[Download of the week] JDownloader

 

The featured download this week is a download manager called JDownloader that is available as free download under the open-source (GPL) license. As you have already guessed, JDownloader is written in Java, which makes it platform independent. JDownloader stands out in the crowd of download managers due to its ability to decrypt file hosting links generated by sites such as RapidShare and MegaVideos. For those who frequently download files from such hosting services, JDowloader should prove to be extremely useful.

JDowloader tracks about 110 hosting services and uses over 300 decryption plug-ins, which ensures wide compatibility. The software is capable of handling simultaneous downloads from multiple hosting service or several files with a single host. In case of the latter, JDowloader is able to automate the entire download process, with the exception of Captcha recognition or similar verification system used by the host. While the software has built-on OCR module to help automate such verification systems, more often than it fails to correctly recognize the characters. In such an event, JDownloader displays the image with the verification code and the user needs to enter it manually.

 

With the exception of nearly impotent Captcha recognition system, JDowloader is a very handy utility that usually runs without a glitch and is constantly updated to keep with the encryption system(s) used by files hosting services.