Audiogalaxy

Audiogalaxy was a file-sharing network, specifically for audio files. The operator switched from the server in 2002 after they were sued by the RIAA.

Operation

Audiogalaxy was a music exchange with a Web interface. After free registration to this service, each user still had to download the Audiogalaxy Satellite. This small ( about 800 kb ) program ran in the background and provided a connection to the central server of the network. To be able to share music, the individual user went to the website of Audiogalaxy and used the local search to search for artists or songs. There was a list of available titles appear then matching the search entry together with bit rate. If, now, download a particular piece, you clicked an icon next to the piece in question. Then it was enqueued into the queue desired MP3 files. Was the song then available in the sense that it was offered online by another user, you could track the progress of the download process automatically started in the Audiogalaxy Satellite. Aborted downloads could be continued at a later date and also from other sources.

A key feature that Audiogalaxy unique made ​​at that time, were offered in addition to each search result links to other songs and artists that have been downloaded by users with the same interest in music. This system allowed the user to discover other possibly unknown bands and expand his musical horizons.

The structure of Audiogalaxy with a central server meant that the music industry could sue the service in 2002 and eventually force the provisional closure.

History of Audiogalaxy

Audiogalaxy was founded at about the time when the music sharing platform Napster was sued in 2001 by the music industry and then had to cease operations by the programmer Michael Merhej. Audiogalaxy also found among former Napster users keen interest, but also the fear came quickly, Audiogalaxy could befall a similar end also because of its central server.

Revenue was recorded by advertisements on the website the company first, which up to 90 million page views per day recorded in their weddings. As the revenue from advertisements fell sharply, Audiogalaxy started to get money by spyware. In this case the user at any time but had the opportunity to decide whether he wanted to install the spyware that comes along with the actual software as a bundle, or not.

In May 2001, Audiogalaxy introduced a so-called User Groups (German user groups) within which users could share music. This user groups worked well for some time after blocking the central search. So exchanged resourceful user even after the official closure of Audiogalaxy within the groups MP3 tracks. At the moment, the music file-sharing is within the user groups no longer possible because the Audiogalaxy Satellite can no longer connect to the central server.

From May to June 2002 by Audiogalaxy is trying to settle out of court with the music industry. The first concession Audiogalaxy introduced several restrictions on the music file-sharing, for example, the search was inhibited by specific artists. Since these measures were, however, all bridges within a short time from users and Audiogalaxy was not interested in further consensual cooperation with the music industry, Audiogalaxy had to stop the operation for the time being.

Since September 2002, a kind of on-demand web radio from Audiogalaxy named Rhapsody is available. This is a cash -based service, which, however, no longer based on the web-based Audiogalaxy. Users can now request music pieces which are then transmitted as a stream in the form of a web radios.

After the official closure of Audiogalaxy, there were several attempts to mimic the web-based system. In a similar background and also each on a central server based GLT Poliane and Mediaseek, which, however, apparently no longer being developed. Because the source code of Audiogalaxy was never released and not least because the successor had not the same conditions available, it is this still not succeeded in establishing itself in the mainstream.

The programmer Martin Rieder began with the end of Audiogalaxy a project to develop an open-access server, which is based on the system of Audiogalaxy. First versions of this OpenAG server have already been presented on its side for the Linux operating system. Nevertheless, the project due to the limited funds that are available to the developer takes on yet.

In 2010 Audiogalaxy was a separate service again, this time as PlaceShifting service. Since December 12, 2012, no registrations will be accepted, because Audiogalaxy was acquired by Dropbox. On 31 January 2013, the service was discontinued.