This download manager brings much more to the
table than faster downloads, although it certainly makes file transfers
quicker. Upon installation, the program asks for your e-mail address in the
hopes of sending you special offers, but you don't actually need to submit
any information to use Download Accelerator Plus. Still, it's not ideal that
the program places an extra icon on your desktop without your express
permission. Although the software is indeed free, the trade-off is the large
ad that occupies the top portion of the interface. In most other respects,
the tabbed main window is easy to use and navigate; we especially like the
built-in player for previewing media files. The program also installs a
handy toolbar in Internet Explorer and integrates with alternate browsers
such as Firefox.
Our most recent tests proved that speed is
not an issue, as the application made downloads faster than other programs
by almost 200 percent in the majority of cases. Besides the common tactic of
splitting files into smaller pieces, Download Accelerator Plus speeds things
up by seeking faster mirrors. It also can get a file simultaneously from
several sites, which is useful if a site limits the download speed. The
utility resumes interrupted downloads, logs onto protected sites, and lets
you schedule downloads. We appreciate the extra tools for organizing media
and finding games, as well as the basic yet functional FTP client. All
things considered, this feature-rich program will prove to be a valuable
addition for the majority of habitual downloaders.