TorrentFreak

The place where breaking news, BitTorrent and copyright collide

uTorrent Becomes Ad-Supported to Rake in Millions

With well over 125 million active users a month uTorrent is by far the most used BitTorrent client. Because of its success the software is also the main source of revenue for San Francisco based parent company BitTorrent Inc. It is estimated that the company currently generates between $15 and $20 million in annual revenue but this figure is expected to rise after it was quietly announced that uTorrent will become ad-supported.

utorrentuTorrent for Windows saw its first public release in September 2005 and soon became the most widely used BitTorrent application. Today over 125 million users worldwide use the client regularly and this number continues to rise.

After BitTorrent Inc. bought the software in 2006 it evolved heavily. What began as a minimalist and no-nonsense client targeted at a BitTorrent-savvy crowd, is now an application that does far more than downloading alone.

As always, some love the changes and added features while others complain bitterly after every bug fix. However, the announcement that uTorrent will become ad-supported is expected to meet wider resistance among a certain crowd.

The change was quietly made public in a forum post yesterday where it is framed as “a fresh approach to creating a no-nonsense and free torrenting experience.”

After nearly seven years this is the first time that advertisers will be able to reach millions of uTorrent users directly from within the client itself.

Until now nearly all revenue came from the toolbar which users can install optionally when uTorrent is first downloaded. However, BitTorrent Inc. sees the need to experiment with other revenue sources with “sponsored torrents” being added for all users in an upcoming release.

“You are all very familiar with how we have paid the bills so far. These new changes mark our next step towards finding that difficult balance between keeping our lights on and providing a positive user experience,” they explain.

The sponsored torrents will appear in a highly visible spot on top of the list of downloads and will be used to promote content from advertisers. They can’t be “turned off,” but users have the option to click away individual ads.

“This new build will display a featured torrent at the top of your torrent list. This featured torrent space will be used to offer a variety of different types of content. We are working towards bringing you offers that are relevant to you.”

“This means films, games, music, software…basically anything that you will find interesting. We may not get it right on the first try but we will continue to improve our efforts based on your feedback,” BitTorrent Inc. adds.

The company explains that aside from ads the sponsored torrents will also be used to inform users about important updates and to promote artists.

BitTorrent previously informed TorrentFreak that people in different geographical locations will see different content. This means that uTorrent will use your IP-address to lookup where you are. Other than that, the company says that users’ privacy is guaranteed.

For BitTorrent Inc. the main motivation to add sponsored torrents is to generate extra revenue. The company added dozens of employees to its payroll in recent years, and these all have to be compensated.

However, a person close to the company told TorrentFreak that even without the uTorrent ads the company is doing very well. Current annual revenue is estimated at somewhere between $15 and $20 million and the company is backed by millions in venture capital.

With “sponsored torrents” BitTorrent Inc could possibly bring in millions of added revenue and grow even further.

The uTorrent team closed their announcement with a request for feedback, and we would like to do the same. What do you think of uTorrent’s move to add sponsored torrents? Does it put you off or is it no problem in exchange for a free client and service? Let us know in the comment section below.

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  • Someguy

    FIRST !!

  • Samuel

    i am still using good ol’ version 2.2.1. got sick of the bloated and buggy new versions they kept putting out that just take up more memory and crash.

    • Hollywood Bigshot Wanker

       Uttorent makes millions and

      STILL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY WITH MAGNET LINKS!

      You know the default format in the worlds biggest torrent site???

      FIX IT MORONS!

      • http://profiles.google.com/zerianis10 Christopher Kidwell

        What the hell are you blabbing about here, Hollywood? It works fine with magnet links, it’s sometimes the browser you are using that has problems with magnet links, not realizing that it should pass them off to Utorrent.
        That is a problem I had with Firefox 12, which has been fixed since.

        • Andrew Lee

           ROFL! “What the hell are you blabbing about here, Hollywood?”
          Caught me off guard with that! :P

        • Laplace

          Perhaps, what he is talking about, is that when you click a magnet link – in uTorrent it just adds it quietly in the list. I cant choose WHERE to download, i cant select individual files until i start it, hell, if i happen to have a large list of torrents i cant even autostart the download until i track down the magnet link i just added. Magnet links suck in utorrent.

        • BJonesTF

          Ah, you mean the thing that was fixed in 3.2 that was released a week or two back?

          And *technically* the way utorrent handles magnets is acceptable, because it doesn’t fetch the torrent data until it’s started. As for where to save and all, that’s down to your client settings, because you’ve been able to choose where to save magnets for YEARS.

      • R7

        Lol i find it hilarious that some people refuse to upgrade and then when some features that were added in these newer versions are not working in their old versions, then they demand developers to “fix it”.

        I’ve studied µTorrent client at lenght and you can disable all bloat exept the Apps feature. Max RAM usage 50MB (peak) and max 2% CPU usage (usually 0). It’s still tiny. 2.0 added UDP trackers. 3.0 added android app control and 3.2 added proper .magnet link handling.

        When it comes to looks it looks almost 1:1 with how my 1.8.5 looked.
        On the topic at hand tho: i wont be upgrading to ad supported version. I mean if they add features (bloat) that can be disabled via advanced setting i dont care. But if adds are added then there’s usually no way to turn these off. I totally hate ads. And this move would be justified if they had no profit or very low profit, but since they’re already making up to 20 million $ profit, then this move seems like greed.

        • qBT

           I’m using qBitTorrent.
          Leeching off 5 torrents and seeding three, 12MB ram usage, 5% CPU.

        • LeperMessiah

          That’s revenue, not profit.

        • DRuNKeN MaSTeR

          Sorry to hijack this thread. But how the F still cares about memory usage??? Everyone I know has at least 2GB in their PCs, I have 4GB, and some of my friends even have 6 or 8GB. So what if Firefox takes up 500MB and Vuze takes anoter 300MB – I still have plenty to “play” with.

          Other than that, ads suck. If BitTorrent Inc. want to include ads somewhere, they should take their mainline client. They should have left uTorrent  like it was. Small, simple and for the enthusiast. No bloatware crap, no apps, etc…

          (Yes, I’m aware that Azureus/Vuze is also Bloatware since 2.x, but I’m using only the Classic interface.)

      • http://www.facebook.com/h4cky Ivelin Georgiev

        Mine work fine on Mac and PC!

      • Anon

         Bye bye utorrent. Hello tixati.

      • Mr. Methane

        Do you really care if they fix it? If they fix it it will be in the new version that will have ads. Now you have to use their ad filled version to get magnet-links to work. Why bother.  Like others on here have said, switch to Tixati. Magnet links work just fine.

        Don’t forget that those ads utorrent will be showing you are tracking you. Even if you have it turned off there will still be something sent to you in the window. Do you want to be monitored and tracked? I don’t. Leave utorrent before it’s too late.

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/7SOODE6ARVQOKVW4MHQWIUWJ4U DandyLion
      • FrostyC

        1 Word: Deluge

        • xpmule

           Like the one i released ;)

          2.2.1 DHT patched

          your all welcome lol

        • Nope

          Deluge is also as much or more of a resource hog than Azureus was.  I tried a Windows install of it once and it wanted to run GTK+, background daemons, and overall took 80-200mb RAM to _idle_.

        • Thedublibrarian

          @69f740b93ed8a3718d9aef2a2cb92251:disqus 

          Strange, Deluge doesn’t take more than 50 MB when stuffed with torrents on my machine (Windows 7).

          When idle, it takes 30 MB.

        • Technology Lesson

          @ Nope: you are complaining about 200MB of memory usage?!? WTF?!? Are you still using a 16-bit CPU as well? DDR3 memory costs $5 or less per GB, so 200MB costs $1 or less. I have 24GB of DDR3 in my computer, so 200MB memory usage is trivial, not worth looking at. Get a modern computer and stop worrying about it!!

      • 876edfgh

        Yeah, definitely upgrade to an older version of uTorrent. Something early in the 2 series works fine and keeps things light and easy. Now more than ever.

    • Moss8813

       I’m using 2.0.4….lol.

      • Snukesnizz

         I’m not upgrading past 3.0.1.  If I’m forced to, I’ll find another client.  Obnoxious, flashing ads suck.

        • Slamstas

          I used some built of 3.1.3 and it definitely was without adds. Just downloaded new one (3.2.2 )and is add spam infected. Will delete and install 3.1.3

        • snuke

          thanks, Slamstas. Enjoying 3.1.3 now.

    • Aredt

       uTorrent 2.2.1 – THE BEST

      • http://twitter.com/baddogOTM Patrick Quinn

        A private torrent site I use has a link to a download page so you can get 2.2.1, and has banned most versions since. I’m forced to use it but I’m quite happy with it.

    • radioman

      2.2.1 rocks, fuck the add’crapp ;}

    • http://torrentfreak.com/ Rob8urcakes

      Same here Sam!!  I too still use 2.2.1 and after foolishly attempting a full “upgrade” recently to the most up-to-date version, I quickly discovered just how awful things have got with uT.

      But this recent move to force users to view UNREMOVABLE ads will be a final death-knell to what was an excellent, lightweight and highly effective & flexible torrent client.

      BitTorrent Inc are now KILLING uT with their greed-motivated changes, and I can promise y’all right now that I’ll NEVER accept this shit from any corporation.

      Anyway, I’m sticking trusty old 2.2.1 and you can too by snatching it here -
      http://www.oldapps.com/utorrent.php?old_utorrent=38

      • Myself

        Grow up is a free product. If you invested your life in something you would want to make a decent living as well.

        • Hellno

           No.  You understanding is not correct.  The development team sold uTorrent a while back.  Even had they not, they are taking in between 15 and 20 million dollars per year.  After the sale, investment bankers got involved.  The 3.x releases and this decision to force ads were the decisions of the new ownership who is not satisfied with 15 to 20 million per year.  It will kill uTorrent and good riddance.

    • Gzz

       Had to doublecheck my v. number, 2.2.1 as well. I’m not updating.

      • Guest321

        I am on 3.1.2. I don’t even know when I updated. Should have stayed with 2.2.1 I guess but I won’t update anymore that’s for sure.

    • http://twitter.com/CYPHERDSOUL Kevin Matthew

      uTorrent 2.2.1 Build 25302 is the last good version before the 3.0 era, trust me… I helped build it! You can even remove the search bar (which they don’t allow later on) by opening preferences, advanced, UI extras and clearing the search engine list. Grab it here http://goo.gl/79K4U Linux users can just use Deluge.

