u/merseyV__

Popcorntime was created to make torrenting simple, so simple his mum could use it. Well, that was the "pitch", anyway. Personally, I think mum might have struggled when things broke down (as they did) ... but when it worked, it was a revelation! A Netflix killer!! Not really? but it certainly had them worried (during its meteoric rise to "infamy!"). Alas, time and tide have left it abandoned to this backwater! But, we are Iron-born .. are we not?

I'll park my usual historical musings. What now? If you're one of the "more skilled" brethren (unlike me) you've created a bespoke set-up that uses all the tools of your craft, or found something you can adapt/combine and bend to your skills. You won't be reading here, anyway?

Using qbittorrent for this demo (you've seen/heard it before) but it bears repeating. Popcorntime is a sequential torrent client and media player. It has casting/streaming functions and subtitle support. You can use it with your local files. It supports many open source media players from within the app. It also (just about) has its own torrent search function. Box sets and series torrents can be saved in 'Torrent Collection' for quick access later. Many paid for apps would be lucky to have this functionality.

So the bug-bear is the "front end" (we know that issue, ad nauseam) and it can only get worse! But even if YTS API went down (and you miss its eclectic mix) .. you can simply visit their site, for a torrent?

So accept what you've got and adapt its usage, or find an alternative to suit your needs. Torrenting is a simple three step process: find your torrent, download it, playback? Popcorntime (with a nudge) or qbittorrent, can do the job nicely. Generally, I know what's out there, from IMBD, RT, TMDB and the like: So I can do it all within qBittorrent .. or pass over the magnet link to Popcorntime. However, I would miss Popcorntime's media content catalogue (tiles) - for their ad hoc browsing?

Pic 1, find torrent (magnet link). Pic 2, sequential download (preview file). Pic 3, Playback through my default player (preview). Pic 4, streaming to TV (DLNA, or Airplay). Simples!

Whatever you decide - as you hoist the colours and plow through those torrent seas .. we wish you fair winds!

"Now, bring me that horizon."

So, I didn't imagine it before ... it appears TPBay responses can change weekly. Managed to catch it on a good day (particularly for 0.44.5). Working (atm) on both x64/arm64 Mac versions (with or without VPN). The .jpeg is just to confirm my sanity? 😄

Obviously something going on at the piratebay's end? Some kind of challenge/block by their site .. or maybe it's 'Cloudflare', recently under pressure (EU-wide) to block access via their DNS servers.

https://torrentfreak.com/google-cloudflare-cisco-lose-pirate-site-dns-blocking-appeal-in-france/

"take what you can ..."

This is the qBittorrent search feature, in action. Needs a bit of setting up .. but worth it, when it works? Don't worry .. no need for a mod "panic-attack!!" The search result is (obviously) for a perfectly legal torrent :)

So, why bother .. just download the torrent where it is? Well, that's what I normally do. Probably 95% of my downloads go through qBittorrent (for watching at a later date). However, Popcorntime app still has its uses (for me). Even after its API's fade and die, it'll have a productive retirement. And that's not just nostalgia .. but, that also plays its part?

• It's my "back-up" torrent client: I've used it before with torrents that wouldn't start (or were struggling to download) in qBittorrent.
• I've mentioned it before, but the DNLA option is something I use often - to stream "something to watch" directly to my LG/Panasonic TV's. Still hoping (in vain) for an Airplay 2 patch ... Oh! well.
• Some users might find 0.44.5 still useful - for watching local content (with its extra codecs and subtitles in the PT media player). Maybe for Chromecast, too (via VLC player)

So while torrents exist, so will torrent clients: And Popcorntime will still be (at its heart) a sequential torrent client/streaming/media player ... till it dies?

(Taken from seranking.com) Found this while hunting down something else. "A picture is worth a thousand words" .. I do love a graph!!

This is UK only, but every country had a similar profile (just the traffic numbers change). i.e USA traffic (2nd graphic) is almost double this.

Some chronological context:

1. 'popcorntime.sh take-down and popcorntime.app introduced. (still v0.3.10)
2. 'VPN.ht' linked itself to popcorntime app (yet again!). Wicked Tech (incredulously) hosting both together on US servers: Despite a ("certain") copyright lawyer having already taken an interest in this (symbiosis) prior to the PT.sh domain going dark!
3. A lawsuit/injunction is served: Wicked Tech and Popcorntime end up in a US court. Popcorntime.app take-down. (now @ v0.4.4)
4. Not sure here ... popcorntime.app is parked at GoDaddy. Might be the Time4Popcorn group's shutdown (Jan 22) causing a ripple effect? (0.4.5 launched by the 2 remaining Devs)
5. Popcorntime.app webpage activates with a "coming soon" splash-page (no app, yet). 0.5.1, GitHub, popcorn-time.site still running on autopilot since the last release (April 2024).
6. August 2025 (Doomsday!) The Wicked Devs "take-down": "Official" popcorntime version is purged from the GitHub and replaced with their legit [sic] version.
7. Takeover extends to the subreddit, dissenting voices are silenced, remnants of the "official" popcorntime withdraw to this subreddit and the RU GitHub. Probably the last resting place for a once-proud battle standard?
8. And 8 months later, how are the "new owner's" prospects holding up ... looks like the market place has decided?

So, dear reader ... was the whole thing a pointless debacle! An act of pure hubris, of desperation, or just a lack of nous? I'll leave it for you to judge!