This new application may have some newsworthy technology under the hood, but the basic operation hasn't changed much. Wrapped in an iTunes-style, brushed-metal interface, the program houses a built-in media player, live chat, and a VoIP audio-chat feature available for an additional $14.95 per month. We found the claims of "no spyware" to be sort of true; Morpheus does install additional applications: Ebates, MySearch, and PCBroadcast were serving pop-ups upon first launch. Thankfully, these pests are easy to uninstall.

The multinetwork support, stellar performance, and nice community features clearly make Morpheus one of the best P2P apps available right now. Although we wish the developer would ditch the third-party adware altogether, Morpheus is an excellent choice for current P2P users looking for the latest and greatest.
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Limewire...
From its start as a post-Napster clone to its leading role as the quintessential Gnutella client, LimeWire has been one of the highest-profile P2P applications. Version 4.0 further ups the ante with a combination of new features, an updated interface, and better network performance.

On the surface, the refined and zippier Java interface houses a few new features, such as a connection-quality meter and a button matrix for zeroing in on specific file types. The search interface now features a progress bar, and file information, such as artist and album, is more clearly displayed. Though the improved network performance gave us considerably more search results than previous versions, we didn't notice much improvement in download speed or file availability. We liked the What's New feature, which lists files recently added to the network. The check box to filter out adult content also was a nice touch.

The new features and overall functionality make this by far the most mature version of LimeWire. Despite a few performance flaws, this new version offers a breath of fresh air in the P2P category.
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BearShare...
BearShare has enhanced the way users download files from other Gnutelle client. This version detects when users aren't using their cpu and automatically boosts the power dedicated to downloading while the computer remains on. Bearshare lets you search for, download, and share files with everyone on the global Gnutella peer-to-peer information network. This program works with MP3, MPEG, AVI, ASF, MOV, JPEG, GIF, and all other file types. It features full documentation (installed with the program), slick graphics, and a user interface that makes searching, downloading, and file sharing easy. It also features upload bandwidth controls, enhanced connection management, and improved downloading.
Editor's note: Using this product to make copies of copyrighted material may be illegal. CNET does not encourage or condone the illegal copying of copyrighted material.
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XoloX...
Netherlands-based Xolox is back with its first new release in almost a year - with no adware, spyware, bundles, Trojans or advertising! New features include multi-network operability with all the major file-sharing networks. Now Xolox users can connect with millions of Kazaa, iMesh, Morpheus, eDonkey, Overnet, Grokster, LimeWire, Gnutella, and G2 users with just one P2P application. Search for, find, and share every type of digital media file available including music, films, videos, games, photos, documents, and software. New privacy features include integrated access to public proxy networks and options to prevent others from snooping on you. Xolox automatically scans downloaded files for viruses using your antivirus software. Xolox enables multiple simultaneous searches with lightening fast results and returns fast multisource downloads. A parent-controlled filter is included for family use.

Note: The Download Now link will download a small installer file to your desktop. Remain online and double-click the installer to proceed with the actual download (4.3MB).
Editor's note: Using this product to make copies of copyrighted material may be illegal. CNET does not encourage or condone the illegal copying of copyrighted material.
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WinMX...
Beauty is only skin-deep, as WinMX proves. This P2P client helps you to share, find, and download files from WinMX or other OpenNap protocol networks. The awkward interface is littered with buttons, but it enables even a novice to share files on P2P networks by scanning your drives for media files. You can easily find files by keywords, bitrate, and connection. You can even join chat channels. To save money, the application displays the time you've spent online and limits incoming/outgoing traffic. As a spyware-free and fully functional file-sharing client, WinMX wins fans among beginners and P2P veterans.
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Shareaza...
Although the bigger names in the P2P world still maintain the lion's share of users, several smaller entities have popped up. These programs appeal to those fed up with the fluff, adware, and general bundled ugliness so common in the more popular apps. Shareaza is focused and lean, with a gorgeous interface and connections to the Gnutella2, Gnutella, eDonkey, and BitTorrent networks. Most notably Shareaza is adware- and spyware-free. This alone makes it a good choice. It's also easy to use; we had no trouble quickly figuring out how to search, check our network status, and customize the interface through a healthy choice of skins. Search results were extremely fast, although we wished each new search automatically spawned a new tab. Shareaza also has a decent built-in media player for common audio and video formats. The file-management system is a disaster, however. With a slew of folders divided and subdivided into all sorts of categories, the odds of losing a file is far greater than finding the one you're looking for. Overall, though, Shareaza's hands-off approach and trim size provide a breath of fresh air for peer-to-peer users. 
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