      • Slamstas

        nonesense. flashed new one 3.2.2 and realized is spammed with adds. Luckily I had saved 3.13 (27167) before. A minute ago deleted new. flashed old. and here we go. no adds in your face and looks the same…

    • banana

       If you refuse updating your software you might be a mass murderer. D:

    • QUARTTZ

      ppl expect a world’s biggest software to raise their kids, clean the dishes, feed them and for free!?
      WTF! fucking give back few clicks, damn it!!l

      • Nsfbsnfbanfb

         scheiß die wand an!

    • Brudda

       I have 1.8.5 cookin’ right now.  Tastes great, less filling, and downloads/uploads files.  What more could I ever want?

  • Ryanr351

    good thing i no longer use utorrent
     

    • guest325

       Yeah, me to :)

      Switched to Tixati, at least they have text filter – functionality requested on uTorrent’s forums like 7 years ago…

      • Crib

         Tixati here too. I like it a lot and haven’t looked back. Switched 3 or 4 months ago.

        • Nudge Nudge Wink Wink

          Never heard of Tixati until now. Looks pretty good! Downloading now to try it out. I’m still using uTorrent 2.x because the 3.x series was absolutely horrid when I tried it. Looks like it’s only going to get worse too.

        • Guest

           Too bad Tixati isn’t open-source. I only use proprietary software if there is no choice.

      • BT since 2005 from Finland

        I am already using Tixati 64-bit version ( replaced my uTorrent 3.0 64-bit beta) and it might have some bugs in its UI but hey it will rock on .torrent/.magnet handling and transfers.

        You welcome to test, it has advanced settings for pro users.

      • PC`EliTiST

         I’m gonna try Tixati… I’m on Win7 x64; would you recommend the x64 version of Tixati? I’m asking because sometimes a few apps run better on their x86 versions…

        • guest325

          I use 64bit version since it became available, I’m not aware of any problems specific to this one.

        • lanat

          x64 version works great here, even better than the x86 version

  • SWITCH

     Time to switch !

    • AA

      Should’ve made that decision a long time ago…

      • Egodiversion

        Hipster AA.

        Switched BitTorrent client before it was cool

    • http://alllen.tumblr.com/ allen

      now’s a better time than ever, I suppose.

      just downloaded Deluge. seems like a solid program so far. and no ads, bloatware, or asks me to install a toolbar.

      • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

         Agreed, I like the plugin options, give you the bare bones and let you install what works for you.

        Thanks, µtorrent, I never would have moved to Deluge if it weren’t for you.

        Can’t help but wonder if everyone’s going to leave µtorrent over this, if this thread is any indication

    • George

       switch to Tixati. :) You won’t be disappointed.

  • Hell

    I do not have problem , i use deluge or transmission in Linux Mint .

    • foodandart

      Yup. Transmission all the way. Never had a single issue with it..

  • nick

    I can see Hollywood having something to say about this.

    • LiveFreely

      Yes… how dare these people legally distribute a legal technology and run a legitimate business accepting ads. The nerve… the horror!!!

      • http://profile.yahoo.com/7SOODE6ARVQOKVW4MHQWIUWJ4U DandyLion

        …the humanity!!!! Won’t someone think of the children?

        • chronoss chiron

          OR think of my buritos

      • Nope

        You mean like that book lending site that operated 100% in the clear and yet was buried under legal threats?

        Yeah, being legal doesn’t matter in the USA.

        • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

           More like buried under grammatically correct twitter flames from Authors that like reading so much that they can’t check their own contracts.

          …but I get what you mean.

    • Hollywood Bigshot Wanker

       I have already commented.

  • Adgss

    Happy im not upgrading from 1.8.3 then

    • EmailsSon

       1.7.7 FTW! & magnet2torrent

      • EmailsSon2

         I said 1.7.7 because I think it was the last version that you can use manual tracker announce any time you need.  It’s aggressive, so it downloads fast.  It also hooks to the swarm quick so you can upload at your max.*

        * Your mileage may vary.

        • EmailsSon3

           I’m wrong 2.2.1 also has manual tracker aanounce too – now I’ll use 2.2.1 or qbittorrent 3.0

          BUT I’ll also use the newest utorrent for remote connection

    • xpmule

       221 is just as good but a bit more secure

      • BJonesTF

        only in that there are fewer exploits and problems for 2.2.1 as there are for 1.8.3.
        Both are horribly insecure nowadays

        • http://torrentfreak.com/ Rob8urcakes

           In what way is 2.2.1 insecure BJ? 
          And what can we do to help protect ourselves please?

          I’ve been using it for years with no apparent problems, but I prefer to avoid “leaving my home with an open-door invitation to all passers-by”.  If that’s the sorta thing you’re on about.

          If you prefer, you can email me BJ.  TF already has my address.
          Thanks.

        • Guest321

          Why email? This isn’t something to hide. Post it here and make it public. If its something of major concern, we can all update asap or switch to an alternate client.

    • Djc

       I agree 100%! I have been using 1.83 forever and will never upgrade. I NEVER have a problem with it and all my private trackers have it white listed. Like they say…. If it ain’t broke……

  • Sir Wootington 3rd Esquire

    FUCK THAT!

  • The_seventh_guest

    TRIBLER FTW!!!

    • guest

       tribler will be the boss when they finally add the anonymous downloading thingy

  • Barrywhite

    rTorrent > all

    • JoeBlack

      rtorrent-0.9.2 + libtorrent-0.13.2 FTW

  • Gargamel

    What’s next? utorrent sueing downloaders for more money because 20 million a year isn’t enough?

    • Abusive

      What you just said makes absolutely no sense.

      • Gargamel

         It says in the first paragraph utorrent generates 15-20 million a year annually. The only thing that doesn’t make sense is how you so fucking stupid you didn’t understand this.

        • Guest

          He didn’t claim that Utorrent doesn’t make 15-20 million anually. He questioned the logic of assuming that the fact that they make money will lead to them suing people.

        • TommyBoy

          Why would the company go about suing its users? Your comment is so ignorant, I feel as though NOT responding would merely be just as insulting to my own intelligence.

  • politux

    ROTFL, enjoy your ads, windows users.
     
    PS: I told you so.

    • Gear Mentation

       Well, what if they actually come through and create and anonymous client… but it’s just for windows?  Then I’ll have to run a windows machine -or Wine or something- just for that. 

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/7SOODE6ARVQOKVW4MHQWIUWJ4U DandyLion

      Oh nosehair!!! Whatll I dooo? An ad!?? Never seen one of does B4! Gursh.

  • Guest

    Dunno why people still use uTorrent when you’ve got stuff like Deluge and rtorrent out there.

    • FakeElections

       I’m still using u-torrent because it downloads torrents,,,

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/7SOODE6ARVQOKVW4MHQWIUWJ4U DandyLion

      Just to piss you off.

    • Boner

      I still use it because it still works just fine.

    • TakeOnMe2

       Because that’s really all the know. Headless Geese really. Same reason no one thinks about the outdated 1.8.3 security holes they still have by not upgrading or at least switchin to a different client. Though, that’s no surprise a mass amount of torrenters and especially on this site.

  • O_0

    Switched to qbittorrent since they went to version 3 and believe there are many good if not better bt clients than utorrent. I don’t think this is about “keeping the lights on”. It’s more about cashing in on the large user base they have. This is something I’m sure most people saw coming ever since they offered the Premium version. Only thing that may save them would be to offer a low (< $20) one time payment for a option to not get ads, but even then why not just switch to one of the other many ad free bt clients?

    • FakeElections

      Or just don’t upgrade.. Goto filehippo.com and you can get any and every version of u-torrent.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002231500655 Liam Dolman

      They have the plus service? 

    • Guest

      qBittorrent is great.

  • Anyone

    I switched to Transmission and never looked back
    it has many GUIs for different platforms, so I can use torrents without having a torrent client installed and all is downloaded to a central computer without me having to use my datalimits on my phone

  • ScrewEwe2

    Another good reason to stick with µTorrent v.2.0.1.19078. I’ve got every build from µTorrent  v.1.1.3 to µTorrent  v.3.2.0.27636 backed up so Fuck the new Non-MicroTorrent add supported bullshit.

  •  ………………….

    I guest I’ll just wait for a cracked/no-adds version of their new client to pop-up on teh interwebz

    • O_0

      download the cracked version using the ad version just for the sake of it.

  • Anonymous

    If anyone wants to switch, here’s a list of alternatives:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libtorrent#Applications

  • Demonless

    I am still using version 1.6.1, but of course free ads are a great temptation to upgrade.

    • Derc@TPB

       LOL

    • Guest

      10/10 trolling

    • Demonless

       I should have added that I have been perfectly happy with uTorrent 1.6.1 for some 6 years now, and as my favourite tracker does not allow recent versions, I have good reasons not to upgrade, ads or no ads.

  • hiro

    I think it is time to go back to an old version or leave utorrent completely.

    The new UI (which is not that new anymore anyway) … well, it’s kinda OK. But when connecting with RDP over a slow line, the new UI uses lots of bandwith for updating the torrents. Older versions didn’t.

    Since its last update, my utorrent started to crash sporadically when adding new downloads.

    And now ads. Thanks, but no thanks.

  • townie2

    UTorrent has been getting too bloated over the last few years, should have kept it simple and light, and now their going corporate, not good.

    • Guest321

      Money corrupts everyone. Apparently 20 million profit a year is not enough for them. Now they need to bombard us with ads. Fucken pathetic.

      • guest321

        revenue != profit

        • mik

          revenue does not equal profit.some one earlier already mentioned that. 

  • Anon

     I don’t care. It probably won’t bother me. I never installed any of their toolbars, so I don’t mind supporting them by having these sponsored torrents in the client. It’s not like I’m looking at all the time. It’s a background app.

    • FinalApokylypse

      That’s pretty much my point of view on it as well. I’m all for ad’s when they aren’t too in your face/annoying. But they have to expect a huge amount of people to switch over to the competing torrent clients.

  • Derc@TPB

    Been using Utorrent for years .. Imma switch now.
    Derc@TPB

    • Paul

       Switch to Tixati man. Tixati has No Spyware and is much better than utorrent, vuze, bittorrent, and all the others.

      • Awonderingwhat

         How is it better then Deluge or qbittorrent for windows users?

