Q: What is a digital media file (or media file)?
A: Digital media files contain a computerized representation of audio or video data.
Media files may contain songs, speeches, movies, videos, or photographs, for example.
Unlike traditional media formats (like film, tapes, and CD-ROMs), perfect copies of digital
media files can be made at no cost. They can also be transferred over the Internet.
Q: What are media file types?
A: Media file types include:
Audio: MP3, WAV, OGG (for more information on OGG, go to Ogg Vorbis)
Video: MPG, MPEG, AVI, ASF, SWF
Graphic: JPG, GIF
Q: Can I get a virus from a media file?
A: Media files generally do not contain executable code; therefore, they cannot be used to spread a
virus. Only executable file types can contain a virus. Executable files end with extensions such
as: ".exe", ".xls", ".doc", and ".vbs", to name a few. BearShare
hides these file types from your search results by default. To get additional information on viruses, go to McAffee.
Q: How do I search and download media files with BearShare?
A: To search for a media file in BearShare, click on the "Search" tab. Type the keyword(s) into the text box. Click "Search".
To download, double-click the file you wish to download. The file will then begin to download into your bearshare/download directory.
Q: How long will it take to get a media file?
A: The time it takes to download a media file depends on several circumstances: your internet
connection speed, the type of file, and the size of the file. Music files can take half an hour to
an hour for a modem connection. A video can take ten to twenty hours on a modem. A full length movie
can take more than a hundred hours with a modem. A cable connection or DSL connection can get music
files in a few minutes, and videos in a few hours. Faster connections will require less time; however,
the time can also vary based on the connection speed of the host from which you are downloading.
Q: How much disk space will I need to store my media files?
A: The amount of disk space you will require to store your media files depends on the size and type of files you wish to store.
For instance, you will need substantially more space for multimedia files (.mpg or .mp3) as opposed to graphics (.jpg or .gif).