Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Wants P2P Avalanche to Crush BitTorrent

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the bet-it-won't-be-open-source dept.

pacopico writes "Microsoft seems to think it can be the better Bittorrent. You know faster and more well-behaved. The Register has a story on the P2P work being done by Microsoft's researchers in the UK. Redmond reckons its "Avalanche" technology will be 20 to 30 percent faster than BitTorrent. It's meant for legal downloads only, of course."

9 of 545 comments (clear)

  1. Microsoft Wants Your First Born by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful
    It's meant for legal downloads only, of course.
    Well BitTorrent is meant for legal downloads too, but that doesn't mean a whole lot.
    Naturally, Microsoft is very keen to stress that this technology should be used for distributing legitimate content. It even put that in italics in the press material.
    Oh, never mind, I didn't realize they put it in ITALICS, that is sure to stop piracy dead in it's tracks.

    Besides BitTorrent might not be the most efficient P2P system any more, but it is one of the most widely used. I guess this is what Microsoft does best, copy other technology, add a little to it, then destroy it.
    1. Re:Microsoft Wants Your First Born by Rei · · Score: 4, Insightful

      On the contrary, I think it will not destroy it but legitimize it. Now people can say "Even Microsoft is developing P2P!". Plus, with a big backer like MS behind it, we might start to see pressure for more incorporation of P2P into other arenas - for example, a smoother mix between P2P content serving and conventional web serving, with seamless browser support. Microsoft loves tie-ins, after all, even if the products that they tie together are inferior to other products on the market.

      --
      Did he just go crazy and fall asleep?
    2. Re:Microsoft Wants Your First Born by bman08 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'm more concerned about the embrace and extend issue. Maybe they see piracy as the next killer app for windows and want to lock us all in with their super kewl proprietary p2p app. It's not going to work. Piracy and Porn drive P2P communities to critical mass. If nobody's using this thing, it's not going to be that fast, is it?

  2. For those who ask why by NardofDoom · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Microsoft is developing P2P technology because their bandwidth bill from people downloading patches is threatening their profitability!

    Ha!

    --
    You have two hands and one brain, so always code twice as much as you think!
  3. Can we stop... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...the knee-jerk reactions that this story will elicit? The original post really doesn't do TFA justice.

    This is basically an improvement to the BitTorrent protocol that will overcome scheduling difficulties that really do exist today (I need piece X, but the person who has it is busy uploading piece Y).

    What it is NOT:
    1.) A Microsoft-proprietary application (at least nor yet).
    2.) A production application that only runs on Windows.
    3.) In any way (in theory, at least) tied to DRM'ing anything.
    4.) A way for Microsoft to track your downloading.

    Basically, Microsoft has suggested a way to make BitTorrent-like downloads better. Microsoft! Making P2P downloads of large files easier! Really!

    This isn't MS search trying to overtake google, or some such. MS isn't trying to own the P2P market (at least not yet). They're suggesting improvements, and if you read TFA, the improvements make sense.

    This is a Good Thing. Yeah, I'm suprised it came from M$ too.

  4. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  5. Re:Distributed PAR2 by 1000StonedMonkeys · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Here's the thing. If you have a number of par files and all of the original segments, then there are many more pieces you could potentially download. If you need to download 500 of 500 segments, the number of sources you can download from begins to dwindle as you get on towards 400 or 450 pieces (I'm just making up these numbers, but you get the point). If instead, you need to download 500 of 1500 segments, chances are there won't be a scarcity of segments even at 499.

    IMHO, this is actually a really good idea, since I for one would take the added CPU overhead of processing parity files in return for more sources to download from. I've got spare CPU cycles anyway.

  6. Why.teh. Fuck?!!!! by Thud457 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Would I want to use the bandwith I paid for so other Windoze lusers can leech off the copy of Longhorn Service Pack 3 that I downloaded? Microsoft wants me to take part in some damn hippy-dippy bandwith commune? While they're world renowned for not playing nice with others?!!! Get the fuck out!!!! You can't have it both ways Microsoft!!!!

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

    1. Re:Why.teh. Fuck?!!!! by empaler · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think you misread this part:

      While they're (Microsoft) world renowned for not playing nice with others?!!! Get the fuck out!!!! You can't have it both ways Microsoft!!!!

      He meant that since MS are egomaniac bastards who do not share, they should not expect anyone else to behave differently. (Thud457, correct me if I misinterpreted, and if so, I apologize for putting words into your mouth)