OiNK under investigation as arrests are made.


Recommended Posts

Too true. I'm against pirating but there are some music that is not released by recording companies. One very good example is music pertaining to soundtracks/score. You find you like a certain tune in a movie and find that it's not available in the CD release or it is a different version altogether. So the only way to find the tune is to sometimes look for it in these sites. Take the Transformers score by Steve Jablonsky for example, with the movie coming out in June but taking more than 4 months for the score to be released. A petition was even made for the score to be released. Thankfully it is and it is really good so all that waiting is worth it, but you get my point.

Another example is when not all the music from the movie is released. This is especially prevalent in movies scored by Hans Zimmer such as Gladiator, The Last Samurai, King Arthur and so on. Titanic is also guilty of this, with nearly half the music still not released to the public. The Back to Titanic CD which was released later with supposedly missing music was rubbish, I'm disgusted that I bought it. So what can we do to find our music since its not released? If the recording industry just release these kind of music in an acceptable format, then I'll be the first in line to get it. Unfortunately, I don't see this happening any time soon.

At least the music for the Lord Of The Rings trilogy is being released in all of its glory (though I've yet to buy it, no budget :cry: ).

Scirwode

One thing that kinda gets me mad, is that on some like Japanese releases they contain like 4+ bonus tracks that are not on the American release and the only thing that you find on most sites and stores is the album with no bonus tracks

One thing that kinda gets me mad, is that on some like Japanese releases they contain like 4+ bonus tracks that are not on the American release and the only thing that you find on most sites and stores is the album with no bonus tracks

That too.

Scirwode

ROFL, 2 years? I bet they're going to charge him because it took them that long to get an invite, what a bunch of tools.

In all honesty, after joining OiNK a few years back I've purchased more CDs than I had before. My music collection is now double what it was 2 years ago. I donated to help the sites up keep, I'm not worried in the slightest because I donated for the community aspect of things, not the hosted content. ;)

For every site shut down, 10 more will pop up tomorrow...

not of the quality of OiNK they won't. it was invite only for a reason and it was pretty damn strict on transcodes and bad posts. I doubt there are any sites out there that could step up to take it's place.

I never cared much for Oink, its not like it was the best damn torrent site out there anyway....

With regards to the profit, did he have a subscription option at all? I've seen a lot of torrent sites do the whole VIP thing...

I was expecting this to happen soon enough.

I almost posted on the Power User+ forum whether others were also beginning to feel that all good things had to come to an end.

I hope that Alan is okay, and I know that at the end of this we will be left with progress.

I never cared much for Oink, its not like it was the best damn torrent site out there anyway....

With regards to the profit, did he have a subscription option at all? I've seen a lot of torrent sites do the whole VIP thing...

Nope, they only had a donate option (and hopefully Alan was intelligent enough to not horde donation money).

Hosted no cracks, or illegal files. Only torrents.

However they obviously hosted torrent files to copyrighted work, so hence were facilitating people to break copyright.

I'll be interested in seeing what they try and get the owner for...

Irrespective of the site, this has been on the cards for a long time, torrent site busts have been going on for a while now. Yes TPB got away with it, but only because they relocated. Torrent sites are not the place to be now, the authorities who used to go after the FTP groups have shifted gear towards torrent sites as its a lot easier to prove things. Sites have ratios, which is logged, so if X member logs in and downloads Y amount of data, then uploads Y amount of data (in order to maintain a ratio) they have all the evidence they need.

Say goodbye to torrent sites as we know it.

"Hack The Planet" I guess thats what the IFPI thinks we are all up to these days. I personally love the subscription part of it, anything to put a spin on it to make everyone look evil. Really they should go after the creators of the MP3 format as thats what sparked all of this in the first place music wise.

Poor guy. He was doing a huge favour for so many people. No matter what the news states, OiNK will be remembered by many as the best torrent site and he as a legend.

does anyone fear that due to the oink shut down, that they might track users down and send us notices/arrest us?

Yes...

does anyone fear that due to the oink shut down, that they might track users down and send us notices/arrest us? I am wondering since thats what it says on the site

Thats more or less what I said earlier, they now have all the evidence as all accounts are logged for ratio purposes.

With out the internet, there would be music that I would not be able to get my hands on, or even heard of.