  • http://twitter.com/Life1sPeachy DarkSideOfLife

    well i guess all either revert to older version of utorent or change my torrent platform all together 

    The reason i download torrents is to get away from ads  So this is a No go.

  • RIAAtarded

    no one ever learns… one of the primary reasons folks download TV is so they don’t have to watch commercials. Browsers have no scripts and Ad blockers, hell even my cellphone has it now. Why do I want crap bloating something that for me gain popularity when it was a single .exe file. Might just be me but I get tired of the constant marketing bombardment in every aspect of my life. I’ve never bought ANYTHING based on an advertisement NOTHING… and I’m tired of it popping up everywhere. Think about the time tv commercials waste. Almost 1/3 of the show is advertising and I find it annoying. I pay huge for my bundle with the cableco so in the run of an hour tv show I shouldn’t have to see ads to asks my doctor about ED meds at least a dozen times. So why do i want that when I download something? Folks would rather pay a small fee the deal with crap.

    • Techn9ne

      enjoy stealing ad-revenue from websites you sick fuck. You disgust me. You’re worse than hitler you sick murdering fuck. Fuck you

      • Mwhahaha

        I’m so glad I’m not you Techn9ne

      • FakeElections

         Go back to youtube troll

      • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

         Liked. excellent troll. also: Godwin, you lose.

    • Mwhahaha

      I hate to point this out, because I also hate ads, but they do help pay for the things you watch.
      The only alternatives to ad driven TV are PBS style donations and BBC style “tax” systems, so you have those or you’re looking at huge subscription fees or straight to DVD releases

      You simply can’t tax everyone enough to pay for all media that’s made and if all TV was donation based there’d be a lot less of it. That leaves the subscription based services which would be so costly they’d attract far fewer people.

      Annoying but true.

      • RIAAtarded

        As has been pointed out how can HBO and Showtime be commercial free then? You ever look at what most bundles cost? They are far from losing money. Commercials are purely an addition revenue stream not a mandatory one to make a sustainable business model and lets face it in prime time which one of us should need to explain what erectile dysfunction is to our kids? Only advertising that is even remotely useful is stuff that is regionally specific.

      • rg57

         ”if all TV was donation based there’d be a lot less of it.”

        Is that a problem?

        I am serious.

        • FreeBSD

          no it is not.

        • TheRichman

           I agree like I mentioned before. Less would be more. We are so bombarded with entertainment these days its ridiculous. Its not just 300+ tv channels and music channels but we now get entertainment delivered to our pc’c and even phones. We have turned the masses into entertainment zombie junkies. To ad to what I said earlier, I feel if one pays $40-80 for a cable package that it should be commercial free. You should not have to pay for content to be delivered to your door and then pay for it again just to open the package.

      • TheRichman

        “if all TV was donation based there’d be a lot less of it.”
        That would be fine by me since I think there is way far too much entertainment and a lot of it useless.

        “That leaves the subscription based services which would be so costly they’d attract far fewer people.”
        We already have a huge subscription based service, its called ‘Cable TV’ and personally I have always been against paying twice for content and since the whole nation went digital, all the broadcast stations lowered their power output since digital requires less power, till you can’t pick them up with an antenna anymore unless you right in the service driveway of the transmit tower.

    • Anyone

      no, the primary reason people download tv-shows is so they can watch them whenever they want, not when the network feels like airing them
      that the ads are removed is just a bonus

      • RIAAtarded

        Pretty much every cable and satellite provider has a DVR / PVR . My TV has that functionality built in if I bother to plug in a hard drive to it. Only reason I download tv is because I don’t want the commercial or to have to fast forward through them. Seems stupid to me that I pay for cable tv and if I dvr it that is legal but if i download it that is not. Both are digital copies of something I actively pay for 1 just carries jail time? foolish. 

      • Guest321

        You joking right? I download shit just so I don’t have to watch the ads. I rent DVDs just so I can avoid the ads. I go to cinemas so I don’t have to watch ads. I refuse to watch a 90 min movie turned into a 120 min movie with ad infestation. I have lost count of the number of times I have turned off my TV out of frustration halfway through a movie just because the endless stream of ads never end. Some channels show have 5 min commercial breaks every 10 mins, its a joke I tell you.

        The removal of ads is not a bonus, its one of the primary reasons for many people.

        It would be stupid of me to use a client that is infested with ads using up my bandwidth for no reason when there are so many alternatives.

        • Bob

          > I go to cinemas so I don’t have to watch ads.

          You must not be the punctual type, always getting there 25 minutes late just about when the film starts!

    • Anonymous

       You know originally when cable tv was created it was ad free….
      It was even advertised that it would always be ad free.
      Not look at it… the only station I can think of without ads during shows is HBO.

      • Anyone

        and Showtime

        only premium cable is adfree, the rest might as well be over the air, while the FCC can’t censor it, they censor themselves :/

        • Death to FCC’s censorship!!

          Another major reason for a new distribution model! FCC censorship doesn’t apply to the Internet at all. Transition all video content distribution to the Internet, pronto!

        • TheRichman

           I don’t understand where you get this. I had the Premium cable package before and it had the same commercial adverts.

    • LiveFreely

       ”I’ve never bought ANYTHING based on an advertisement NOTHING…”

      Anyone who knows anything about marketing and psychology knows that practically every purchase you have ever made was in fact heavily influenced by marketing whether you were aware of it or not.

      You beliefs, habits, and even your vocabulary have all also been influenced in much the same way as well, by marketing and by random input.

      The more someone believes it has no affect on them the more unaware they are of just how much of an effect it is having.

      Conscious awareness of it is the only way to moderate it, being deaf, dumb, and blind is the only way to stop it.

      Thinking you are immune unlike most everyone else is however rather appealing to the ego.

      • RIAAtarded

        I hold to my statements, marketing and advertising is just a tool to put forth your product in the positive way to promote sales to whatever demographic you happen to be targeting. Which in itself is fine if you choose to believe what you are being told or it has some appeal to you but i’m not swayed by the subtle art of bullshit which is mass advertising. There is no honesty in it and in truth that is what we really want to know about the product. 4 of of 5 dentists can’t possible recommend every type of toothpaste. Every car, truck, SUV, crossover seems to have won an award of some kind and you know bloody well at least one of them must be a lemon. My favourite has to be the axe body spray, woman falling out of the sky on you… ever smell it? I have… not because I bought it a buddy did and it was rather repugnant. Point being is there is no truth in advertising as such I’m not making purchases based on a 2 minute advert with pretty people saying how amazing it is.

        Just for curiosity sake what are you basing your opinion on? I don’t buy print media at all net is faster and more current, watch tv that is commercial free, have a flyer block on my mail, block all ads via the net right down to custom filters on my router so how exactly do you think I’m being influenced at all little lone heavily? Now you might think these measures are extreme but I can tell you most of my friends have gone the same route. In a society where it requires 2 jobs to keep your household about water, kids running a million directions every day of the week who has time for 20 minutes worth of commercials for crap they don’t want or need for each hour show they watch?

        Say what you will but more is not always better and ads in utorrent is a serious error and will drive away current users. Already I know several who haven’t moved past the 2.x versions as it is getting worse not better. Plus it isn’t like they’ll advertise anything useful.. VPN that don’t track user activities, good extradition lawyers for when the yanks come knocking.. i doubt it just more stuff to add to a host file.

        • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

           I think the reason you don’t believe it has any effect on you is because you miss the subtlety of it. Advertising is on one level about you seeing it has positive benefits, but on another level simply keeping it on a high level in your memory, so when you go to buy a soft drink, the word “Pepsi” will float around in your consciousness as you saw something familiar, memorable, humorous or even repugnant, and it stuck with you. Advertising works on far subtler levels that you may be aware of.

        • Jsdkjfhsd

          Just gonna add to Gene Poole here above me: most adverts are for exposure. just to place it in your mind. there are several ways to make the product seem good beside chick sitting on cars. even if you don’t need it right now you will have an impression on the product which will ultimately decide your choice to purchase it over the competitor – this is the point of advertising: not saying “oh you so need this car right now, click to buy”, it’s rather “when you find you need a car, our car is better than theirs”.
          Next time you go to a pharmacy to buy painkillers you will likely think of Advil instead of some unfamiliar product.

          Bittorrent clients are abundant out there. I think showing support to uTorrent depends on their way of presenting the ad. before I began using ad blockers I used to visit sites that didn’t have flashy banners because they would distract me but google ads were ok because they were unobtrusive text.
          I treat software as tools: if that Signet wrench is expertly made of solid steel then I can trust the brand. uTorrent worked just fine all these year that I’ve been using it since 1.8 so if they screw the product itself but making me uncomfortable of using it I’ll switch.

        • xpmule

          LiveFreely,
          The fundamental flaw in your logic is lumping ALL people into one group. some how that usually doesn’t pan out too well any guess’s why ?

          Ever wonder why hypnosis works great on some people and fails miserably on others ?

          I like nothing so how am i being sold on anything ?
          I’m a negative person that finds fault in everything..
          Why ? because everything sucks !!

          I’ll give you an example. Say i want to go and buy my favorite food at Wallmart. I sometimes look at the print ad’s in store or online ad’s before i go.
          What is my final decision based on ?
          Experience and price.
          And what do those 2 things have to do with marketing ? Nothing.

          I remember hearing about subliminal advertising back in like ’88/’89
          I’m familiar with the concepts being portrayed but bear in mind we are ALL not retard lemmings.. some of us make our own decisions and don’t think people like myself are common either.

          I don’t buy the logic.. Sounds like piece fitting from a back yard mechanic shrink in a 2nd yr shrink class. Life would be real simple if we could stereo type everyone on earth. Lets see how well that logic works in life for you..

      • xpmule

        my ego agrees with my wallet lol
        your full of shit and can go back to your psych classes now

        How am i being influenced when i have no tv radio and adblock everything on the net combined with my wallet only opens when i buy something i want like food.

        Your logic is only applicable if you can trace money from my wallet
        and you won’t find a link period. If i want anything i read a million reviews on say headphones and i go and try them out and buy what i chose so explain to me how i am a marketing victim ?

        • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

           ever heard of print ads? bus ads? billboards? Fuck, product placement on TV and movies? That character you find amusing on Big Bang Theory who just happens to be playing xbox can give you warm feelings and make you have a more positive feeling towards DC comics. or World of Warcraft. Those are 3 I just pulled off the top of my head.

          He’s right. ads are much subtler than you think. you’re just refusing the surface layers.

