14 DAY TRIAL // Download managers are applications used to grab files from the Internet and manage them with ease. Some of these utilities, such as Progressive Downloader, will also provide multi-threaded downloading, a feature that enables users to download files at increased speeds, since it allows the utility to grab them using multiple server connections.
While many downloaders have a confusing interface, Progressive Downloader is just the opposite. It's very simple to use, having an intuitive downloading system and it’s suitable for both beginner and expert users alike.
The application is free, Intel only. Working solely on 64-bit processors and with roughly 7 MB in size, it's just a breeze to download and use.
The Looks
Progressive Downloader provides a simple interface, with a single window where you can add and manage your downloads. Although the looks are not impressive, it's a reliable piece of software that gets things done.
A sidebar can be accessed on the left side of the main window, providing quick access to Tasks (including running, suspended and complete downloads), Schedules (waiting and complete downloads) and Filters (where you can add and access your own filters).
The Works
Working with the application is both basic and intuitive: you just have to add a new download link, choose the output folder and then wait for the download to finish.
The application allows you to suspend a download. However, this feature is not working, since each time we tried to suspend and restart a download, we've received a 'File not found' error.
During the download process, you can edit the properties of any file. However, users can't change the output location of a file while downloading it, which is understandable.
Furthermore, you can set the program to put your computer to sleep automatically once a download is finished, by clicking the Sleep button. We were a bit skeptical about its efficiency, but, after testing the application, we can state that it works like a charm and it does put your Mac to sleep or shuts it down once a download is finished.
The app also allows you to set speed limits, a good addition to the feature list, since it allows users with slow Internet connections to limit download speeds, so they can still enjoy browsing the web while also copying files in the background.
The most important feature of Progressive Downloader is surely segmented downloading. Theoretically, this feature provides the application with the means to download each file segment from multiple mirrors, in order to copy the file faster.
The default number of threads is 3, but you can modify it in the download properties window. You can also disable each thread or add new ones, if necessary. This feature does work brilliantly, since most of the files we've downloaded were grabbed faster than a normal web browser download.
For example, a 1 GB file that normally downloads in 8-9 minutes was grabbed by Progressive Downloader in less than 6 minutes. Of course, this may not happen every time, since there are multiple factors involved, including the server location, the speed of your Internet connection and the number of available mirrors.
Progressive Downloader allows you to change the download priority: there are 5 different priorities, ranging from lowest to highest, that allow you to sort downloads.
Moreover, it provides the necessary means to schedule a transfer for a later time, a very useful feature for people who want to download files while they're not actually using the computer.
If you'd like to download a file and the application is open, it will automatically monitor and grab web browser downloads. It comes in handy if you want to download everything using Progressive Downloader.
The automatic mirror search is the most marketed feature and it is indeed one of its highlights. We really appreciated the fact that you don't even need to choose mirrors or even worry about them. Everything takes place in the background and you just enjoy the results.
You can choose the number of simultaneous tasks from the Preferences panel. While you can input a large number of tasks to be run simultaneously, we recommend a maximum of 5-6 concurrent downloads. The reason behind it is that downloading a large number of files simultaneously will increase the CPU and memory consumption and might make your computer unresponsive.
Progressive Downloader offers a script handler which makes it possible to automatically download files from file sharing services like DepositFiles, Rapidshare or Hotfile. You can even add your own scripts (for any website), making it a very reliable tool for automating downloads.
Furthermore, the application provides a dropbox window where you can easily drag and drop URLs. This will be very useful to any user who needs to add multiple download links at the same time. Additionally, Progressive Downloader will make it possible for you to modify its user agent, making it possible to connect to servers that won't allow a download manager to grab files.
By accessing the General Preferences tab, you'll be able to easily customize the default download properties. The app even features a browser for Google Drive and RapidShare, but it will also allow you to add your own custom servers. This should prove very useful for users who need direct and quick access to files stored using various file hosting services.
The Good
The Bad
The Truth
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