Someone needs to come up with a site like OiNK, but make it so that it does not host items that are purchasable, so for example, out of print CDs, live shows ( i know archive.org has a few of these ), rare stuff like that, which the only way to 'buy' them is from other people who do not own the rights to sell them, so why not just screw those bootleggers and give it up for free? I know with roms, that some people justify downloading and having them by the fact that the console & the game is out of print, so its not really hurting anyone, because the company is never going to get your money, no mater what. Of course this does not stop collects from going down to their local gametrader and buying the old rare SNES cart of Final Fantasy 3 (or whatever) for $100.

Its free exposure, I never understood how these companies don't understand this. I never really like Metallica, I would never spend $14-8 dollars to buy a CD to try them out, because I'd rather spend it on music I know I'd like. But I got a CD from a friend, tried it out, explored some more of the back catalog, and then from that day I bought all their newest CDs. I usually never by old CDs because I can't justify paying $14 or so for an older CD, specially if the artist has 6+ old CDs, so I pick them up used at local thrift shops and used book stores. Live shows and back catalog CDs will help expose people to these bands, but its free, you have nothing to lose to check out a band which a friend recommends, or your heard was good.

They do have a site (Spiralfrog i think) which you can download free music (DRMed of course, but thats not too bad for free, but we could do better) but they only have major albums and popular things that the studios allow. The new site should be community based so that people who make their own Fan-based cds (like live CDs, DVD rips, stuff like that) can submit it for upload, which is then reviewed to make sure it really is 'legal' to the plan of the site, and then posted as a torrent for all to download, and since the torrent is 'legal' i bet many more people will seed it because to some bandwidth is nothing, and for those who download, they can get it much faster, and there can be multiple formats (flac for the audiophiles, hosted by them, and then MP3 for those who don't care, or whatever they decided to upload it as)

The record companies would probably be appalled at this idea and might even sue me just for the thought of it. Hell, I'd probably even pay to have membership to the site, but I'd hope most of it goes to the team that ran the site and its development.

Its a thought, a utopia, probably never to be conceived of legally because of copyright legislation and resistance to change.

According to this:

http://torrentfreak.com/oink-investigation...f-users-071023/

they said that nothing will happen, but i think something will happen to all oink users

Serious owned if this were to happen :laugh:

Radish?

does anyone fear that due to the oink shut down, that they might track users down and send us notices/arrest us? I am wondering since thats what it says on the site

They won't do it... imagine tracking down 180,000 users. Then they'd have to work out what songs each user downloaded, and get the total count of songs or else they wouldn't hold up at all in court. Then if its somewhere like the UK then they'd probably need even more evidence than that, possibly the dates of when you downloaded them or something like that. They'd also need to get the co-operation of the local authority in arresting you.

Imagine the costs of doing all of that for 180,000 users... they might get the legal fees back from the court but they won't get the money back for having to actually find you and build up the profile of your download history.

They'll only go for top 10 uploaders or something, or the ones who uploaded the pre-release albums. The average user is safe, just as they were when ET got busted a couple of years back.

does anyone fear that due to the oink shut down, that they might track users down and send us notices/arrest us? I am wondering since thats what it says on the site
Yes. to every single ~100,000 users :p ....unlikely IMO

been said many times, the quality of that site was awesome.

i used to give out invites, but even after people had promised to keep up the ratio, they failed and eventually got banned, that reflects poorly on me, so i stopped giving them out. except for a few close people. not to mention i gave invites to myself to get more invites.. all that's gone now.

also, for almost a year i have not been able to upload anything.. my ratio was at a 2.3 and recently at 1.5.. now it's zero.. eh.

What I don't understand is the handful of people in this thread who are actually glad that sites like Oink are slowly being killed off. I can only assume you have links to, or some other interest in the recording industry because I don't know of ANYONE who could possibly have a soft spot for or show any sympathy towards the recording industries!

They are crooks who take us, the paying public, for fools.

I've never even USED Oink but frankly we need more sites like it!

What I don't understand is the handful of people in this thread who are actually glad that sites like Oink are slowly being killed off. I can only assume you have links to, or some other interest in the recording industry because I don't know of ANYONE who could possibly have a soft spot for or show any sympathy towards the recording industries!

They are crooks who take us, the paying public, for fools.