        • RIAAtarded

          gene poole your argument is flawed. Print ads are a dead form of advertising as most get info online because it is a wider selection and current. bus ads? Last time I was on a bus was high school or when saving for a car, I can tell you I never read the ads. I was more concerned with sitting somewhere as far away from the fish plant workers as possible and my generation pre-dates all these nice electronic distractions we have today. Dating myself here but i put on a walkman and tuned out. billboards? I know they are there but what info can you inpart on someone speeding by the damn thing at 60 mph? Only one i actually read is the lotto one thinking I should buy a ticket which instantly leaves my mind as fast as i passed the sign. As to product placement in TV it doesn’t matter what way the coke logo on the cups are turned in American Idol I still don’t buy based on that. Anyone with 1/2 a brain does research on purchases or gets recommendations based on word of mouth or exposure to it via friends, family etc. 

        • Guest

           @d10ca8d11301c2f4993ac2279ce4b930:disqus

          Correct me if I’m wrong, but you seem to assume that because you don’t actively pay attention to ads, you haven’t attended to them at any level of perception, am I right? I can tell you that this is not true. If your eyes even pass over an ad, you have some level of exposure (assuming you see the product name). This is because you passively attend to all objects that enter your field of vision, unless you are in an area where pre-existing schemas can inform your brain of every environmental stimulus that could be possibly be important. An example of this phenomenon can be demonstrated in laborities, where even having people pass their eyes over a brand name made them more likely to purchase that product in the future, even if the individual researched the product and its competitors. The effect was also universal, meaning all tested individuals had it. No one was immune

          It’s possible that you’re really unaffected by ads of all types, and that you are a perfectly rational being when making purchasing decisions. It’s not inconceivable, but it would make you a fairly unique individual among humankind. I’m going to go with the far more likely situation, and suggest that while you may be less affected by ads than most, you are still affected by them, and the fact that you think you aren’t is an example of self-serving bias.

        • TheRichman

           You said you read a million reviews……… well a review is still an advertisement. Ads are not defined as such that only come from the manufacturer or marketing arm. Maybe you just don’t get it and it appears from your comment that you are more likely the typical type that advertisers target and effect.

        • TheRichman

           I will explain how you are a marketing victim. You just admitted that you read advertisements called ‘Reviews’ that directed you to consider a product.
          I would have to agree with the statement,
          “Conscious awareness of it is the only way to moderate it, being deaf, dumb, and blind is the only way to eliminate it.”
          You can be aware of marketing and think your not effected at all and be actually ‘Moderating’ it or you can be thinking it isn’t effecting you at all and be the typical ‘effectee’ (person being effected, to coin a new work) becuase you don’t understand tht marketing comes from so many millions of sources and so subtle and effects all of us, even the ones that dream up all of the physiology behind it are effected subconsciously. Nobody is completely immune unless your deaf and blind

      • Guest321

        I am sorry but if you get influenced by ads and marketing campaign, then you are just the kind of pawn these marketers are looking to attract. I prefer to do my own research before parting with my money on any product. I don’t believe one word of advertisements because every company would like you to believe their products are the best.

      • Guest

        “Anyone who knows anything about marketing and psychology knows that practically every purchase you have ever made was in fact heavily influenced by marketing whether you were aware of it or not.”

        lol

        Looks like we’ve got a marketer over here. The truth is that all marketing does is make people aware that a product exists, and maybe become a subject of watercooler talk for a little while if an ad was interesting. The concept that marketing deeply influences people psychologically and practically hypnotises them into buying things is bullshit made up by marketers to over-inflate their own importance and justify their ridiculous salaries.

        • 4DC2BF48

          Marketers only need to be pretty good at marketing themselves.

        • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

           Keep thinking that, I’m pretty sure the ad companies would prefer it that way ;)

        • Guest

           ”The concept that marketing deeply influences people psychologically and
          practically hypnotises them into buying things is bullshit”

          This is a strawman argument. No one claims this. Advertisements do not have deep influence, but when making product decisions, even the smallest difference in your perception can result in sales.

      • Doctor Who

         well, that’s what the marketing theorists would like you to believe, but the fatal flaws of the theory are the assumptions that 1) everyone is exposed to the same messages (once true, but becoming less so by the day), and 2) people naively are convinced that all messages they get from media are true on their face (again, once true but less and less so as we grow out of the infancy of the media age).

        The power grab by marketing theorists to own ordinary information sharing and osmosis of messages from one’s peers is only that – a power grab.  People have been sharing, borrowing, imitating and being persuaded by other people since the dawn of time.  Would you agree that Adam was the rube of Eve’s marketing ploy when he ate some of the apple she offered him?  If you would, you’re sicker than you can imagine.

        • Guest

          Your argument is severely flawed

          ” everyone is exposed to the same messages (once true, but becoming less so by the day)”

          This is not an assumption made. Nowadays, advertisements are targeted. Each state gets different TV ads, different people get different internet ads, syndicated radio shows play different ads in different areas, etc. Marketing has never been about exposing as many people as possible to the message, it has been about exposing the maximum amount of people in a target demographic, which is easier now than ever.

          “people naively are convinced that all messages they get from media are
          true on their face (again, once true but less and less so as we grow out
          of the infancy of the media age).”

          First; this was never true, and it’s more true now than it ever was in the past. In the past, there were no well-established laws against false advertisement. I could easily put talcum powder in a jar and claim that it would cure Polio if I wanted. The idea that this has gotten worse in recent years is a fallacy.

          Second; this is not an assumption made by researchers of marketing effects. The question of whether advertising affects people does not work on the assumption that people believe that all advertising is true. The important factor is exposure. If an ad gets people to research a product to find out if the ad was true or not, then it has increased their likelihood to buy that product by increasing their exposure to it and making them think about that product.

          “Would you agree that Adam was the rube of Eve’s marketing ploy when he ate some of the apple she offered him?”

          This is the definition of a strawman argument. No one claims that, and you have not presented evidence or arguments that this event is similar to advertisements in any way, shape or form.

      • TheRichman

         Couldn’t have said it better myself.

    • quawonk

       ”I pay huge for my bundle with the cableco”

      May I ask why, when you can just download them?

      • RIAAtarded

        I pay because it is the right thing to do. They do provide a service I’m taking advantage of and enjoy so have no issues paying for what I utilize. My problem comes with their double billing and calling it licencing and copyright. If I pay for cable tv and the show airs and I miss it I should be legally allowed to get a copy of it off the net I did pay for it already after all. So I watch it on tv…legal… I DVR it watch it a dozen times hell several DVRs have usb drive capability so i could keep it forever… legal…. use time shifting…. legal… grab it off the net because you forgot to do any of the other options… illegal… copy it to a portable device to watch while mobile… illegal.. There shouldn’t be a distinction here all are digital copies of the same thing but they are greedy and want to earn as many revenue streams as possible and if they can force us to pay for the same thing multiple times they are going to do it until we tell them no. For me I’m going to take a logical approach. I’ll pay but not for stupidity and I’ll try to change the laws to get a sane approach to what is clearly price gouging. 

  • TrebuchetKewl

  • Pingback: uTorrent Becomes Ad-Supported to Rake in Millions | The Illuminati

  • Phil Landry

    there is so much alternative that it’s not even a problem. The last utorrent I used was 1.7.7 back in the day when I used Windows. Now that I’m windows free , I’m also free of a lot of crapware. 

  • LiveFreely

    If you’re a uTorrent user, assuming the ads don’t hog computer resources, slow down your torrents, or interfere with your ability to use the software conveniently than you probably won’t mind them making a few extra million.

    Of course if it does hog resources, slow down your torrents, and is annoying in whatever way, no problem there are plenty of alternatives out there for you.

    I see no reason in getting mad about it though, use it or don’t, either way enjoy :)

    • Nope

      There is such a thing as protesting or expressing ones disdain.

      “use it or don’t” is a little passivistic, you think? Any number of larger organizations could say the same thing in response to demonstrations, boycotts, etc, and in those circumstance you would probably be one of the people ranting at how much they just don’t care.

      • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

         To be fair, as the consumers, we’re the ones with the power, we have the choice to use it or not. The companies marketing the product are the ones who have to be concerned over the whims of the consumers. That door does not swing both ways. Same concept as voting with your dollars.

  • Montisaquadeis

    I would say it is time for a new comparison on torrent clients.  I am looking to switch to something other then utorrent. As I am using windows vista I cant use the likes of rtorrent or what not. We need a good list of clients that are lightweight and resource friendly unlike the likes of utorrent with all this crap going into the client. Also one that supports the new protocol that the largest trackers wanted added. Wither the client has recently added it or if it has had it for ages doesnt bother me at all. I just want something far better then the crap that is utorrent. so give me some suggestions people.

    • http://www.rpgmaster.wordpress.com/ RPG Master
      • Montisaquadeis

         Glad to see that Deluge is FOSS “free and open sourced”. Means that if needed I can have someone look at the code and see if its doing anything sneeky or what not. I support open sourced projects as much as I can by using them.

    • Mastermikeywwt

      qbittorrent =)

    • tusr

      Tixati

    • BJonesTF

      We’re working on it. Only so many hours in the day though.

      • Taishou

         Awesome. Looking forward to your comparison then :3

      • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

         Is it ready yet? ;)

  • Guy2435

    Goodbye uTorrent! I’ll be switching clients.

  • Gear Mentation

    “Keeping our lights on” what bullshit, how do they think open source clients do it?  Anyway, does uTorrent have any plans to become anonymous?  If not, they are a completely deprecated technology anyway and it doesn’t matter what they do.

  • LRN

    A good example of why proprietary software is bad.
    To uTorrent users: seriously people, when Bittorrent. Inc (whose sole responsibility is to bring money for the shareholders) claims that it protects user’s privacy, and that collected IP addresses won’t be used for anything other than showing ads…Do you *believe* them? Especially since there’s no way for you to *check* that they are true to their word?

    Me, still using Azureus. Deluge is also nice, it’s my backup option.

    • Gear Mentation

      Yes, they have to give up using your IP address.  That is a model which is incompatible with anonymity, and therefore HAS to go.

  • Pingback: Torrent News » uTorrent Becomes Ad-Supported to Rake in Millions

  • Gear Mentation

    Humm, since they want feedback, I would definitely go for adware, if it had certain advantages: zero chance of being whacked in any way by my internet provider or the MAFIAA/trolls, in addition to an “overlay network” like tribler (so no sites necessary) and other features which make it nice and easy to use.  I’d be fine with discreet adds in such a case, but just as with the MAFIAA, it’s all about providing the best service, and in this case about keeping your users safe.  If you don’t have plans to keep people truly safe from the MAFIAA, just close up now please.

