iMesh 3.1
First the good news: When it's humming along, iMesh is a pleasure to use. It often obtains files quickly, and it can pause or resume downloads at will. But version 3.1 of this program locates far fewer files than other file-sharing tools--we got fewer than 100 results, even for big-name artists such as Madonna. Add a profusion of pop-up ads and spyware, and you have a big time-waster. If you have an older version of iMesh, don't upgrade; if you've never tried it, don't bother.
Rocket-fast downloads...once in a while
Don't rush through the iMesh installation wizard, because if you do, you'll miss your chance to boot unwanted third-party apps by unclicking them during the install. Unfortunately, even if you're cautious, you'll still have to deal with a few unwanted piggyback programs, such as the ever-present BonziBuddy. Worse, iMesh installs adware and spyware, a combination that ensures a steady stream of pop-up-ad windows. It's worth noting that iMesh delivered more pop-up ads in testing than other adware-heavy programs, such as Grokster.
Run a search on iMesh, and you'll be disappointed, even when looking for the biggest names in popular music. Fewer than 200 results for the Beatles? C'mon. As in the previous version, the search-result lists display song names but not bit rate information, so you have to click each found tune to discover its sound quality--a rather tedious process that we could do without. Furthermore, unlike most file-sharing tools, iMesh doesn't group different copies of the same file together on your search-results list, so downloading takes longer than it should.
But iMesh isn't all scary gremlins and bad-news bears; it offers outstanding filters. You can specify track names or album titles, and iMesh gladly returns only the results that you want-- that is, assuming the tagging information is accurate on the files that you're searching.
Pretty as a picture
We have always admired iMesh's simple and pleasant interface, and version 3.1's is no exception. Icons along the left-hand side take you to the Search and Chat features. The Media Manager not only shows your files, it lets you indicate which tunes you want to share with other users by placing a check mark next to the folders that you wish to share in the Windows Explorer-like list. iMesh uses your default media player to play audio and video files within the app.
Nobody's chatting
When we first looked at iMesh a year ago, its community features were tops, and it was easy to exchange instant messages with iMesh cohorts during downloads. But version 2.2's intimate instant messenger has been replaced by a chat tool that we couldn't even get to work. We created a screen name, as instructed, and tried to log on. But our efforts were cut short by an onscreen message that said we needed to have another piece of software on our system to join chats, then gave us the e-mail address of the person that we could get it from. Not a Web address, but an e-mail address. What year is this again?
Watch your back
Spyware and adware aren't the hot-button items that they were only a few months ago, and nowadays, both KaZaa and Grokster users routinely put up with them. But still, iMesh has both spyware --which collects information about your online habits, then sends it to a central server--and unwanted pop-up ads, which quickly drain the enjoyment out of your music. In fact, these days, iMesh's ads seem to have gotten both more obnoxious (flashing different colors) and more persistent than those of other programs.
Version 2.2 showed promise, but iMesh 3.1 has almost nothing going for it. With too few search results and too many ads, we give it a big thumbs-down. You'll get more pleasure out of Xolox or LimeWire.
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