Many file-sharing and online storage projects have bitten the dust. Others went into a deep hibernation, making it seem they'd never return. But one of them just shook off the rust: I'm talking about the one and only eMule, “the mule”. The last stable build dates back to April 2010, but on its official forums they announced the release of eMule 0.60a as a public beta, so anyone interested can download a copy.
The Legend Returns
Once the genie escapes the lamp, it's impossible to put it back. Napster, Audiogalaxy, LimeWire, BearShare, Kazaa, Ares. eDonkey and BitTorrent. Special protocols, exchange networks, and dozens of clients to access them. Millions of users sharing files, games, music, and video. Authorities trying to block them. Some platforms have managed to survive the passage of time and attacks, thanks to communities that keep servers active and fix the main bugs of the most popular clients. And speaking of clients, did you know eMule is back?
eMule 0.60a Public Beta
Granted, technically it never left, but the last stable build of eMule was published in 2010. The news came in mid-August on its official forums: eMule 0.60a has a public beta, and anyone passing by can download the zip, compatible with Windows in 32 and 64 bits. The only special recommendation is to download the eMule.tmpl file separately if you want to activate the web interface, but beyond that, all changes happen in the background.
Security and Configuration
Optimizations, improvements, bug fixes, and the neutralization of various regressions set the pace in eMule 0.60a, however, at the interface level it's still the same mule you remember. The proliferation of fake servers is the biggest problem users face, since they're loaded with all kinds of malware and other nasty materials. All arrows point to eMule Security servers as a starting point for a safe experience.
The configuration parameters in eMule haven't changed much, and that means one thing: the client will work better if you open a couple of TCP and UDP ports on your router. Although nothing stops us from trying to download with Low ID, the truth is we should help eMule if possible. As for the rest, I can say it works... really well? Its maximum download speed was a step below my BitTorrent clients, but no complaints on this side.
There you have it, eMule throws a new build into the trench. The eDonkey network is remembered as a refuge for rarer, more unusual content, so if BitTorrent doesn't cover your expectations, you can always grab the eMule 0.60a beta and start exploring.
Official announcement and downloads: Click here.
