Download manager
A download manager is a program designed to download files from the Internet, unlike a browser, which is mainly intended to browse pages on the WWW (with file downloading being of secondary importance).There are several things that web browsers are not very good at. That's where the download managers enter the equation.
- pausing large files downloading.
- resuming broken or paused downloads (especially for large files, like LiveCDs).
- downloading files on poor connections
- downloading several files from a site automatically according to simple rules (file types, updated files, etc.)
- automatic recursive downloads
- scheduled downloads (including, automatic hang-up and shutdown).
- search for mirror sites and handling of different connections to download the same file more quickly.
- Optional integration with web browser, automatically taking over any download of user specified file types.
Most download managers today integrate seamlessly with popular web browsers and are extremely easy to use. Clicking on a link in a browser automatically starts the download in the download manager. For power users additional features are available, such as scheduling, traffic shaping, virus-checking, cataloguing, etc.
Among the most popular download managers are Download Accelerator, ReGet, GoZilla, FlashGet and GetRight. Offline Explorer is the most powerful program for recursive site downloads. For command line users there is wget, in which most of the advanced functionality can be reproduced by using complex command line parameters.
Related to download managers are two other breeds of Internet programs - filesharing peer-to-peer applications (KaZaA, eMule, BitTorrent) and stream recorders (such as StreamBox VCR).
See also:
