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Popcorn Time

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Popcorn Time
Original author(s)Pochoclín ("Sebastian" et al.[1])
Stable release
0.3.3 / 2014-09-17[2]
Repository
Written inHTML, JavaScript, CSS
Engine
  • NW.js
  • V8
  • Google Native Client
Edit this at Wikidata
Operating systemLinux, OS X, Windows, Android
PlatformNode.js
Available in44 languages[3]
TypeMovie / Television Streaming
LicenseGPL v3
Websitepopcorntime.app Edit this on Wikidata

Popcorn Time is a multi-platform, free and open source Bittorrent client including a media player. The program is intended as a free alternative to subscription-based video streaming services such as Netflix. At first glance the program seems to stream unauthorized copies of films using Bittorrent links provided by the website YTS, (yts.re, formerly YIFY). Other torrent trackers can be used if added manually. However, the Bittorrent protocol does not allow streaming either in a technical or legal sense; Instead a feature that is called sequential downloading is used. Likewise, uploading of the typically copyrighted content is happening in the same way as it is with all other Bittorrent clients.

Popcorn Time quickly received unexpectedly positive media attention, with some comparing it to Netflix due to its ease of use. The program was abruptly taken down by its original developers on March 14, 2014, but was subsequently forked and taken over by other developers.

Functionality

The Popcorn Time interface presents thumbnails and film titles in a manner very similar to Netflix. They can be searched, or browsed by genres and categories. When a user clicks one of the titles, the film is downloaded via the bittorrent protocol.[4] As with other BitTorrent clients, Popcorn Time seeds the torrent to others in the bittorrent swarm.[5][6]

The legality of Popcorn Time matches that of all other Bittorrent clients plus the additional factor that applies to sites like the Piratebay and YTS itself, due to the explicit linking to movie content; its website claimed that the software "might" be illegal depending on local laws.[7] One fork of Popcorn Time, Time4Popcorn, has included a free VPN service called Kebrum with the newest release.[8]

Development

Popcorn Time was originally developed "in a couple of weeks" by a group from Buenos Aires, Argentina who elected "Pochoclín" (derived from pochoclo = popcorn in Buenos Aires parlance) as their mascot. They believed that piracy was a "service problem" created by "an industry that portrays innovation as a threat to their antique recipe to collect value," and also argued that streaming providers were being given too many restrictions and forced to provide inconsistent service between countries, noting that streaming providers in their native Argentina "seem to believe that There's Something About Mary is a recent movie. That movie would be old enough to vote here."[7]

Made available for Linux, Mac OS X, Windows and Android, Popcorn Time's source code is downloadable from their website making the project open source; contributors localized the program into 44 languages.[3][7][9]

According to an interview on TorrentFreak, the current developers of Popcorn Time plan to add support for Chromecast, and the ability to stream TV shows in addition to movies.[10]

Reception

Popcorn Time became the subject of mainstream media attention for its ease of use, with PC magazine and CBS news calling Popcorn Time the Netflix for pirates, and noting its obvious advantages over Netflix such as the size of its library, and the recent selections available.[1][4] Caitlin Dewy of the Washington Post said Popcorn Time may have been an attempt to make the normally "sketchy" ecosystem of torrents more accessible by giving it a clean modern look and an easy-to-use interface.[11]

Discontinuation and rebirth

On March 14, 2014, Popcorn Time's website and GitHub repository was abruptly removed, with the developers stating that despite the unexpectedly positive media coverage that the software attracted, they simply wanted to move on, and that "our experiment has put us at the doors of endless debates about piracy and copyright, legal threats and the shady machinery that makes us feel in danger for doing what we love. And that’s not a battle we want a place in."[6][9][12]