  • Andrew me

    I still use utorrent as it has had the best GUI and is a very small install compared to some. It never crashes for me and i get decent speeds , actually fantastic speeds if there are enough seeders.
    I can understand them wanting to make some money now that they have millions of users and do not think it is a bad idea to support them if they move forward on developing anonymous torrenting very very soon. But the ads must be non intrusive i.e not take up 1/4 of the screen. A small banner on the top is ok as my utorrent program is minimized most of the time, but nothing more.

    • Gear Mentation

       Exactly, well put… you mean a banner at the top of the uTorrent client window… but the anonymous part is the main thing.

    • Mwhahaha

      Don’t you think the people making the things you download deserve that money more than some guys who wrote some software which was good 5 years ago? 

      • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

         Honestly, THIS. If there was some way to monetize the client so that ads clicked were funneled back to the content creators, I wouldn’t care and would happily click away, which i waited for my torrents to finish.

        MAFIAA, Pay attention! This is how you innovate!

  • Ender Wiggin

    is this some Onion bullshit?  Paid ad’s + enabling pirates=  federal fucking indictment these days.

    at a minimum i expect the massive lawsuit incoming from the industry in 3….2….1…

    • Gear Mentation

       Well yeah, that’s what I thought the first thing….

    • LiveFreely

      So I guess Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, your computer manufacturer, and your ISP are all getting indictments in 3….. 2…. 1…..

      Nope.

      BitTorrent itself has absolutely nothing more to do with piracy than all the above, it wasn’t created for piracy and there is nothing illegal about it.

      • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

         I think you’re going to eat those words in less than 6 months. I really believe bittorrent inc will get slapped with a lawsuit from the MAFIAA. Either that or a massive DDOS before getting their servers seized, SWAT teams smashing through the windows and all their assets locked down.

  • Johnston

    I wonder what the ads are going to be for. Movies, music, ebooks and games? It’ll be a great help for people trying to decide what to download next.

    The other thing is I fully expect altered ad-free versions to start appearing some of which will be trojaned.  Sweet! More Winblows botnet zombies.

    • Mwhahaha

      How will it be a great help?

      Unless they’re monitoring what you download to pitch specific things to you?

      You want to be monitored?

  • Anon

    Yup. Time to change then. Ads – me no like. Bullshit “keep the lights on” argument. Greed more like. If I wanted ads I’d watch tv.

  • John Space

    G-Google? Is that you?

  • Guest

    How long will it be before the MAFFIA gets the Feds to storm troop the offices of uTorrent to get them shut down and arrested for racketeering and profiteering from piracy!

    • LiveFreely

       Right after they get the ISPs

      /snark

  • Guesto

    For now I use µT but I don’t want forced ads in my applications. So I will switch to another client like Deluge or qTorrent.

    • John Space

      Or just uncheck the “periodically check updates” box. I just did that and will stay in 3.1.3 for a long time.

  • TheEmpathicEar

    I am sure this will be discussed “ad nauseam”. Someone will “hack” the ad-supported versions and make them available.

    • Mwhahaha
      • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

         don’t older releases also carry with them the risk of gigantic security holes?

        • Anonymous

           Most private torrent sites fix those holes in the torrents when you download them from the site. Im not sure if public sites do this.

        • BJonesTF

          yes ,yes they do. And ‘anonymous’, Most private sites (remember, they’re not private, they’re actually logging a LOT of info about you) often are clueless about bittorrent. The things I’ve seen staff of those sites say… I’ve seen them make claims about clients having features that weren’t even developed last time the client was developed, and I’ve also slipped some (false) rumors out there, and found such site admins vigorously backing them as fact, with ‘evidence’ and everything. All made up :-)

          Before I started with TorrentFreak, it’s how I staved off boredom.

  • Zenamez

    I have a horrible image of a large, dark room with a centre, oblong table with all the media outlet (MPAA, RIAA etc) fat cats sitting around it puffing on expensive cuban cigars and cackling as they read this. I have the most horrible feeling that if these ‘companies’ (Read: Rackets) can’t get the revenue out of the tracker sites, they’ll go for the client and releasing profit margins like that is only smothering it in honey for them. 

    • chronoss chiron

      and all these old men wearing a hat saying CEO on it wearing fluffy lil pink outfits….add that in 

  • Derc@TPB

    Y UNO SET UP DONATION LINK Utorrent?

  • StupidPeopleShouldntBreed

    It’s articles like this that make me against torrents. And no wonder it pisses off Hollywood so much.

    Whatever happened to “sharing is caring” ?

    • Guest

      I guess Hollywood think that the money comes from the advertising from the adverts is rackeetering money from piracy.

      • Ophelia Millais

        Absolutely; this is what they say about the torrent sites, YouTube, etc. — that these companies are profiting off of piracy. The irony is that Hollywood and the record industry, if they wanted to, could be profiting off of “piracy”, too, if they wanted.

    • Mwhahaha

      There’s not many who really go with the sharing is caring mantra, unfortunately. Most people, pirates, studios, torrent sites, clients, cyberlockers are all out for what they can get.

      The original uploaders of content and people who seed responsibly are the only ones who can be said to be caring I think.

      • Lolk

        I’m not even sure I’d even consider responsible seeders as caring, seeing as how it’s literally no cost to them, but point taken.

    • Shadowtaken

      “It’s articles like this that make me against torrents.” You’re wrong, it isn’t the articles it’s the people in them that gives you that feeling, there’s nothing wrong with the truth and you should feel privileged to be informed before the “bombs drops”.

      You worded that poorly, so I had to act for the betterment of man kind.

  • Lee Roger Glow

    Don’t worry guys, I’m sure they won’t even consider abusing the direct connection to your torrent client and they certainly wouldn’t consider monitoring what you’re downloading for targeted adverts like Google.

    Wait a second…

  • Tabris

    How long before the MPAA accuses them of making money off of those who use uTorrent to violate copyright and sends in the feds?

    • Guest

      Thats what i said a few moments ago and yeah I bet the MAFFIA when they hear about this will be thinking that the money received from the advertising from these adverts is racketeering money from piracy and will no doubt be thinking up charges etc. and reasons for sending in the feds ala helicopters and rambo style.

    • Mwhahaha

      Yup, that’s my thinking too. It won’t take long. The pirates should get organised if they’re going to continue, the net seems to be closing in on them this year.

  • Gear Mentation

    Let’s look at the big picture.  Say uTorrent through stupidity gets taken out by the MAFIAA.  Well, that doesn’t stop sharing.  It just makes everyone TRULY aware that the only good bittorrent client is a truly anonymous one.  So in real terms, the demise of uTorrent is probably the best thing that can happen to culture.

  • http://modmyi.com/forums/iphone-4-new-skins-themes-launches/740147-neurotech-hd.html#post5637502 Jay

    $20 million would keep my lights on for the next 300 years.

    • chronoss chiron

      22,222 years for people renting rooms

  • Mwhahaha

    Personally I’d prefer not to see ads, especially for a delivery system which is popular due to the amount of pirate material it carries. I’d rather see a content creator get some ad revenue directly instead.

    As ever it’s always about money, no matter who you are, you want to get paid for your work.
    I wouldn’t mind so much, but the last few builds of utorrent have been really glitchy, the sign of complacency which doesn’t bode well for the future of the software. Also they’ve always been utter twats when it comes to their users. Not just ignoring them, but actively insulting them.

    I wouldn’t be shocked to see them only start accepting legal torrents from legal torrent sites, such as mininova. They’ll soon be pressured to stop facilitating piracy, if they’re not already. The more they’re worth the more likely it is that someone will try and sue them.

    I’m guessing there’s no way they can prevent the old builds working, so I’ll be making sure not to update again. The more I think about it, the more I’d like a new client.

    Will TF soon be doing a review of current torrent clients?

    • BJonesTF

      @1a2d411eb5ed6109b2fc111f58871c5b:disqus ”
      Will TF soon be doing a review of current torrent clients? ”

      Yes, it’s being worked on right now.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Don-Dilly/1624894683 Don Dilly

    It wont take long for someone to work a patch that kills the ads. It happened to practically all IM software that tried to monetise by selling adspace on the interface and chat indows.

    What is of more concern is that uTorrent via the admitted ads is will be known to phone home and that will raise concerns as one of the obvious ways of targeting adspace is by noting what you are downloading.

    The other thing of course is that with the MAFIAAs claims that something like 95% oftorrenttraffic is infringing, just wait for the MAFIAA lawsuit trying to redirect the bulk of the ad revenue in their direction.

    The ads are not a good idea and the press release on the subject is tant amount to a suicide note.  Wither users seeking ad free alternatives on one side and guarenteed the MAFIAA will try and take the lionshare, it makes you wonder why they are doing it.

    • LiveFreely

      Maybe they have studied the issue, consulting a swarm of lawyers, and after considering everything they are confident that they would win any case brought against them, which would further demonstrate the legal status of P2P technologies in general?

      • TheRichman

         I would agree it makes sense that if you have that much revenue, you would have spent at least a couple $100k on attorney to come over the law and if not leave no stone unturned, at least have a fair idea of most of the possible outcomes of the move and that the possible gain would outweigh the gain. I don’t think that anyone in this corp. is too stupid to not have at least their I’s crossed and their T’s dotted if not the other way around.

    • Sdaads

       Yes and then you install spyware… Just stick to open-source BitTorrent clients.

  • Mwhahaha

    Give me anonymity and you can give me ads, toolbars, whatever you like.

    • Gear Mentation

       haha… until someone comes along and makes an open source version (;  Frostwire is an excellent client IMHO, and also cross-platform.  If anyone comes up with a way to make things anonymous, it will soon be standard.

      • Doctor Who

         Why is it so friggin’ hard to just stop displaying the IP addresses of peers in the client?  Only the tracker needs to know  what the IP addresses are, and trackers can encrypt the data so it can’t be easily spied on.  Granted, DHT and Peer Exchange also need the IP addresses, but they don’t need them displayed in the client and for these and services like them, there isn’t a single server that spies can latch onto to grab the data.
        Probably there’s some reason why it isn’t this simple. Anyone?

