FlashGet has been my favourite download manager since forever (actually, since it was called JetCar). It’s fast, fully-featured (mms:// downloads anyone?) and it doesn’t hog on your system’s resources.

There was only one drawback: it was based on an adware model - unregistered versions displayed in-program advertisement banners. However, starting last year, a great deal of changes came from AmazeSoft’s way, the most important being FlashGet became a freeware product. That’s right, the best download manager is FREE! Read on for more goodies...

Since version 1.80 beta 1, FlashGet is compatible with Windows Vista, so if you plan to upgrade to Microsoft’s new shiny OS, you won’t have to leave FlashGet behind.

FlashGet is also a fully-featured BitTorrent client, including protocol compression. I still prefer uTorrent for my usual torrenting, but FlashGet is a decent alternative if you prefer to use less programs for the same amount of tasks.

Addons are supported now, with two being made available by AmazeSoft: FlashCheck (manage your downloads remotely) and FlashGWQ (remote bandwidth manager).

Aside the above, the program has been constantly improved in terms of stability, download speed, browser integration (the FlashGet BHO works fine with IE7) and user interface (new icon theme and skins).

Recap: don’t even dare ask if it’s worth installing - you can’t afford not to install it. Go ahead and give it a try, but be prepared to fall in love with it.




*** WHAT’S NEW IN FLASHGET 1.81.1002 ***

New Features
1. Enable to increase/decrease threads when disabling mirrors download
2. Optimize download flow and 99% download problem

Bug fixes
1. Program is likely to lose response or crash when downloading multi-files
2. Graph/log window can not be refreshed after resuming broken download
3. Show 99% problem in dropzone after downloaded
4. Disk read/write errors in some situation

FlashGet-1.81.1002

(via Worth Installing: FlashGet: your freeware download manager. Now with torrents!)