I've never even USED Oink but frankly we need more sites like it!

Because some of us hated Oink more then the recording industry.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Anthropic introduces Claude Tag, a new AI teammate for Slack by Fiza Ali Anthropic has announced Claude Tag, a new feature that lets teams work with Claude directly inside Slack. The idea is simple: once Claude is added to a Slack workspace and given access to selected channels, users can tag @Claude in conversations and assign tasks. Claude can then work through those requests using connected tools and data sources before posting its results back into a Slack thread. What makes Claude Tag different from a typical chatbot is that it's designed to operate as a shared assistant for an entire team rather than a single user. Everyone in a channel interacts with the same Claude instance. This allows the team members to see ongoing work and continue tasks started by others. Furthermore, Anthropic says the AI can build context over time by following conversations in channels where it has permission to operate. This means users don't have to repeatedly provide the same background information for every request. The system is also designed for asynchronous work. Instead of waiting for responses in a chat window, users can assign a task to Claude and return later once the work is complete. Anthropic says Claude can break larger requests into multiple steps and use connected tools to complete them. Moreover, the system can also schedule follow-up tasks and continue working on projects over extended periods. Another feature allows Claude to keep the users updated and follow up on unresolved tasks when its optional "ambient" mode is enabled. The company says the tool is already being used internally for software development, data analysis, support workflows, and debugging. According to Anthropic, around 65% of its product team's code is now generated through its internal version of Claude Tag. For organisations concerned about security, administrators can control which channels, tools, and data sources Claude can access. Separate Claude instances can also be configured for different departments, helping keep information isolated between teams. Administrators can also monitor activity logs, review completed tasks, and set spending limits at both the organisation and channel level. Claude Tag is now available in beta for Claude Enterprise and Claude Team customers and runs on Claude Opus 4.8 that was announced this May. The feature will also replace Anthropic's existing Claude in Slack application, with current users able to migrate within a 30-day migration window. Lastly, eligible customers will receive introductory credits to help teams evaluate the new experience.
    • Beats Studio Pro wireless over-ear ANC headphones drop to their lowest price yet by Fiza Ali Amazon is currently offering the Beats Studio Pro headphones at their all-time low price. The Studio Pro use 40mm active drivers which are designed to improve clarity and reduce distortion compared to previous models, with up to an 80% improvement over the Beats Studio3 Wireless. A built-in digital processor adjusts frequency response to keep the sound balanced rather than overly boosted in any one area. They also include Active Noise Cancelling that adapts to your surroundings to reduce background noise along with a Transparency mode that lets outside sound in when you need awareness of what’s going on around you. Furthermore, the headphones support personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking as well as Dolby Atmos playback on supported content. Moreover, built-in voice-targeting microphones improve call quality. You can also switch between three sound profiles including Beats Signature for balanced music playback, Entertainment for films and gaming, and Conversation for clearer voice in calls and podcasts. Physically, they are designed to be worn for long periods without feeling heavy or awkward. The ear cushions use UltraPlush engineered leather while metal sliders allow you to adjust the fit. On the connectivity side, the Studio Pro use Class 1 Bluetooth for a stable, long-range wireless connection. There is also a 3.5mm input if you want to plug in directly, including use with in-flight entertainment systems. Controls are located on the headphones and include a "b" button for music and call control, a volume rocker, and a multifunction button used for switching listening modes, EQ settings, power, and pairing. In addition, the headphones offer integration with both Apple and Android devices. On Apple devices, they support one-touch pairing with iCloud-linked devices, hands-free Siri access, Find My tracking based on last connected location, and automatic software updates. On Android devices, they support Google Fast Pair, Audio Switch between compatible devices, and Google Find My Device tracking, with additional features available through the Beats app. When it comes to the battery performance, it is rated at up to 40 hours of listening time with ANC turned off, and up to 24 hours with ANC or Transparency mode enabled. A 10-minute Fast Fuel charge should provide up to 4 hours of playback. Finally, the headphones use a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and charge via USB-C. Beats Studio Pro Wireless Over-Ear ANC Headphones: $149.95 (Amazon US) Good to know This Amazon deal is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • "lets you pause updates by choosing an end date, for up to 35 days" Wasn't it "indefinitely"?
