I have to admit, I had never heard of GigaTribe before I was sent a PR release regarding their stand at CeBit this year. Had a quick read and a look at their site, and was intrigued enough to download the free version. The free version interested me enough to contact GigaTribe and request a look at their ultimate version for review. They were also kind enough to give me some answers in an email interview with their CEO, Stéphane - relevant questions posted throughout the review, and a complete transcript also posted below.
Quick FactsName: GigaTribe
Website: gigatribe.comVersion: 2.50 and 3.04beta
Purpose: Private Peer-2-Peer
First released: 2005
Conclusion in a nutshell: Very good at what it does: Private Peer-2-Peer for sharing files, photos and other media with friends and family. Not worth using v2.50 as 3.04beta is a lot nicer looking and more functional (though as with any beta, it may still have a few undiscovered bugs running free).
Recommendation: Read the review here. Read the FAQ. Download and install - its free after all (for the free version).
Similar/Competitor products: BitWise,
HamachiPurposeThe GigaTribe software is an interesting concept. At first glance it seems to be a mix of P2P software, together with a hint of IM, and a tiny dash of Facebook or any other social networking site thrown in on the side. This is what GigaTribe says about it on their site:
New solution to an old problem
Many of us have Gigabytes of photos, videos and documents on their hard drive but existing solutions to share those files are not suited when you need to privately share a lot of content or when this content is frequently updated:
Hosting solutions are size limited and require an upload for each file being modified or added.
File sending solutions are not suited to share complete directories.
FTP software requires strong technical skills.
Streaming platforms are only good for public content.
P2P solutions are just not secure enough to exchange private content.
Now excusing the typo's on the site, and realising that English isn't their first language (its developed in France for those interested), its pretty clear that this software is aimed at those wishing to share family photo's and video with close friends and family. Its not designed as an SVN, nor as a full scale P2P program for the purposes of large files and warez. Having said that - it is capable of those tasks to a certain extent.
I specifically directed questions to Stephane regarding the purpose of the GigaTribe software:
Q1. On your website you call the GigaTribe software "Private Peer-2-Peer". Is the main aim of the software to enable easy and secure file transfer between friends, or do you have a greater target for its use?
A. The GigaTribe software is dedicated to file sharing between friends. We often have requests from people asking if they can run application remotely with GigaTribe or use VoIP. We’ve decided to remain focused on the filesharing. We won’t extend our features before we have the feeling we can’t improve the file sharing core feature.
Q2. What is the number one reason that you would consider people should use the GigaTribe software over any other software available?
A. If you want to share files, you can use email, online storage, Bittorrent or even YouTube.But if you want to share big files with friends in a private environment, GigaTribe is the best solution because it was built in that purpose.
My view of what it can be used for, given my limited experience with the software is as follows:
Private Peer-2-Peer: as suggested already, the software would be good for keeping in touch with family and friends, allowing you to share private files and photos without fear of them ending plastered up all over the net.
Another good use would be for a single point to point file transfer: if a friend needs to send you a file. The GigaTribe software will allow resume, which is a great thing when transferring large files!
Finally, the GigaTribe software would be good for small to medium sized commercial entities - ones that have people working from home or satellite/remote locations. Where these companies may not have the expertise, equipment or finances to setup a proper VPN or corporate network; these companies might well benefit from a program such as Gigatribe.
FeaturesFeatures as listed on the GigaTribe website:
GigaTribe unique features
The service is simple and easy to use
1 Download the software and create a username.
2 Invite your friends within the software.
3 Share your folders and start downloading!
GigaTribe does not require any extra steps to share a file.
Once you select which folders you want to share, the contents of those folders are instantly accessible to your friends. You can add new files to your shared folders or change your files at any time.
There are no limitations on quantity or file size
all your files are kept on your hard drive, eliminating the need to transfer them to an external server.
Files are available in their original fomat
In just a few clicks, you can share and also discover files as if you are entering into a virtual library. Files are available in their original fomat in the same hierarchy as defined by their owner which offers a greater discovery experience.
It’s a 2 ways sharing service
Each contact can both share and download. The more contacts you invite, the more content you get. As your community grows more and more files become available to you without you needing to do anything more. You decide which content is worth downloading among all files available to you.