  • Gear Mentation

    Will TF soon be doing a review of current torrent clients? And we need an update from Tribler on their progress re anonymity  http://torrentfreak.com/researchers-anonymous-bittorrent-client-120601/

  • Shadowtaken

    I’d be fine with this if it was optional, but it’s not optional and not even opted in, it’s forced and there’s no option to disable it, that’s taking advantage of peoples trust, a foul move to be sure and one that will be it’s undoing to even try without making it optional, it’s bad enough people click yes to any thing but not even giving the option? that’s suicide.

  • Guest

    QBittorrent (http://www.qbittorrent.org/) FTW. Open source. Lightweight. Nothing fancy beyond categories for your torrents. Supports all the newest protocol features.

    • Gear Mentation
    • Guest

       Arch Linux should put qbittorrent in official repositories. Just saying!

  • Dontthinkso

    Great, can’t wait to see Hollywood and music industry ads while I’m downloading their stuff xD

  • TorrentPower

    FUCK THEM. Just using 2.01. 19078 or 2.0.4
    this is not good this ad thing, big risk for users, 
    Door ring: Hey RIAA guys hello do you want coffee, biscuits, what the fuck is that swat team behind you….. 

    • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

       The thing that concerns me with all these people using older versions, the constant need for updates is in part because of new protocols, upgrades, etc, but it’s always to fix security flaws and holes, as well.

      Recently Demonoid got hit with a massive DDOS right before they got raided. Wikileaks has been under a massive DDOS for a while now.

      While nobody can necessarily prove anything, I think it’s a fair thing to suspect that the US Gov’t (and by proxy, the MAFIAA) are not above breaking the law to accomplish their goals.

      If there’s a massive exodus from µtorrent to the older versions, and it’s noticeable, some enterprising hacker, probably government funded, is going to take advantage of that and at least take down all these older clients if not something far more nefarious, depending on the security holes. Are you really willing to let someone comb through your hard drives looking for evidence?

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  • Helrel

     I switched from the bloated windows utorrent to deluge on debian and very happy I did!

  • VengaMooo

    Dude, uTorrent is jsut cool like that. Wow.
    On-Privacy.tk

  • RandPC

    So, any opinions on what the best replacement is?

    Deluge/Tixati/qBittorrent?

    • FreeBSD

      tixati

  • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

    The whole reason I started using  µtorrent (mutorrent, I will never call it microtorrent or utorrent) was because it was such a tiny size. I’ve been watching it bloat for years now and never changed apps just because it was already there and I was used to it. Now I can finally look around for a new program, because I’m not going to be bombarded by ads, and frankly just because they’re only monitoring my ip address now doesn’t mean that’s how it’s always going to be.

    Anyone got any suggestions for an alternative lean torrent app? not tribler, that thing’s still half baked.

    • FreeBSD

      tixati.

      • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

         Looked at it, it actually looks really good. Only problem is it’s proprietary, not open source. Sure, they say there’s no spyware but how do you know? Will have to give it some thought. So far Deluge is pretty good.

  • C Racey

    I’m all for this company raking in lots of money. We need to build an industry that has some clout, and some capital to compete with the pro-copyright groups.

    What I would love to hear from them though is that they will put thier proffits to use promoting and supporting bittorrent trackers, and pro-piracy groups. It’s in their interests after all that these things stay around.

    We also need more powerful lobby groups to fight against the movie and music industry lobby, which is currently on the war path

  • http://my.opera.com/ZakMichigan/blog/ Jean Chicoine

    qBittorrent for me: http://www.qbittorrent.org/

  • Timtim2

    The reason for this move, and something nobody seems to be paying attention to, is that in Windows 8, IE under metro blocks all toolbars/addons, severely dampening their revenue.

    • chronoss chiron

      lol and trillions are gonna use winblows 8
      its like windows ME on acid for crap

  • chronoss chiron

    after bitorrent Inc bought Utorrent it DEVOLVED QUICKLY

    there fixed it for you… everything else about it is dead, it died after 1.8.2 for real…the rest of you suckers well enjoy

  • Peter Fox

    And so the cycle continues… Company develops Torrent Client, then adds a toolbar download, creates a ‘Pro’ version, then implements adverts then implements annoying spam like features, then loses client base and so they migrate to another company’s Torrent client which hasn’t got these problems but become popular so the developer starts to add more ways to cash in…

    Shame, but oh well, Open Source ones are getting better luckily… 

  • Qoaa

    Dont use utorrent 3.0 or later!

    the highest I would recommend to go is 2.2.1 can be downloaded at oldversions or oldapps website.

    3.0 introduced toolbar adware and all sorta bloat crap, and now ads with some ads installing malware.

    utorrent is gone and lost now… 

  • Dgdsg

    If the ads are too obvious and in the way I will cease to use their client. Plenty of other stable clients out there to pick from.

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  • https://openid.org/lulaladrao LulaLadrao

    If add = Change Client = No profit

    Back to my beloved azureus

  • user

    I had an older version of uTorrent installed on one of my windows computers. I suppose it’s now time to fine an open source torrent client. Why do people download movies and tv shows instead of watch them on TV? Because they are free, and they are ad free. Goodbye uTorrent, selling out to the advertisers is not the right answer.

  • TheEmpathicEar

    The importance of file-sharing will be revealed when the “ad-supported” versions of uTorrent are hacked and made available to the community. You will still be able to use uTorrent with the “ad-supported” feature neutered.

  • Dxloat

    They can’t be “ turned off ” lol. Wana bet.

  • xpmule

    Well i don’t use any 3x version so i don’t care.
    I use v2.2.1 with a DHT patch i uploaded to TPB
    combined with a crippled read only apps folder
    so it can NOT under any circumstances download dumb shit
    which includes a host file block entry.
    # Block uTorrent Apps
    127.0.0.1 apps.bittorrent.com

    Go ahead BT i dare you morons to take your crap further lol
    Bad enough you took a cool free simple app and then gayed it up
    and made a premium edition and punish people with the ol’ toolbar routine
    and now you wanna pound us with in-client ad’s ? LOL hell NO !

    These douche bags need to go and check recent history ;)
    Ever heard of eDonkey dumbass’s ?
    What happened to them ?
    eMule did ;)
    point made.

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  • AdLover

    I enjoy ads. :-)
     

  • AdLoverrr

    I enjoy ads. :-)
     

  • Xyz@gmail.com

    F it. I’m uninstalling even the older version. Why advertise utorrent for them in the peers list when they’ve sold out to greed.

    • T A C

      lol, and to think i actually installed that lousy toolbar thinking that i ought to “support” them >.<

    • DutchGuest

      That’s about the same thing i was thinking, just switched to Deluge.
      Doesn’t seem to hog resources, can be run as a Daemon with a WebGUI, so good for people like me who work with their browser a lot, and the Daemon uses even fewer resources (seemingly, at least).

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000887370048 Charles Scott

    I highly dislike this, and don’t really plan on upgrading utorrent anymore.  My client works perfectly fine as is, and is setup and operational with all the addons that I need to use it the way I do.  Every time an update comes out everything is broken on my end and needs fixed.  Tired of that crap.  Now they want to throw in advertisements.  Gee…

  • Anonymous

     I’m already using Ubuntu on my HTPC, so the majority of my torrenting has been uTorrentless for quite some time.  I’ll probably just stick with my current uTorrent install on my Windows machines now…

    What’ll they think of next?  Ad supported no-script?  The entire reason I switched to uTorrent was to get away from bloat =/

    • DutchGuest

      Actually, look at the no-script website…
      Quite a lot of ads there.
      I’d not be surprised if they ad a ‘whitelist’ for site they deem ok, that is auto-on when you first install it, just like adblockplus does these days.
      As soon as i read about the adblocplus whitelist i switched to trueblock, and i’ll not donate another cent to Wladimir’s adblockplus project until he removes the whitelist bullshit.
      And if noscript ever goes that route i’m sure someone will make a ‘whitelist free’ version soon enough that i would switch to in a heartbeat.

  • Bert Ritto

     Am still using version 1.8.1. Why anyone update beyond 2.2.1 is a mystery. This news doesn’t affect BT users with a brain.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=676827475 Luke Solis

    2 comments: 
    one, toolbar is not optional. they say it is, but I still get some kind of tool bar onto my web browsers.two: this changes nothing. I never used Utorrent to find my torrents.

  • Whos with me?

    DELUGE!!!

  • Oleg Milyaev

    Time to switch to another client, preferably open-source, like Deluge or Transmission or qBittorrent. 

  • T A C

    tried vuze for a day – the bloat and lack of a (built-in) scheduler were dealbreakers…. 
    tixati on the other hand was ok, but i didn’t like the crammed interface when i tried it a year ago. 

    will see how they implement this, if i don’t like it, will switch over to tixati. 

    & the “region-specific” ads make me uneasy :(

    perhaps the onus is now on utorrent to offer a private mode, similar to chrome’s “incognito”

  • Jah Resin

    uTorrent started off great but has gone downhill and has now reached the pinnacle of pure brain-rot shit – advertisements. Switched to linux years ago and found Deluge, no ads no skins no toolbars no frills no bullshit just a simple client that works, thats all i want, even better you can add torrents via infohash – copy & past no clicking. i fucking hate ads so utorrent is dead, sell out fucks.

  • Fuckthefeds

    how the hell does utorrent make 20 mil/year without ads?

  • albie fraser

    Maybe Shareaza deserves another look,the open source one.

     http://sourceforge.net/projects/shareaza/

  • ThumbsUpThumbsDown

    It’s worth considering the economic and political meaning of “125 Million users a month” in the context of the existing Hand To Hand Death Struggle between the current Monopoly Corporate Anachronisms and the emerging swarm of p2p innovators that, even when they’re Big, are still “born yesterday” and “vulnerable”. 

    First, on the 125 Million Users thing:  Chump Change….Six Billion Human Beings who want immediate and convenient access to Ideas can reach these Ideas far better through p2p file sharing programs such as uTorrent than via any existing Copyright Previledged Distribution Mechanism…..This reality is the very sharp knife at the neck of the existing Copyright Monopolies…..A dismal Future is written for current Copyright Monopolies in the Ability of Companies like uTorrent to monetize what are truly paltry user volumes today (125 million users) in anticipation of having the opportunity to monetize what are certain to be astranomical p2p user volumes in the future (Perhaps on the fat side of a Billion, if we consider five or ten percent of global population).  

    Second, on the Hand to Hand Death Struggle thing…..

