Download Manager Plus v8 Premium

Download Accelerator Plus (DAP)--the popular download manager with over 136 million users. DAP leverages patented technology, easy management of downloads and rich features including: multi connections, download security feature by ZoneAlarm, auto-recovery, privacy tools, faster downloads from fastest sources, preview of files as you download; broadband optimization; tabbed downloading. Availabe in 10 languages.

Version 8 premium may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

This download manager brings much more to the table than fast file transfers, but it definitely delivers those, too. Upon installation, Download Accelerator Plus asks for your e-mail address in hopes of sending you special offers, but you don't actually need to submit any information. Although the program is free, the trade-off is the "information panel" that displays software advertisements. Luckily, it's easy to get used to. Nevertheless, the tabbed main window is straightforward. DAP also installs a handy toolbar in Internet Explorer and integrates with Firefox and other alternate browsers. Increased download speeds are the program's bread and butter, speeding up downloads by almost 200 percent in most cases. Besides splitting files into smaller pieces, it automatically seeks faster mirrors. It also can get a file simultaneously from several sites, which is useful if a particular site limits the download speed.

Other useful tools include the ability to resume interrupted downloads, log on to protected sites, and schedule downloads at low traffic times for faster downloading. We appreciate the extra tools for organizing media and finding games, as well as the basic FTP client. We also found an interesting feature in the pay version that allows you to resume all downloads, whether a server supports it or not. All things considered, this feature-rich program will prove valuable for most avid downloaders.