Gizmodo
Mac OS Rumors says an Apple insider and long-time regular tipster of theirs has told them the next version of the Mac OS X, 10.5, will have a BitTorrent client built-in:
"Leopard" will include a system-level "BitTorrent" filesharing client that can be user-customized to 'donate' upstream Internet bandwidth for things like pushing Software Update packages to Leopard users, delivering iTunes Store content, and just about any purpose to which Apple puts its bandwidth. ...Rewards would include credit at the iTunes Store and the Apple Store as well as other affililated offers like free airtime minutes for Apple's forthcoming "iPhone" and the like.
Mac OS Rumors doesn't exactly have the best track record when it comes to accuracy, and so we pretty much think this is crazy talk, but Slashdot poster richdun does have a good theory on why this might be smart thing for Apple to do:
Credit for torrenting? Why would Apple give away iTunes music just for people to run torrents? Well, maybe because those torrents will serve up iTunes movies. Dedicated bandwidth has been the greatest obstacle to getting a full iTunes HD movie store (well, that and the movie companies' agreement, but if the tech is there and economical, the content will follow).
Would you participate in this if it actually happened? We have to admit we'd happily donate some of our upstream bandwidth in exchange for iTunes store credits, so we could buy our favorite episodes of Law & Order without feeling too guilty about paying for something we can catch on TNT almost every single day—or at least we would until ISPs caught on and started charging by bandwidth instead of flat unlimited rates.
10.5 "Leopard" to employ a system-level, encrypted BitTorrent client and a sharing-reward system? [Mac OS Rumors, via Slashdot]
Comments
If this is true, it's not hard to see that full-length HD video/TV shows/movies are forthcoming. I have long supposed that Apple could easily get a huge leg in the HD Movie market simply by being the only company able to actually deliver a working product, although now that you can actually buy HD-DVD's and players I suspect they have already lost a lot of momentum in this area.
Technically though, can't you NOT use your home bandwidth for profit? Making this little 'theory' a breach of a ton of peoples service agreements... not that i care.
good point mmr - Not that it should matter, but I'm betting that DSL carriers may get quite pissy over this. Interesting rumor tho. The original BT usage (legit usage, that is) description was for companies to take adventage of bandwidth and additional node for dl-ing software. Could it actually happen to be used that way?
The RIAA and MPA are watching. Nothing is for free. If true, I can't wait to see all of the DRM work-arounds that people will create to share "protected" content. I do see it as a brilliant way to get music and media streams (like an HD trailer) to the masses quicker. Woot to Apple if they do this, even if (by necessity) it is set up to prevent "illegal" file sharing. This is the wackest Mac rumor yet.
mmr: it's not for profit. apple isn't paying you. jut because you get credit for sharing a file doesn't mean it's for profit. and I'm using profit as you're using it: "a payment" A profit is just "a benefit" so yes, you profit from sharing. I think that most TOS are against "sale" of your bandwidth, not "profit." And if it's true, it could allow users to buy OS X over the net, download it, burn it, and install it quickly. I'll bet Bram Cohen is psyched.
I suggested to them resumable downloads in iTunes. Mabe they sprouted this from that idea... *takes credit*
I'm sorry but this is just retarded. Apple is not going to use BitTorrents to serve up movies or music in iTunes. Apple uses Akamai for their servers which actually has a decent bandwidth.
In my experience of BT I can't really see what the fuss is. It's slow and hit and miss as to whether or not someone is sharing what I want when I want it, the hassles of living +12hrs on the International Dateline.
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