Morpheus is a peer-to-peer software client. A one providing access to P2P networks, such as Gnutella, BitTorrent or G2, and underlying access to NEOnet technology. Morpheus helps to search, download, and play all types of media files. It helps you to get music, movies, videos, games, photos, and documents which you failed to get with the help of browsers.

First of all, what are these peer-to-peer networks, then why we need a client to search something like Gnutella or NEOnet. And finally, what are the strong/weak points of the Morpheus program.

There are different forms of file transfer.

The most common method by which files are transferred on the Internet is the client-server model. A central server sends the entire file to each client that requests it. It's what was imposed by internet browsers and how both http and ftp work.

Another method of transferring files is the peer-to-peer networks, systems such as Kazaa, eDonkey, Gnutella, Direct Connect, etc. In most of these networks, ordinary Internet users share files by directly connecting one-to-one. The advantage here is that files can be shared without having access to a proper server, and because of this there is little accountability for the contents of the files. Hence, these networks tend to be very popular for illicit files such as music, movies, pirated software, etc. Here we have a greater chance that a popular file will be offered by a number of peers.

Use of the Usenet binary newsgroups is another method of file distribution, but it lies beyond our present interests. Let's put it aside.

So, why do we need a client like Morpheus to navigate peer-to-peer nets? Gnutella.com, for example? Because it helps us to do it conveniently, without deep understanding of processes between users of P2P nets and necessity to find and connect one of the computers on the network to start a search. We don't have to go into detail and type in ports and IPs.

If we want to find a song, a movie, or a picture, what's the difference how the program will do it? All that matters is now and quick.

Define nets to search: Gnutella, Neonet, G2; if not bothering to learn about Cnutella Ultrapeer and G2 Hub modes, let them default. And start a search.

Being a Bob Dillan's fan :), I didn't narrow the search or specify whether to look for video, audio or images. I wanted all types of information about him provided on Gnutella and Neonet. I was lucky, there appeared to exist many of us, preferring not traditional spelling. And the scope of files under such search parameters turned out to be impressive. Morpheus returned fast and provided multiple-source downloads. Excellent!

The search results are right here: a summary table of what and where at the top; a list of names with characteristics in the middle; and the result of downloading, if such took place, at the bottom. During installation, Morpheus automatically creates a Downloads folder on the desktop and saves all files into it. Preferences -> Downloads, and you can change their location.

Is it what I wanted? Well, yes. Partially. I hoped I had downloaded Bob Dylan's song and picture. Not that in jpg he didn't look quite himself, actually, it had nothing to do with anything resembling bob dillan even in pronunciation. Net is full of surprises and you never know what you might get out of it. Morpheus is not a program preventing you from downloading a pig in a poke.

But it does well cooperating with anti-virus programs and checking downloaded files. And it does prevent children from accessing the contents their parents attempt to forbid.

Lists of banned words/topics will filter harmful for children's psyche information, at least from Gnutella and Neonet. Actually, if you are a prohibitionist in a good, parental sense, set a password to entire Morpheus Application.

Morpheus team guarantees no spy and ad ware. And here I have some questions. What is it permanently flashing at the bottom of the Morpheus window on startups, and how on earth can I stop it? Why did I get a couple of shortcuts onto my desktop insisting that I should play in online casinos and get $200 free poker rewards?

And one more peculiarity of Morpheus performance as a client of P2P nets. Reasonably enough (as it's one of the main principles of the nets functioning), while running the program, you provide uploads of the parts of downloaded from the net information. So, don't get surprised to find in the Morpheus Downloads folder the Partials subfolder. Personally you might not want it, but as a member of a P2P community, accept the rules. What you can do is to set maximum simultaneous downloads and uploads.

All in all, the Morpheus program helped me to get some free of charge :) music which I failed to download with IE. It's easy and fast to use. I believe the use to be anonymous. And I'm satisfied with its default design. It's a freeware, and not bad at all.

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