    • Those extra reboots are related to the UEFI Secure Boot certificate update thing.
    • Hands on with the ProtoArc EM25: Affordable ergonomic mouse that focuses on the right things by Taras Buria ProtoArc is known for making all sorts of office products with a big focus on ergonomics and comfort. Its latest product, the EM25, promises a comfortable-to-use, affordable, and customizable mouse. We took one for a spin; here are our impressions. The ProtoArc EM25 is a $49.99 mouse, but right now, during Prime Day 2026, you can get it for just $37.99. Right off the bat, you can see that the EM25 is inspired by Logitech's MX Master lineup and the legendary MX Master 3/3S. Its shape and proportions are very similar, so for a person with large hands (right-handed person, mind you), the EM25 is very comfortable to use. The mouse fills the palm, and the thumb rests on a small extension, giving your wrist a small tilt to reduce strain. The mouse is made of black plastic without any coating, eliminating long-term wear concerns. However, I can see the main buttons and other areas you touch the most getting polished over time. Despite its size and bulk, the mouse is not too heavy. It weighs about 100 grams, which is significantly less than the MX Master 3S and its successor. It is no lightweight gaming mouse by any means, but it is not excessively heavy like the MX Master 4. The EM25 has a built-in storage for its USB dongle. It is a cleverly made magnetic flap that you open by simply pressing on it. Next to the flap, you will find the on/off switch, the 1,000 Hz sensor, and a DPI button (up to 8,000 DPI). I find the DPI button location a bit odd, and I would prefer it somewhere below the main scroll wheel. Still, given that I never change DPI on my mice, I will let it pass. What is more important is that, unlike MX Master 3/3S/4, the device switch button is located below the left-click button, which allows you to switch devices without lifting and flipping the mouse. For a multi-device setup, this is a perfect solution: the button does not require too much effort to use, it does not get in your way, but it is also easily reachable with your thumb. The main scroll wheel has two modes: ratcheted and free-flow. You can only change between them with a bright orange button (I like this little touch of color), which is sprung and requires some effort to press. The wheel is dead-silent in free-flow mode, but ratched is quite loud and stiff, perhaps even too much to my liking. I can hardly call it deal-breaking, but it will certainly take some time to get used to. The side scroll wheel, it is notched, silent, and pleasant to use. Next to it, you can find a piece of glossed plastic with connection indicators: Dongle, Bluetooth 1, Bluetooth 2, and the low battery indicator. By the way, the built-in battery is rechargeable via a USB Type-C cable, which is included. It is sleeved and has an orange velcro strap to keep it tidy. After using the EM25 for a few weeks, I can say that its main buttons are my absolute favorite. They have very pronounced clicks, which feel great with just the right amount of force required to register a press. I would say they feel like something in between regular mouse clicks and silent ones. You can hear and feel the springy switch, but it is not sharp or loud to the point of annoying you. As for back/forward and device switch buttons, they are very clicky and quite noisy. Unfortunately, there are no extra buttons that you can map to specific things like in the MX Master lineup. Besides great primary clicks, another thing I like about the EM25 is its 1,000 Hz sensor. In the world, where Logitech still uses 125 Hz sensors in $100+ mice, seeing a much faster sensor in a mouse that costs three times less is very refreshing. Also, all the settings and customization you make are stored on-device, and you do not need to install any software. Just open the web-based app and change all that you need. Speaking of customization, you can remap what buttons do, adjust the DPI, and the sensor speed. Sadly, gestures are not supported, but you can still map pretty much anything to each button, including shortcuts, media buttons, and more. I also recommend using software like XMouseControl, as it will let you remap the side scroll wheel. At the end of the day, the ProtoArc EM25 is a great mouse. Clearly inspired by the MX Master lineup, it takes the best of it and complements it with a much more wallet-friendly price tag, significantly better sensor, on-device memory, a built-in storage for the dongle, and more (it fixes everything that I complained about the MX Master 4 recently). And for only $37.99 during Prime Day, the EM25 is an easy recommendation. Buy ProtoArc EM25 mouse - $37.99 | 24% off with Prime As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Rookie
      DaviKar went up a rank
      Rookie
    • Dedicated
      HidekoYamamoto94 earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • One Month Later
      timbobit earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Month Later
      nates earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      Almohandis earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      460
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      161
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      110
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      81
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      69
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!