an application from a compromised site through the Web browser, a process known as a "drive-by download." The mobile device then … Read more

Amazon Cloud Drive apps for Windows and Mac (hands-on)

Amazon announced today that its Cloud Drive storage apps (Windows | Mac) are available for download, so I went ahead and downloaded the apps on both my desktop machines to check them out. The service was already available at the Amazon Cloud Drive Web site, but with a dedicated app you get easy access for storing just about any type of file on the fly.

After a fairly easy setup (requiring my Amazon account log-in info), a cloud-shaped icon was placed in my system tray (in the menu bar on the Mac) for easy access. Upon first launch, Amazon gives you … Read more