Bitzi
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:Bitzi.png Bitzi is a website where volunteers (a "bitizen") can contribute reports of any kind of digital file, with identifying metadata, commentary, and other ratings.
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Bitpedia
The information provided by the bitizens (using the Bitcollider software) is compiled into a reference work named "Bitpedia", described as a "digital media encyclopedia". The Bitpedia information is made available for reuse under an open content license (Creative Commons Attribution - Share Alike 2.0).
Files are identified by applying a strong hash function to their contents, which gives a distinct "fingerprint" for each file. Bitzi calls the combination of standard hash functions used by its system "bitprints."
Also provided are two types of Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI). First, the Magnet URI which uses the SHA1 hash identifier and is used by most Gnutella programs. Since version 0.6.0 the program Bitcollider also includes the KZHASH identifier used by Kazaa and Grokster. The Tiger tree hash, used by [[DC++]], is also included. A magnet link starts with “magnet:?”.
The second URI is the ed2k identifier which is used by EDonkey2000, eMule and OverNet. Bitcollider provides information since version 0.4.0. An ed2k link starts with “ed2k://”.[1]
About
Bitzi is a metadata publishing company based in San Francisco. Their primary business is Bitpedia, the digital media encyclopedia.[2]
Usage
Some peer-to-peer file sharing programs, such as LimeWire or Bearshare, offer an option to look up local files or network search results at the Bitzi website for more (or more trustworthy) information.
Often fake/misnamed files can be caught before downloading by doing a Bitzi lookup, as other users usually leave commented ratings. This ability also makes it invaluable for illegally downloading large programs, movies etc which usually have many fake/substandard copies floating around in P2P networks.
For a list of applications using Bitzi see here.
Bitcollider
If you want to add your own bitprints, you have to download the bitcollider utility.