    This particular war has been fought without truce or quarter against p2p techology for a very long time.  The mere fact that uTottent has been able to grow a 125 million user volume; and, the mere fact that uTorrent chooses today to announce aggressive Monetization of that user volume, in no way supports an argument that the p2p community is not healthier and more secure precisely because of uTorrent’s, and other p2p competitor’s  ability to grow and monetize to scales relevant to their potential. 

    Will the Copyright Behemouth come calling, laying claim to uTorrents’ add revenues? 

    You Bet.  They’ve come before…..They found AudioGalaxy, Napster, Grokster, MegaUpload…..They viciously sodomized those p2p baby rabbits……Yes they could…and Yes they did….

    But have you noticed that the irresistable trend has been for those baby p2p rabbits to grow into really BIG and really TOOTHY p2p Wolverines?

  • 324234

    utorrent went downhill ever since 2.2.1

  • http://www.alamokeyandlock.com/ Vivienne

    It is estimated that the company currently generates between $15 and $20
    million in annual revenue but this figure is expected to rise after it
    was quietly announced that uTorrent will become ad-supported.

  • Taishou

    Lol, I never had any probs with newer uTorrent versions, updating or anything. Nor I ever had any toolbars (3.1.3 is what I have now). Still, if sometime I update and I see ads, I’ll uninstall right away and switch to whatever looks good enough.

    “BitTorrent previously informed TorrentFreak that people in different
    geographical locations will see different content. This means that
    uTorrent will use your IP-address to lookup where you are. Other than
    that, the company says that users’ privacy is guaranteed.”

    Idiotic. I use torrents mainly because the content I want isn’t and won’t ever be available in my country. LAST thing I’d want was content from my “geographical location” (in my case I don’t consume anything local) <_<

    The only way ads could be "useful" (note the quotes :P) would be if they keep track of my DLs. But that's privacy I don't want to compromise, so ads can't be useful at all for me.

  • http://twitter.com/Anime4PSP Anime 4 PSP

    I’ll just stay on older version pff. 

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  • http://www.grischke.net/ Maciek

    Ads don’t work with me.
    They’re wasting space on my screen.
    They’re wasting my time.
    I hate them.
    Time to switch.

    • albie

       Ok,just do it,don’t moan

      • DutchGuest

         You really need to get lost troll boy.
        This comments section is for people to discuss the topic at hand, which he is doing, and he’s stating that he’s switching to something else.
        Don’t like it ?
        Then don’t read it, or just fuck off and go somewhere else.
        You’re the one moaning, and mostly about what other people post here.

      • http://www.grischke.net/ Maciek

        What he said?

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  • Jimbo

    if they are still making the $15million+ per year, this ad support can surely only be looked on as getting greedy. i was also of the opinion that once it was known that money was being made, it was easier for the entertainment industries to sue. putting this extra revenue stream into place will give more reason to go after utorrent, wont it?

  • PRIVACY is priceless to me

    And then the next logical step is to put a Hollywood-sponsored spyware to send you to the gulag if you download anything without authorization!
    I always said that utorrent  sucks, it’s not even open-source and it’s not cross-platform too, and now fucking worse-than-nazi humanity destroying ADS!
    Anyone who lives on ads deserves the same fate as Ben Laden: a fucking bullet in the head!

  • Anon

    If you’re on private trackers, you don’t have a lot of choice. You only get a few accepted clients and particular versions of that client. No one is gonna risk being banned for life by What.CD by using a non approved torrent client.

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  • Slippy

    Just for once cant you lot just be happy getting something for free. Dont like the updates then dont update. Dont like the client choose another one or even better make your own.

    Just FFS stop crying

    • LEE

       You’re so right!

    • xpmule

       People like you need to remember the net doesn’t revolve around you.
      And in my opinion all those that have posted comments just like yours are the people that need to be quiet.. YOU are the one complaining.
      Did you forget Bittorrent Inc and this web site asked us all what we thought ?
      So we are saying what we think so YOU be quiet !

      • Slippy

        Ok

        • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

           Thanks a lot Peppy!

      • TheRichman

         Ditto, They did in fact ask what we thougt. And I will restate for all of these trolls that are to lazy to scroll up and refresh their memory.
        The last paragraph said, (which should be the theme and/or subject)
        “The uTorrent team closed their announcement with a request for feedback,
        and we would like to do the same. What do you think of uTorrent’s move
        to add sponsored torrents? Does it put you off or is it no problem in
        exchange for a free client and service? Let us know in the comment
        section below.”

        Enough said?

    • http://gene-poole.tumblr.com Gene Poole

       Whoa! Help me! Thanks, Fox. I thought they had me.

  • Lexanders

    Adds and I think that usage information must be sent to Google and other companies, a good way to track what users do.

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  • Eponge

    Time to switch to free software… Deluge maybe? Rtorrent? Transmission?..

    :D

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  • Tronix-man1

    as usual its about greed.. as if 1 million a year wouldnt be enough
    15 is way more then they should get for its members supporting them
    without adding in ads… thats what killed of bitcomet with its annoying
    insert ad features and web feed panel

    luckily I doubt I need to go over version 2.2.1 it works the best
    for my needs

  • http://p5.myopenid.com/ p5

    This is probably one of the worst possible moves they could’ve pulled. They are already making heavy profits, they already have a paid-for version of the software… this sounds little more than simple greed.

  • 45King
  • quawonk

    Getting greedy are they?

  • http://twitter.com/jeffjenn jeffjenn

    Now that utorrent is getting popular, won’t the record companies shut it down like they did with Limewire, and all the other torrent clients?

    • salvagesalvage

      They’ll try no doubt and probably succeed and just like with Napster, Bearshare, Limewire and all the others. They will win and we shrug and go an find a new application that does it even better.

      It’s so simple media conglomerates, create your own application, throw up all your movies, TV shows, books, music, whatever, charge me a monthly fee of like $50 to download whatever I like whenever I like it with no DRM and you will make BILLIONS while cutting out the middle men like cable companies and TV networks.

      Or keep treating your fans like criminals and making your lawyers rich and I’ll just keep on taking your shit for free because there is no way I’m going back to the Old World of over priced media delivered when you feel like it. We know we can have it all over the net, the concept has been proven.

      Use the technology or get eaten by it,

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  • kungfujesus

    I will forever use rtorrent, haven’t used uTorrent in near 6 years.  Still begs to question why a decent open source bittorrent client isn’t written for windows, though.  Azureus/Vuze does not count as a decent one in my opinion.

  • mengabooo

    Rest assured, with that kind of popularity, it will be shut down soon!
    IT-Privacy.tk

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QHHLE4AZDWJ75PUYZSYKRHOZ5E Jeff

    Welp. I’ll be switching to Transmission.

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  • g h

    They can plug it full of ads for all I care..

    When I do use it I use the 1.9 alpha standalone version and it works just fine..

  • Abc

    While I agree that v2.xx was the best time for uTorrent, progress moves on and using an old version brings none of the new features/fixes. To me, freeware becoming adware is always a bad sign, so guess this is the chance uTorrent’s alternatives have been looking for. Trying to qBittorrent now (thanks for the tip).

    • http://twitter.com/Paco420_Pt Paco420

       This is uTorrent saying we have too many people using our client and we need less people using it asap.  

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  • AaronD12

    Transmission FTW — open source and cross platform!

  • http://alenonimo.com.br Alenônimo

    My fear is that they may “Digg” themselves by putting ads on the program.

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  • http://twitter.com/Paco420_Pt Paco420

    I don’t support spam.   I have used Ad Block on FF for some time now blocking all ad’s including those in YT.  If I wanted to see ad’s I would turn on my TV. 
    I am willing to bet 10TB of data that in no time at all the ad’s shown on the uTorrent client will soon be infecting peoples computers with malware.  No one is exempt from the stupidity of spam ad’s.

    • Anonymous

       oh, you’re pretty hip right? I think most of the IT crowd did that a century ago.

      • xpmule

         ya he is whats your point ?
        obvious who the jerk is here lol

        i agree with you Paco420
        and sometimes a reminder helps not everyone thinks the same

  • Stefan Buller

    I’m happy to say that this isn’t really a problem for me. I’ve been using transmission for a while, and I see its market share continuing to grow in light of this recent change. It’s comforting to me that transmission will always be available without ads. There certainly is no shortage of excellent bittorrent clients available; I have to wonder at the management at bittorrent inc…

  • http://www.fuckingcatalinawinemixer.com Will

    Does adblock block these?

    • DutchGuest

      No.
      And forthcoming functionality in ABP to get it to block utorrent ads is unlikely, especially considering Wladimir whitelists a lot of sites these days.
      Fuck AdBlockPlus, long live Trueblock.

  • jesuschrist

    Who the hell uses a bittorrent client after put.io? It’s faster, safer and even seeds the torrents somewhat for you.

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  • Pickle430Pickle430

    idk it doesn’t really bother me that much because I pay for utorrent plus

  • Anonymous

    2.2.1 here, fuck BitTorrent Inc’s crap. 

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  • Chris Lunas

    I really don’t see what all the fuss is about, I’m using 3.2 and it works entirely without issue, and because I have all the bloaty features disabled, my utorrent process is averaging 0-2% CPU and 10-30MB of RAM even under heavy use.

    And guess what, I’ll happily upgrade when the new ad supported version comes out too because it will take me all of 2 minutes to examine the connections it makes to their ad server and then block the relevant URL(s) in my PeerBlock client, simple as.

  • Stonecold

    I simply don’t trust a closed-source torrent clients with my IP address.  What happens if the MAFIAA buys out BitTorrent Inc!?  Then most torrenters are SCREWED.  That’s why I use good old open source KTorrent.  Fast, light-weight, and completely open source!

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  • JB

    Uninstalled uTorrent. Using Deluge now. Not going to watch advertising for something as simple as a bittorrent client.

  • http://www.sk3tchy.com/ Andey

    rtorrent >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  • Santiago Ronquillo

    utorrent it the best and if it safe to say add utorrent toolbar made chrome toolbar acting like can drive by it self with no control and I uninstall chrome sometimes for uninstall utorrent toolbar and search helper coming with it.

  • Guest

    uTorrent is crap/adware. Use transmission/deluge instead =)

  • Hidioshi

    As  a Senior Staff Member of one of the more popular and large private scene sites, I can say that we have decided to never white list any version of a .torrent client that has adverts embedded.  