Transfer automatically resumes
If a download is interrupted, if ever a contact goes offline for example, the transfer automatically resumes with no loss of data when your contact comes back online. If the file that you are downloading is available from any other contacts in your list, then GigaTribe automatically retrieves the file from all those contacts and continues to download it for you.
One of the biggest areas that GigaTribe tout as a feature is the area of security. On the net you will find conflicting information - but just to clear it up, GigaTribe software uses 256-bit Blowfish Encryption:
Q6. Having looked around the net at the different reviews, some say that GigaTribe uses 128-bit Blowfish encryption, whereas another says its 26-bit. What sort of encryption is used for the file transfers to keep the data secure?
A. We’re using a 256 blowfish encryption. The first versions were using 128 encryption and I guess the 26 bits is a spelling mistake, the ‘5’ must have disappeared)
JRW Note: The above question was meant to read 256, not 26... either way the answer is the same.
About security on the site:
Security is, of course, GigaTribe’s major concern
Only the people you’ve invited can see your files.
Only the folders you have selected are visible to your contacts.
Every exchange is strongly encrypted - No-one can know what is being exchanged.
How Does it WorkHow does it work?
Once you have connected to GigaTribe, you're going to invite your friends and/or accept their invitations. The group of users you have gathered will constitute your private network.
You will then choose which folders on your hard-drive you wish to share with the members of your network.
They will now be able to see the contents of these shared folders and download what they want.
You will be able to do the same when browsing through the folders they are sharing with you.
As per the other quotes, the one above is also from the GigaTribe website. It highlights a point that becomes important, and which I will discuss later on: You have to invite friends to be able to share!
Enough of the chatter, lets see this program in action!
Test system:
Platform: Abit IP-35 Pro w/ C2D 6550 and 4GB Ram. 8800GTS GPU
Network: TP-Link Wireless 'N' client on a Linksys WAG160-N router. Router firewall enabled.
OS: Windows Vista Ultimate. Latest drivers and updates installed.
AV: Trend Micro Internet Security 2009
Other: GigaTribe website was viewed using both Google Chrome and IE8
v2.50InstallInstall is a fairly simple affair, with the ability to do so in English, Spanish, French, Swedish and Dutch. Install uses a tiny 2.6MB space.
Once you have installed, it opens a registration screen as seen below.
Because I already had my username and password, I could hit cancel and enter it in the next screen.
Enter that in, and it connects. Easy. I did not have to worry about changing ports or settings on either the PC or in the router. If the EasyConnect feature wasn't working I would probably have to forward a port in the router. Not difficult - but not zero config either!
UseThe first time you log in, you will need to set up your folders and invite friends. It is highly advisable to follow the 1 minute starter guide which can be downloaded in .PDF format
HERE. The guide will tell you exactly how to add folders to share (you are after all using this to share some files/pictures/media aren't you) and how to get started creating your own network of friends. This was the first downside I ran into with the GigaTribe software: Finding friends. As an example - on Facebook, Myspace or many of the other social networking sites, you can find friends and invite them by looking for first name, last name, and in many cases by location, group, interests etc. No such thing exists for GigaTribe. You will have to either enter friends and family's email addresses which will send them and email to join, or if they are already a member, you can invite them by searching for their username: provided you know what it is! As a persons username can be anything at all, it may be difficult to find someone.
This was a particular problem that I should have asked about in the interview: Is the ability to find and add friends being improved? Luckily for me, that particular question was answered as part of the answer for question 4:
On top of the profile and blog additions, we’re working on the connections with existing social networks to help you retrieve your friend’s lists more easily.
Definitely good news as far as the ability to network goes. The mention of other social expansions "Tribes" and "Chatrooms" in answer to question 8 also bodes well for the future.
Time for a some more images: This one is of the network screen. It lists your friends and includes information as to their current status.
Files shared. Wouldn't be much of a P2P without any way to see what you are sharing and an ability to browse your friends shares now would it?
Transfers screen. You can see whats going up and down, and you also have the ability to change your main settings here. This is one area that makes the Ultimate version more powerful then the free version: the free doesn't give you as much control as to how many files you can download at one time.
Chat window. You can chat to one person, or to all your friends that are online at one time. Having said that, the interface can be confusing, and it is a simple mistake to send out chat to the "public" window (all your friends) instead of just one. That could cause problems!
v2.50 ConclusionOverall, version 2.50 isn't bad. It does have its faults (limited friend finding functions, clunky interface, and easily mistaken chat) but they are faults you could live with if you needed the private P2P functions it offers. Version 3 is where the action is at though, and it is definitely worth reading on for!
v3.04bInstallThere isn't much difference in the v3 install, apart from the fact that it takes up 10x more space on your hard drive, weighing in at 21.4MB.
