While the desktop client of uTorrent hasn’t been updated much in recent years, there is a new uTorrent product that brings plenty of change.
Earlier this year BitTorrent Inc. quietly released uTorrent web, a piece of software that allows users to download and stream torrents directly in their default web browser.
The project was first teased by BitTorrent inventor Bran Cohen, who said that browser-based torrenting is “just a nicer experience.”
The leap to the browser is a large one for die-hard torrenters who’ve been using desktop applications for well over a decade. However, with browser-based streaming being so familiar now, it will likely feel more intuitive to newcomers.
This week, BitTorrent Inc. announced that uTorrent Web is now out of beta. And with the first full release, the company hopes to better meet the streaming demands of today’s users.
“When we first started the project, our vision was to build a torrent client with simplicity and quick playability,” BitTorrent Inc. notes.
“With a simple download to play experience as the focal point of µTorrent Web, we see more users successfully downloading and playing torrents than with any other product in BitTorrent’s history.”
Currently, uTorrent Web is only available for Windows, but there are plans to release a Mac version in the future. The application works across all major browsers including Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.
As noted previously, uTorrent Web works pretty well for its intended use. In terms of features, it’s not as advanced as the regular desktop version, but the intuitive streaming interface works out of the box.
Those who prefer to tinker a bit more with their client can still use the classic uTorrent, BitTorrent assures its 100 million+ users.
“As µTorrent Web now comes out of Beta and into full release, we know that millions of our users are familiar with and love the desktop version of µTorrent, also known as µTorrent Classic. Our long term plan is to continue development across both products and make them available on utorrent.com,” the company notes.
More details on the new release are provided in a YouTube video by uTorrent Web Product Designer Cory Keller, which is embedded in the news release.
Bizarrely, there’s no torrent link for the video available. A head-scratching omission, as that would be a prime opportunity to show what uTorrent Web can do as a video streaming tool.
