Current version 2.0 (26 Sep 12)
Status:
4 stations,
1 listener
Streamer
is a peer-to-peer internet radio. It is NOT a file sharing network.
Streamer promotes GOOD use of p2p networking technology.
It works by having some listeners (red) who are downloading the audio stream
from the server (green) then upload it to other listeners, who in turn upload it to even more
listeners, forming a branching tree.
The broadcasting server only sends
the stream to a few of them, instead of sending it to every one
individually, as happens in conventional client-server systems.
New listeners tag on the the outside edge of the tree, and because each one
provides new upload capacity to the network there is no limit to their
number. They also move around in the tree according to their upload
bandwidth and listening time, and as others leave and join the network.
High bandwidth and long-stay listeners tend to move closer to the
broadcast server (closer = less hops)
This all means you don't need an internet connection with a lot of bandwidth to
broadcast to a huge number of listeners. A low bandwidth modem connection can
work just fine. Higher bandwidth connections naturally increase the quality
of the audio that is possible. It's almost-free
broadcasting, for just the cost of a net connection.
It has a built in chat system, with a lobby channel, some other system channels, and
a chat channel for each
station, so you can chat with the DJ. It uses a gnutella-like mesh to
distribute the messages. It also has an embedded web site for each
station which streams alongside the audio. This can contain most html
tags, images, banners, links etc. Add playlists, a web cam, ad banners,
whatever you can think of. (currently though only the index.html is
streamed, the other files must be on a web server).
It's size is less than a half of a meg, for both listening and broadcasting. It
has no spyware or similar crud, won't put commercials in your stream
(yuk!),
make you sign up, nag you for money, show pop-ups, etc.
Streamer is still a work in progress and as such, it is possible that there are
still some bugs... but what software doesn't right? :-). Check for updates about once a month.