jbs

Apple's P-to-P Movie Downloads To Eclipse Wal-Mart and BitTorrent

BitTorrent was invented for things like Linux. Why? Because the non-profit organizations that develop Linux distros couldn't afford the server infrastructure for a server-client distribution model. BitTorrent solved this problem.

If I am paying Wal-Mart, Apple, or anybody else for a movie, I want to download the movie from THEIR servers. This is the only way to ensure authenticity of the file. This is the only way we can hold the Company accountable for the availability of the file.

As far as authenticity:
Read about how easy it is to edit a file while keeping the MD5 hash intact. It is possible to manipulate files and checksums/hashes so that a BitTorrent/P2P client downloads a corrupt or manipulated file. Who would bear responsibility? All it takes is one hacker to introduce this file onto a P2P network. Would we hold Wal-Mart or Apple accountable?

These companies have to be held accountable. This can only be done if they have full control over the server (and the files on those servers).

As far as availability:
Apple or Wal-Mart could seed the file. That would ensure availability, but that doesn't necessarily guarantee fast download speeds. If the company seeded enough files then availability would be guaranteed. But to seed enough files to guarantee availability they would have built the server infrastructure that they may as well use to bypass P2P altogether.

Furthermore, there are technical problems with using BitTorrent in that it has a peak download "window" where there are optimal seeds and leachers. Outside of this window, download speeds can be abismal.

SO...
For accountability reasons, P2P cannot work when a customer pays a company for a product. It works when people don't pay, because the "customer" is willing to accept slow speeds in return for the free product, such as a Linux distro.

Too many people have too many ideas about things they don't understand. I don't believe P2P is an alternative for the reasons above. If this post was made on a tech site I'm pretty sure it wouldn't stand up to the technical criticisms.