Tribler

Available for Windows, Mac, and Ubuntu, this tool can be used to download, share, and discover multimedia and other types of content. You can use it as you would use BitTorrent or any other torrent client and download torrents from the web. You can also use it as a means to see what content others are sharing on their channels. And last but not least, you can use it to view audio and video files with its integrated media player.

The installation file for the Windows edition of Tribler is 42.5MB in size. A simple setup wizard shows up when you run that file and helps you install Tribler on top of Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7. The setup process is quite simple and you should fly through it.

Tribler’s interface is similar to that of a search engine: plenty of white space and a search box right in the middle. You can use the box to search for content shared by other Tribler users, or you could go to the Channels section and view a list of channels and the content being shared on those channels. You will find the Channels button in the upper right hand corner, alongside the Settings and Download buttons.

There are two ways to use Tribler.

The first one is to use it like you would use any other torrent client. Go to EZTV, The Pirate Bay, or another site of this sort, download a torrent file, and run it with Tribler. Or go to the Downloads section where you can browse for the torrent file you want to run, as well as enter the URL or magnet link for a torrent.

The second way to use Tribler is by browsing through the content other Tribler users are sharing. This, of course, means you will have to browse through the channels to uncover what is being shared. Say you’re looking for a video; once you find it, you can either download it, or play it directly within Tribler. And once you find a channel that you like, you can mark it as a favorite.

As mentioned above, Tribler is open-source, which means you can use it free of charge for as long as you want.

Torrent client Tribler takes a social approach to file sharing by presenting you with a list of channels. Check out these channels to see what other Tribler users are sharing.