The developers claimed that the majority of its users were those outside of the United States, and that it was "installed on every single country on Earth. Even the two that don't have internet access," by users who would "risk fines, lawsuits and whatever consequences that may come just to be able to watch a recent movie in slippers. Just to get the kind of experience they deserve." They also praised media outlets for not antagonizing them in their coverage of Popcorn Time, and agreeing with their views that the movie industry was anti-consumer and too restrictive in regards to innovation.[7]

After the announcement, development was taken over by two teams, both carrying on the name Popcorn Time. The groups used different websites - one at Popcorntime.io, and the other at Time4Popcorn.eu [10][13]

Support

Android

On May 13 2014 the fork Time4Popcorn launched a mobile version for Android 4.2 and up. Users of the Time4Popcorn fork are now able to watch movies and TV shows on their TV screen by casting the content featured on the Popcorn Time app using a Chromecast device. Chromecast support for Popcorn Time is now in Alpha and works for OS X, Windows and Android users.[14][15]
On August 07 2014 the fork Time4Popcorn expanded significantly the amount of devices that support the Popcorn Time Android app and now it is supported by Android version 4.0 and higher.[16]

VPN support

Upon discovering that several Popcorn Time users (mainly those in Germany) received legal threats for using the software,[17] the fork Time4Popcorn encrypted its BitTorrent traffic and also added the option to enable a VPN service provided by Kebrum.[18] These features make identification of Popcorn Time users much more difficult.[14]

Apple TV and iOS

On July 30 2014 the Time4Popcorn fork added support for Apple TV, and announced that “Support for iOS devices will be ready in August."[19][20]

References

  1. ^ a b Misener, Dan. "Popcorn Time is like 'Netflix for pirates'". CBC News. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  2. ^ https://plus.google.com/+Getpopcorntime/posts/iWXSg6GttDT Without further ado, Popcorn Time Version 0.3.3 is here!
  3. ^ a b http://www.getlocalization.com/PopcornTime/
  4. ^ a b "'Popcorn Time' Is Like Netflix for Pirated Movies". PC Magazine. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Netflix-like torrenting app Popcorn Time disappears". Ars Technica. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Popcorn Time reinvents the seedy process of torrenting". Ars Technica. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d "Goodbye Popcorn Time". Popcorn Time developers. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  8. ^ ‘Popcorn Time’ Gives Users Anonymity With a Free Built-In VPN TorrentFreak, By Ernesto on June 7, 2014
  9. ^ a b "Popcorn Time Is Over: Potent Piracy App Quickly Calls It Quits". Time. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Popcorn Time 'Rivals' Prep TV, Android and ChromeCast Support". TorrentFreak. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  11. ^ "How to easily watch any movie from your computer for free". Washington Post. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  12. ^ "Torrent Site Popcorn Time, Shut Down Yesterday, Is Alive Again". Gizmodo. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  13. ^ Eric LB (May 9, 2014). "Popcorn Time : le " Netflix pirate " débarque sur Android" (in French). 01net. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  14. ^ a b Mario Aguilar (July 7, 2014). "Popcorn Time's "Netflix for Torrents" Is Coming to Chromecast". gizmodo.com. Retrieved July 7, 2014. Cite error: The named reference "nu.nl" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  15. ^ http://techcrunch.com/2014/05/13/popcorn-time-is-now-on-android/
  16. ^ http://bgr.com/2014/08/07/popcorn-time-for-android-vpn/
  17. ^ Ernesto (May 15, 2014). "POPCORN TIME USERS GET 'FINED' BY COPYRIGHT TROLLS". torrentfreak. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  18. ^ Ernesto (June 8, 2014). "'POPCORN TIME' GIVES USERS ANONYMITY WITH A FREE BUILT-IN VPN". torrentfreak. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  19. ^ Popcorn Time Adds Apple TV Support, iOS App Coming Soon TorrentFreak July 30 2014
  20. ^ The 'Netflix For Pirated Movies' Will Soon Work With Your Apple TV by Steven Tweedie Business Insider Jul. 30, 2014, 9:41 AM
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