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  • Abbernomad

    Does anyone remember what happened to clients like Bearshare and Limewire. They started adding all kinds of terrible ads, malware, popups, the list goes on. This may sound like a slippery slope argument, but if a company like Utorrent is willing to bloat out their programs with needless, crappy, annoying ads, then what’s to stop them from continuing that plan. What’s next? 3rd party installs?

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  • http://www.forlocations.com/ free business directory

    However, BitTorrent Inc. sees the need to experiment with other revenue
    sources with “sponsored torrents” being added for all users in an
    upcoming release.

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  • lame

    Disgusting to see what was made popular by being minimialist turned into bloatware.

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  • meowmix

    i find this copyright thing rather amuzing, in a perverse kind of way. i play guitar, i buy every month two guitar mags, i have done for about 20 years.

    now. these mags often have trasnscription of songs. the mags have to jump through hoops getting permision to publish a transcription they’ve, generay, made themselves.

    isn’t it in the music industries interest to let people have these transcriptions, as the more peopel who can play adds to the gene pool of people who can form bands.  (in the old model) then aim to get a contract, which will make lots of money from record sales for the record company?

    ok. this isn’t the full story, of course a bands own creativity comes into it, but most bands start off by playing covers of songs they like in thier sets. i used to do door at the local music club years ago, hereos and zeroes, and i’m pretty sure most bands did at least one cover.

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  • robthom

    uTorrent-lite?

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  • Guest

    Don’t forget: some of that ad revenue goes back to artists (I think it does), so uTorrent can become a way for artists to make money.  That is a great thing for artists.

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  • NO Name

    People should go back to 2.2.1

  • http://twitter.com/tueksta Andreas Beer

    Uncheck Auto-Update – done!

  • Eerik

    Trying out deluge now, if it’s bloated, then there’s tixati. I hate ads. Now the utorrent’s
    gonna go to garbage bin.

  • iLightTheWay

    Do any of the older versions of utorrent  (earlier than 2.2.1) allow you to preview magnet links?

    • Kitano

      I think they only implemented that very recently.

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  • Frozen Canuck

    Haven’t read all the comments,but here’s the first thought that crossed my mind…
    uTorrent, like all BitTorrent applications, is used to download copyrighted content.  It’s used for other purposes, but everybody, including corporate America, knows what it’s really used for. 

    BitTorrent, a mainstream for-profit corporation, is saying, “we intend to make money off a copyright infringing application by attaching ads to it”.

    What does that tell you?  That the sharing of copyrighted media is now entrenched in the capitalistic system.  It’s not going to disappear, law or no law.

    • fu

      Err, it’s not exactly the first time in history that the makers of a client software commonly used for the unauthorised distribution of copyrighted content have capitalised on the situation by making money from it.

      If there are greater forces at play with a desire to see that end, it will be made to disappear, “capitalistic system” or otherwise.

    • TheRichman

       I sometimes wonder what back room or dark room deals or covert ops are gong on to influence these types of decisions. Could it be that the MAFIAA made some kind of back room deal with BitTottent Inc. to do this in lue of some kind of profitability for both. In my experience, nothing is as simple as it sounds, especially when there are tens of millions of dollars in the hopper.

  • http://profiles.google.com/rpruden07 Ryan Pruden

    qBittorrent is the perfect open-source alternative. No ads, and it’s almost an exact clone in terms of the interface.

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  • salman ahmed

    they will meet the same fate as megaupload did . mark my words !!!!

  • salman ahmed

    did anyone noticed ? piratebay seems to be down too :(

  • Üllar Kappak

    Geez… just chill.. we wait until it will get cracked and we use utorrent to pirate this ^^

  • Pingback: » uTorrent passa a exibir publicidade aos usuários

  • Pingback: µTorrent y su camino del ninja, de cómo me pasé a Tixati

  • probus

    Regarding “Featured Torrents”
    I believe this feature will never see the light of day.  It’s only purpose is to make us more accepting of the ads.  IMHO

  • GoRinNoSho

    Been using uTorrent for years and was satisfied with it. Tried most others too. Recently i switched OS to Ubuntu 12.04 with Ktorrent 4.1.3 and i must say, Ktorrent totally beats all of them. Seeded 90 TB in 18 months, which says it all for me. Your mileage may vary.. 1 question remains: Will they add the adds to uTorrent server 3.0 for Linux too?

  • Pingback: uTorrent Makes Ads Optional Following User ‘Revolt’ | TorrentFreak

  • Tom Leykis

    Fuck Utorrent… Im using Tixati.

  • Pingback: uTorrent Makes Ads Optional Following User ‘Revolt’ | Best Seedbox

  • Pingback: uTorrent Makes Ads Optional Following User ‘Revolt’ | Zombie Torrents - Ultimate Torrents Downloads

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  • http://www.facebook.com/DaffyDaveA David Daffy Austin

    I moved to Utorrent when Vuze went down the crapper of the commercial route, I will now be moving again. I expect as each version of the new adware Utorrent comes out there will be a cracked ad free version on PB too. I predict in 5yrs bit torrent inc will still be making the same amount of money as it does now because it will have lost 90+% of it’s user base.

  • rafi

    Well, I guess you will be able to *option out* uTorrent’s “offers” !
    So, problem solved !

    http://forum.utorrent.com/viewtopic.php?id=123284

  • Macerg

    Looking at downloading tixati. How do you know if you have 32 or 64 bit Windows? I have a ten year old Windows XP Home Edition operating system 

    • Mika Suomalainen

       Click start menu, then right click computer and it should tell you, which you use.
      That works at least with Windows 7, but I am not fully sure about XP.

      If you used Linux, you could use “lscpu”, which would tell you which you use and which you can use.

    • TheRichman

      Most XP was 32bit and the only one 64bit was in XP Pro and if you have the Home version, you don’t have 64 bit.

  • Pingback: uTorrent Makes Ads Optional Following User ‘Revolt’

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  • Pingback: Top 10 uTorrent Alternatives | Zombie Torrents - Ultimate Torrents Downloads

  • Pingback: Top 10 uTorrent Alternatives | Nyheter

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  • Pingback: uTorrent Becomes Ad-Supported to Rake in Millions | Nyheter

  • Pingback: Google Copyright Transparency Report | Top Service Wizard

  • Pingback: uTorrent Now With Ads | Tyler Woodward

  • Joe Jones

       “These new changes mark our next step towards finding that difficult
    balance between keeping our lights on and providing a positive user
    experience”

    Baahahaha! Keeping your lights on?? Are you shaking a tin cup on the corner, wearing an eye patch? FUCK NO! BitTorrent is filthy stinking rich off utorrent (which was originally created for FREE use btw), and it’s still not enough. It’s never enough. These people are getting to be as predatory and money hungry as the RIAA and MPAA.

    Jesus christ, this is what you get with capitalism. It was working FINE.
    Stop messing with it! It does precisely what we need it to do: download
    torrents. Why is BitTorrent, Inc being so fucking greedy?

  • L675902

    I have used utorrent for
    many

    many
    years. But this Ad-Support is the Straw that broke the camel’s back. I’am moving to qBittorrent.

  • 1q2w3e

    qBittorrent all the way, I’ve been using it for years and it’s the best!

  • TheRichman

    I find it interesting that after reading a whole page of comments that nobody commented much on  the fact that their revenue is between $15-20 million per year, which I find surprising. I never would have imagined that it was anywhere near that high and am wondering what they are doing with all the money. Article said they added about a dozen new employees which only amounts to $600-700 in average incomes per year. How many total employees do they have and what are they dong with all of this revenue? What other products, if any do they have under their umbrella? Seams like a lot of money for a company with a primary product as a download client. Astronomical even.

    • TheRichman

       In my final post, I will answer the questions asked, “Does it put you off or is it no problem in exchange for a free client and service?”

      It absolutely puts me off for many reasons. I cannot bring myself to use or support a client that integrates this type of obtrusiveness. I have plenty of things shoving adds in my face and have no need of any more even if they are targeted and specific or regional no matter may many others think this would be a helpful and useful tool or considered ‘giving back’

      1. Giving back to the client creator? I think $15-20 million is plenty of revenue to create it, update it, and provide support and even run a help-desk if heaven forbid they should decide to have such.

      2. I see adding adds to a client in an industry that is already touchy, has security concerns, and wars as problematic at the least if nothing else aside from the fact of what Hidioshi said above, “As
       a Senior Staff Member of one of the more popular and large private
      scene sites, I can say that we have decided to never white list any
      version of a .torrent client that has adverts embedded.”,  and

      I am sure they have very good reasons.

      3. Use a version that someone has hacked and diabled the adds? Probably not. Not sure I can trust a hacker that could manage this and feel assured he hasn’t missed something critical or added his own secret code and I would probably not decide to learn how to double check his work or hack my own uTorrennt since there are always other up and coming good clients out there.

      I am using version 3.2 without problems NOW and only upgraded since I started getting a slew of issues with either version 3.0 or 3.1, can’t remember which. Problems persisted and I think even got worse after 3.2 install but all disappeared after uninstalling my WLAN and going back to using a wired NIC.

      In short, I will probably continue using 3.2 for now but may go backwards to 2.2ish ver since most are touting that as the best, baring security issues and I will cease and desist on updating from this point on and since I have used Linux, this thread has rejuvenated my interest in setting up a Multi-boot system to put Linux on an old pc since I am using an older one for torrennt downloads now and always have. I just never had the thought of using a torrennt client on my main pc  for any reason and don’t see need. Not sure what real world benefits having it separate afford me in security or anything for that matter.

  • Jon

    Time to move to another ad free client..

  • http://twitter.com/Lorry Michael Lawrie

    Options -> Preferences -> Advanced

    In filter box, type: sponsor

    Change the “sponsored_torrent_offer_enabled” from true to false by double clicking on it. Then click OK.

    Restart uTorrent – No more ads.

  • Overoid

    FIXED!!! everyone stop crying now… there’s a work-around already. it was mentioned earlier but no one’s paying attention.

    [How-To] Hide “Featured Torrent” bar in uTorrent 3.2.2

    I recently updated to uTorrent 3.2.2 only to find an ugly looking advertisement sporting “Featured Torrent”.

    If you find it annoying too, then here’s how you can remove it:

    Go Options ->Preferences
    Go to Advanced
    In the Filter box, type offer
    You’ll find offers.sponsored_torrent_offer_enabled
    By default it’s set to true. Select false
    Press OK and restart uTorrent

  • BTGuard - BitTorrent Anonymously

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