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Microsoft Wants P2P Avalanche to Crush BitTorrent
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."
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.
The ultimate in spyware!!!
It's meant for legal downloads only, of course.
Then what's the point?
Palladium anyone?
Will it block access to MP3 files and a big list of other file-types/filename-extensions? Like MSN Messenger 7 does? But, like MSN Messenger, allow .WMA files? And do this under the guise of "security", alleging that MP3 is an "unsafe" format (though unlike WMAs, MP3s can't launch websites or "acquire licenses" and stuff like that)..
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It's illegal "wink wink nudge nudge" to copy Windows 3.1/98 but it helps spread windows users so that's a good thing.
It's illegal "wink wink nudge nudge" to use our faster service, but it helps support Microsoft so that's a good thing.
(It's not a bad idea, if it gets popular enough they can just roll it into Office and charge huge $$$ for it like their MSN Messenger 8...er... Microsoft Virtual Meeting...)
Sounds familiar. My car is meant for legal speeds only. Which is why the "55" is highlighted in a special color. On my 140mph speedometer.
So you will find your way to debian_iso.avalanche, download it, and find that it has transformed into a handy little PDF explaining why linux bites...
Spyware is found in Bit Torrent.
Microsoft Releases competitor to Bit Torrent.
Wow, I'm so glad they were so responsive to that problem. It only took them a couple of hours! That's amazing!
Fantasy remains a human right; we make in our measure and in our derivative mode... -- JRR Tolkien
Ha!
You have two hands and one brain, so always code twice as much as you think!
...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.
The way the Register describes it, it appears that rather than sending out chunks of the actual file, it's sending out something similar to PAR chunks where once you have enough data, you can reconstruct the original file.
Futher, with a few chunks, you can calculate new chunks to send over to others, that way more people have access to more of pieces of the file.
Sounds interesting, I wonder if it'll be incorporated into the next version of BT.
The scary thing is that if you are a windows user, what's the stop M$ from requiring any updates and patches to come through this new P2P system, thus making it almost mandatory to install it on your system if you ever want to update your OS. Microsoft doesn't want to compete, they want to force.
The Technomancer
"Men of lofty genius when they are doing the least work are most active."-
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I'm going to laugh my ass off when someone finds a trivial way to defeat whatever DRM MS puts into this to make sure the content is legal, and they get sued for helping distribute copywrited material.
Not laugh because they get sued, but laugh because I can almost guarentee that MS has the money and the lawyers to get off on the "we didn't host it" argument. And in doing so, they are big enough to set precident, and will thus free every other p2p software maker as well.
Of course, how damn amusing would it be if their P2P was used to share...illegal copies of MS products?
Velociraptor = Distiraptor / Timeraptor
You made it man, you fucking lucky sunnofabitch. Microsoft wants to compete with your work, that's a badge of honor man, you're made now.
Plus, how cool is it going to be to download Windows Server 2006 (or whatever it is) off a P2P network they created.
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No, .mp3 is dying, not dead, its right there with apple, BSD, and our civil rights.. (only 1 seems to be true..)
What are we going to do tonight Brain?
I read that in Singapore, the world capital for techo-fascist innovation, trucks would have flashing lights attached to poles on the side of the cab. When a sensor on the engine detected that the truck's speed ever went above 35MPH, the light would start blinking. Then the first police car to see it would issue them a speeding ticket.
If only half the things that I've heard about Singapore are remotely true, then this is one seriously weird place that reasonable people would be wise to avoid.
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
Actually, if you read the actual research paper, you can see WHY it's faster. Basically, it combines two technologies. A bittorrent like protocol, and file parity generation (such as PAR). This allows you to generate additional pieces you didn't download and reduce the amount of code you need to download by about 20-30%.
This also solves "the last block" problem where everyone is waiting for the last block, since if you have 99% of the blocks you can generate what's left.
It's an interesting approach.
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And in this case, by creating a BitTorrent work-alike, they can draw up patent specs that INCLUDE BitTorrent's features, and then use that patent to shut down the servers. Time to start informing the Patent Offices!
Also, folks, make a note of the DATE of that paper describing Avalanche. One PTO rule that seems to me gets violated often is that there is supposed to be (or used to be) a one-year limit between the public release of an invention's description and the patent application. After more than a year, it's too late to apply. How many existing dubious patents were applied-for too late and could be overturned on those grounds?