For anyone who still doubts the popularity of online file sharing, take a look at this week's Lycos 50. Two new file-sharing programs enter our list, making a total of five.
The biggest growth comes from Morpheus (#35). No, that's not a reference to the character from The Matrix, but rather a new peer-to-peer file program which is connected to the website MusicCity.
Morpheus is based not on the code from Napster (#5) or Gnutella (#24) but rather a European program called KaZaA. Morpheus claims to offer faster search results due to its technology called "SuperNodes." Where Napster uses central servers and Gnutella uses no central servers, Morpheus turns its powerful users into search hubs that act as temporary, but flexible, central servers.
Like Morpheus, Audiogalaxy (#49) is a file-sharing program associated with a specific website. The program that shares files is technically called Audiogalaxy Satellite. Audiogalaxy seems to connect users directly to each other, like Gnutella.
Morpheus has been the more recent arrival and faster-growing search. It received nearly zero searches prior to April, then grew at a rate of roughly 70 percent a week for five weeks before slowing down and entering the Lycos 50 this week. Audiogalaxy has been around a bit longer, and gradually grew from a handful of searches in late December to a near-debut on the Lycos 50 two weeks ago (it was #51) and then this week's appearance.
It will be interesting to see what will happen to each of these programs in the future. With five of them on the Lycos 50 it is starting to get mighty crowded. But interest just gets greater -- after all, it is somewhat astonishing to see Napster still at #5 when there are practically no songs left on the service.
VIRAL MARKETING: In other computer news, the excitement over the SULFNBK virus hoax seems to be over quickly. Searches for the virus were down 82 percent from last week, and it drops from #2 all the way off the list. This hilarious spoof of the SULFNBK hoax has gullible computer users deleting other files from their computers as well.
BOYS OF SUMMER: Baseball (#9) launches into the top ten this week on the strength of the annual amateur draft. While the baseball draft isn't yet as highly-searched as the NFL and NBA drafts, which garner searches weeks ahead of time, it was the subject of 17 percent of baseball queries.
Also popular this week: the College World Series, which receives as many searches as Michael Jordan, and searches for baseball records, thanks to Barry Bonds' unexpected assault on Mark McGwire's home run mark.
GIRLS OF SUMMER: Angelina Jolie (#22) is riding the interest in Friday's opening of Tomb Raider (#25) to a high ranking on the Lycos 50. Just below her is Halle Berry (#29), whose breast-baring performance in Swordfish is stirring up online curiosity (as we reported on Friday).
FRENCH DRESSING: Another hot girl of summer is French Open champion Jennifer Capriati. Capriati searches were up 165 percent over the week before, and the French Open itself rose to #30. Interestingly, 45 percent of Open searches ask for the tournament's location, Roland Garros.
THAT EXPLAINS IT: The rebound in searches for the IRS (#16) seems to be connected to people looking for information on the upcoming federal tax refund that was part of last week's tax cut.
SHORT SUBJECTS: Pearl Harbor (#4) and star Josh Harnett (#12) are still on fire? Former #1 search Ellis Island drops out after seven weeks? The onset of the finals means queries for the NBA (#27) and lead Philly star Allen Iverson (#26) both rebound? This week's search that makes us worry about the human race: virtual marijuana.
(Wouldn't you know it, there's a Tripod site devoted to that very topic.)
NEW THIS WEEK: Allen Iverson, Halle Berry, Father's Day, Morpheus, Destiny's Child, Korn, Audiogalaxy.
DROPOUTS: SULFNBK virus, Ellis Island, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Robert Blake, graduation, rock band Tool, Lord of the Rings.
BIGGEST RISE: The NBA, up 23 places to #27.
BIGGEST DROP: Star Trek, down 22 places to #50.
ONE YEAR AGO: Survivor and the Summer Olympics both made their first-ever appearances on the Lycos 50.
TOMORROW: America's most popular radio personalities.