When you have installed, you will instantly notice the difference. V3 looks so much better, with a much nicer breakup of the different sections, and a whole new colour scheme.
Part of the interview, on the changes in v3:
Q3. Having used both version 2.5 and the new beta version 3.04 I am amazed at the visual difference between the two. Is there a full list of features that will be available in the stable version of V3, or a list of the changes between V2 and V3?
A. We’ve decided to develop Version 3 to have a more simple user interface and a software running with Mac and Linux OS. The more obvious change for everyone is the visual difference and hopefully it delivers a better user experience, especially to new comers.
We’ve also added a new feature to help users detect new files available within their network. This way you won’t have to browse your friend’s folders to see what has recently been added.
The file sharing interface has been enhanced: when sharing a folder you can decide which subfolder will be shared, you can give limited access to certain user who will only see your files but won’t be allowed to download, you can add a comment on your folder, etc..
The user profile has more options as well: you can share your tastes or manage a private blog.
Q4. I see that V3 has made some improvements in its social aspects (profile and blog). Are you going to increase the social aspects further in the near future?
A. GigaTribe is about sharing with friends so the social aspect is definitely a major concern. On top of the profile and blog additions, we’re working on the connections with existing social networks to help you retrieve your friend’s lists more easily.
Things that will instantly grab your attention in v3 include new separate chat tabs for different friends (YAY!!!), additional profile features (see the profile screenshot attached), a blog interface to allow your friends and family to see what your up to, and new file sharing capabilities (to do with subfolders and permissions). Unfortunately the friend invitation interface is still the same, only allowing you to search by username, or by email address invitation. Pity, but something that the team at GigaTribe are working on.
New chat interface! In my opinion one of the best changes from the old version.
File transfer options. Not much different from the old version. Should be fairly straightforward for most to understand. File sharing will be improved though, with recursive sharing as an option:
GigaTribe has been built to exchange with friends. We found it more convenient to have recursive sharing by default. We would not have made the same choice for an opened p2p.
In version 3, the recurse sharing will be an option. It will be checked or not according to your settings.
Just as a note: basically recursive sharing is the option to select whether or not sub-folders are shared by default. With many file sharing folders, if you share your documents folder for example, it will also share your music, pictures, downloads and any other folders that you have as children of the parent folder. With this option, you can decide if you want GigaTribe to behave in that way or not.
Web Interface Available from the GigaTribe website is a "private area". This is where members can log in and view their account information. An exciting new feature, which is currently being developed, and from what I understand will be available from the next update is the ability to download your own files from the web. This will mean that you can have a file on your PC, which has the GigaTribe client installed, and pull up a file (eg a PowerPoint presentation) directly off your PC using any web browser. Sounds like a great feature to me!
Cost, Help and SupportFor current cost, visit
HERESupport is via email. There is also a GigaTribe forum, but it is not owned by the GigaTribe company, so the support there may be limited.
The
FAQ is a pretty good place to start, then look on the
forum, and finally, send an
email.
Conclusion and RecommendationIf your looking for a magic bullet to supply all your networking needs, then GigaTribe is not it. There are better programs out there for chat, better solutions for social networking, and other file sharing solutions that are quite in the realm of possibility. If your looking for something thats easy to install, simple to use, and allows secure transfer of files between your family and friends, then your looking in the right place.
Recommendations:
Firstly, GigaTribe is free to download, and you can get an excellent taste of it (and even continued functionality) without paying a cent. I suggest that you read through the documentation in the
FAQ on the GigaTribe website, and then download the v3.40b. Version 3 is the best of the two in my opinion! Sign up for a free account, and then get your family and friends involved. If you get a few interested, it may be worthwhile subscribing. If not, you haven't lost anything in the process
Pros:- Easy setup
- Secure file transfer
- Stable
- Looks good v3.04
- Supports resume on file transfers
Cons:- Difficult to find friends
- Invite system needs work
- Chat interface complex (v2.5 only)
- Free version limited
- Niche scope means you still need to keep your regular P2P and chat programs
Now how about some slightly less compressed screenshots of v3. All the images used in this review are available in our
Gallery.
