download sites always take you to a
February 26, 2005 5:32 AM Subscribe
Why do download sites always take you to a "your download will begin shortly" page? Is there a technical reason for this or is it all about ad revenue? Usually there are a few ads on those pages and you have nothing better to do but look at them until the download begins.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- frimble
1. Keep other websites from directly linking to said file.
2. Allow an automated script to decide which site to download from.
3. Give the server a cushion of space to reduce overall bandwith usage by stopping a minority of downloaders.
posted by Dean Keaton at 5:50 AM on February 26, 2005
2. Allow an automated script to decide which site to download from.
3. Give the server a cushion of space to reduce overall bandwith usage by stopping a minority of downloaders.
posted by Dean Keaton at 5:50 AM on February 26, 2005
Depending on the particular server, these scripts can be used for queue purposes, redirection for server load balance, prevention of direct-linking, and the ad revenue doesn't hurt either.
Also, they may be checking for particular download accelerators (hard on many servers), and preventing more than 1 or 2 d/ls at a time from any given IP.
In the end, it's all cost control.
posted by Saydur at 6:28 AM on February 26, 2005
Also, they may be checking for particular download accelerators (hard on many servers), and preventing more than 1 or 2 d/ls at a time from any given IP.
In the end, it's all cost control.
posted by Saydur at 6:28 AM on February 26, 2005
It could also be to count the number of downloads.
posted by Orange Goblin at 7:14 AM on February 26, 2005
posted by Orange Goblin at 7:14 AM on February 26, 2005
For game demos, it's all about ad revenue. The problem is getting worse; there's often six or seven pages of ads you have to click through before you get to the download. Or, more likely, a "server busy" error. It's horribly obnoxious.
posted by Nelson at 7:54 AM on February 26, 2005
posted by Nelson at 7:54 AM on February 26, 2005
Live and learn. I was curious about this as well. Thanks all.
posted by BlueTrain at 1:11 PM on February 26, 2005
posted by BlueTrain at 1:11 PM on February 26, 2005
To prevent you from direct-downloading. Usually the actual address of the file is obfuscated by a PHP script.
Yes, but now with Firefox you can get the absolute address of any file you download by right-clicking on it in the "Downloads" window and selecting "Properties".
posted by FieldingGoodney at 6:22 PM on February 26, 2005
Yes, but now with Firefox you can get the absolute address of any file you download by right-clicking on it in the "Downloads" window and selecting "Properties".
posted by FieldingGoodney at 6:22 PM on February 26, 2005
FieldingGoodney: that's why you make the address of the file work only temporarily.
posted by grouse at 1:46 PM on February 27, 2005
posted by grouse at 1:46 PM on February 27, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:40 AM on February 26, 2005