Ares Plus

What is Ares Plus

Ares Plus is a peer-to-peer file sharing program with some integrated multimedia and communication features that supplement its core functionality. Utilizing technologies common to other peer-to-peer software like network connectivity and user communication standards, Ares Plus provides a well-rounded P2P experience for a wide range of users. Using a GNUtella-style network, users are able to search for files such as videos, music, software, or images.

The interface is easy to learn and follows an intuitive tabbed layout. The first tab offers a "home" screen with news delivered via the integrated web browser based on Internet Explorer. The next tab offers the most popular feature, "Search". You can search by name, file type, file size, and other parameters to narrow down your selection. You will then be presented with a list of search results which can be downloaded or queued for later. You can also contact users who are sharing those files via instant message. The third "library" tab allows you to easily see the files you have downloaded and are sharing. The integrated media player lets you listen to music and play videos right in the application - sometimes even while the file is still downloading. The final tab is a download queue where you can pause, prioritize, locate, and remove downloads and uploads, as well as manage your "send slots."

One of the program's most notable features is its configurable network interface, which allows it to work on a wide variety of networks. Many peer-to-peer services have gone by the wayside, but the Ares Plus network continues to operate and has been going strong for many years. It boasts a broad community of users and a wide variety of content to peruse. Because Ares Plus can work through proxy servers and uses a number of user-configured TCP ports, it can operate on most networks without incident, even if such applications are ordinarily blocked.

But Ares Plus does have its limitations. Some users may prefer a more modern application to retrieve Torrent links, since Bit Torrent support in Ares Plus is still somewhat primitive and is lacking in configuration ability. Additionally, users with less powerful computers who wish to keep the software running at all times, such as for large download and upload queues, may prefer Ares Lite instead. Although it is less feature-rich than Ares Plus, it has lower CPU and memory requirements.

With hundreds of thousands of users to date and a proven track record of reliable file sharing, Ares Plus is a valuable tool for anyone who wants to expand or share their digital media library.

Ares Plus PROS:

• Broad network compatibility
• A large library of available media
• Integrated multimedia players
• Built-in download and upload manager

Ares Plus CONS:

• Can be somewhat resource intensive