News

BitTorrent comes to the iPhone

By Ed Oswald | Published March 3, 2008, 11:59 AM

The iPhone Hacker core has developed a new application that will allow users to download torrents directly to the device over EDGE.

A preview version of the client is now available for download, which was ported from the open source Transmission BitTorrent client to run on the iPhone's ARM processor. However, tests over EDGE show that downloads may not be completely stable just yet. The way data is sent seems to crash the data connection quickly, although at times testers were reportedly able to download files at higher data rates without crashing.

Testers are also reporting that the torrent application causes the battery to drain quickly.

It's probably best that inexperienced users wait to get this software until a more stable version comes out, as it is still a preliminary incarnation of a GUI-less command line application.

On the website for the application, the group recommends that users refrain from using the client at this time over EDGE, instead relying on the built in Wi-Fi.

Comments

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mobile apps
Mar 4, 2008 - 11:56 PM

Mobile mania is yet to get torrent unleased , with this tool we can YES!

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mdotwills
Mar 4, 2008 - 3:19 AM

lol guys, I like the proof of concept. If only the data charges weren't that high :P

I dare say that I can actually see this having a future.

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yountmj
Mar 3, 2008 - 11:31 PM

Utterly useless, but whatever floats their boat.

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Ramhound
Mar 3, 2008 - 6:39 PM

Dear AT&T

I downloaded the newest Superman HD DVD movie on my iPhone and my bill is $10,000. Can you please not charge me?

Oh wait...

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Hollywood__
Mar 3, 2008 - 2:17 PM

I guess you can download torrents while you are waiting for your private jet to be refueled.

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Paul Skinner
Mar 3, 2008 - 4:42 PM

Surely you'd get your butler to do it?

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Hollywood__
Mar 3, 2008 - 11:17 PM

This is true.

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dstratton
Mar 3, 2008 - 12:17 PM edited

Nifty, but seems useless at this time. Who wants to download Bittorrent files at 100k? Maybe once the iPhone starts using the faster networks, this could come in handy.

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