Ares Galaxy: The Fall From Grace

In the world of file sharing, Ares Galaxy used to reign supreme. The software was built on the Ares infrastructure, a popular open source application, which created a free peer to peer network. The software quickly generated a strong and loyal following. Known for being extremely user friendly, with a simple interface and fast download times, the software was both ambitious and reliable – a potent combination.

Ares Galaxy: The Go-To Software…

Ares Galaxy soon became the go-to software for file sharing, and embodied the best of what peer networks were meant to be…at least for a while. Those days, however, are over now, and the community of users has largely moved on.

So, what happened? How did Ares Galaxy fall from grace? To find the answer, it’s best to start at the very beginning…

The Rise To Popularity

File sharing began gaining in popularity in the late 1990’s. While much of the early press centered around the illegal downloading of copyrighted music and movies, the practice of file sharing is not, in itself, illegal In fact, it’s extremely beneficial: users can instantly gain access to a vast array of knowledge and entertainment. Just as social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook help connect others online, file sharing networks help users connect with the information they need.

Of course, with some material there is a copyright issue, though most lawsuits have fizzled out. (The reality is that file sharing has become a massive movement, and one that is nearly impossible to stop.) Ironically, many credit the lawsuits as helping to fuel the growth of these communities.

Entertainment Industry Not Too Happy

Following an early push by the entertainment industry to shut the networks down – some say because of it – there was a defiant surge of users who joined the file sharing networks amidst all the publicity.

It was around this time that Ares Galaxy came onto the scene – just as file sharing was transforming from its earliest version to a newer model. The developers were able to take the knowledge gained from the earlier versions of Ares, including the complaints and problems that users experienced, and develop software that eliminated those issues.

Rave Reviews

Ares Galaxy was receiving rave reviews for its efforts and its community was growing substantially. For years, the software performed just as it should. There were three significant developments, however, that signaled the beginning of the end for the Ares Galaxy dominance.

The Start Of The Fall

The first involved CNodes, which is what Ares Galaxy used (and continues to use) to make the initial connection to the Ares network. The majority of the CNodes were developed in 2003 and most are no longer found online. With no new Cnodes added, new users to the community can wait hours trying to connect to the network, only to realize that it’s nearly impossible.

CNodes weren’t the only issue either. The developers eventually abandoned the software altogether, leaving current and future users to fend for themselves whenever glitches occur.

Windows Vista Causes Some Problems For Ares Galaxy

Another problem developed when Windows Vista was released. With the new security features, almost all the file sharing software was prevented from working properly on the operating system. To combat this, some file sharing sites were advising their users to turn off crucial features in their new security settings, a dangerous thing to do in this age of viruses and Trojans.

Newcomers Approach, Take Throne

These three issues signaled the beginning of a new era in the evolution of file sharing software. Ares Galaxy started losing its community and more robust versions of the software client, like Ares Vista, were formed to lead the next generation. Like Ares Galaxy before, Ares Vista took the best of the ‘old school’ Ares network and underlying infrastructure, and combined it with innovative tools and cutting edge technology to eliminate the problems of the past.

Ares Galaxy can still be found online, but like 8-track and cassette tapes, its prime has now passed, and its popularity has faded. In the online world of file sharing, software must evolve to stay current. When it doesn’t, it gets left behind.

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Posted on 9 January 2010 by Lee in Filesharing, News

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