For those of you who think that downloading content is as simple as
clicking any and every download link you see on the Internet, it may be
time to reconsider. The ugly truth is that there is a lot of content
that is intentionally posted without a download link, making it
impossible to store on your local machine without the right tools. In
fact, there are many types of data that can’t be stored locally without a
download manager, and these types of software provide many ancillary
benefits that improve users’ experiences. Folx
is leading the way for Apple Macintosh computer users with a versatile
download manager that combines all the functions a heavy downloader
would want. The software is provided by Eltima,
which makes various productivity, and problem solution tools for both
Windows and Apple computers. Folx 5.0 was just released with a fresh new
look. Let’s look at why this downloading tool may be just what you
need.
Features
As opposed to other download managers, Folx is really two software
programs in one. You see, it is a Bit Torrent client as much as it is a
download manager. And its interface is pretty easy to use – all a user
needs to do is open the web page of the file they want to download,
click the link in your browser, and Folx will take care of the rest. One
thing it does to enhance download times is to divide a download into
multiple threads (as much as 10).
Most people aren’t aware that TCP threads, sometimes called streams,
have a finite download speed that isn’t determined by the bandwidth of
your Internet connection. TCP
(Transmission Control Protocol), a popular Internet protocol designed
to transmit data, has features such as acknowledgements and windowing
that make it slower than other protocols such as UDP. By splitting a TCP
download into multiple threads, the download manager is able to
download files faster.
In addition, it even has a useful resume feature that saves a lot of
time if a large file download is interrupted. If users want, they can
even tag files with an alias to better sort and manage your downloads.
It even has a nice feature that lets users control how their bandwidth
is allocated among different file operations to give them a higher
degree of control over their uploads and downloads. All these features
are great for users whom may be stuck with a slow, or intermittent
internet line with no alternatives. Older folks remember 56k modems, and
how important a download manager was in order to resume interrupted
downloads.
However, most of these features are only available in the Pro
version, and this paid version also contains features that will let
users schedule downloads. Furthermore, the Pro version also has a smart
speed adjustment feature, which automatically decreases download speeds
when the Internet connection is used for other purposes. This means that
users can browse the web during downloads without having to worry about
unreasonably slow page load times due to a download hogging all the
bandwidth.
Pricing
Folx offers the freeware/upgrade option, whereby the free version
lacks advanced features. The paid version, on the other hand, costs a
one time fee of $19.95, which isn’t unreasonable for a quality download
manager. The lifetime license only includes important updates, such as
bug fixes, and an additional $9,95 is charged to unlock a lifetime
upgrades guarantee for access to all new versions.
The paid Pro version allows up to ten threads for maximum download
speeds, as well as a torrent search engine, speed control for traffic
allocation, download scheduling, a password manager, and app integration
for iTunes, and YouTube. If these specific features are a must, the
freeware version might not suffice. With that said, the free version
still comes with two thread splitting, making it faster than regular
downloading regardless.
Support
Their support page
is loaded with resources such as FAQs, forums, and user guides, and
phone support is available during local business hours. Customer tickets
can be opened by sending a quick an email form, and their website even
claims that they will respond to your message within 1-2 business days,
which can be a real pain if you need quick assistance, but generally
speaking for this software, you will likely never need support. But for
users that want faster support – under 4 hours – can pay for the urgent
support plan. The urgent support plan costs $15 a year, which cloud be
perceived as a pointless fee. Most people today have come to expect that
any reliable software provider will have a customer support department
that can resolve issues within a matter of hours. But, keep in mind that
Folx can be used for free, while the pro version costs less than $20,
and a small fee for support is a way for users to contribute to, and
upkeep future release updates.
Conclusion
Folx 5 Download Manager for Mac
is a perfect tool for those who download massive amounts of data from
various sources. It makes the task enjoyable, and allows you to manage
and control your downloads quickly, and to your specific needs, all
while adding reliability to slow, or unstable internet connections. The
downsides are that freeware users don’t get a full amount of threads for
speedy downloads, and lack a torrent search engine, as well as managing
controls, but after giving it a test run for over two months, I have no
bugs to report and was able to comparatively download much faster,
sometimes twice as much bandwidth with Folx when testing slow sources,
and the scheduling of downloads can be a productive time saving tool for
some.
Folx 5 Download Manager for Mac
Reviewed by Adventure Tees
on
02:40:00
Rating:
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