Go!Zilla

Not to be confused with Godzilla or Mozilla.
Go!Zilla
Developer(s)Headlight Software
Stable release
5.02[1] Edit this on Wikidata / 5 March 2008
Operating systemWindows
PlatformPC
TypeDownload Manager
LicenseShareware
Websitegozilla.com

Go!Zilla is a proprietary download manager originally developed by Aaron Ostler in 1995, and later purchased by Radiate in 1999, for use on Windows. It is shareware and its previous ad supported version drew controversy among users and privacy advocates. Upon being acquired by Headlight Software in 2008, the ad-supported versions were discontinued and the software now offers a free limited trial.

Go!Zilla was one of many download managers, also called download accelerators.[2] These particular programs were especially useful when dial-up internet access was more common as it was more difficult to download data due to slow speeds and disconnections. Download accelerators allowed users to stop and resume partial downloads.[3] The software also allowed people to schedule downloads for a convenient time; including while they were away from the computer[4] and was credited with allowing companies to provide a parallel distribution system for their products.[5] In July 2000 the software won PC Magazine's ZDNet's Seventh Annual Shareware Award for Best Utility and was estimated to be used by ten million people at that time.[6]

In January 2008, Go!Zilla was acquired by Headlight Software, and Go!Zilla 5 was the first version released with all new source code and without the bundled adware, which had caused some controversy[7][8] despite notifying users that adware was bundled.[9]

  1. ^ "Go!Zilla: Download GoZilla Download Manager and Accelerator". Archived from the original on 2 December 2008.
  2. ^ "Speed up Your Internet Connection". Australian PC World. 2001-12-01. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  3. ^ Kyle MacRae (2004-04-20). "Supersonic Dial-up Web Access - Part 2". Computing. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  4. ^ Paula Schleis (1999-11-01). "Go!Zilla Can Attack Task of Downloading Programs". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  5. ^ Michael Brock, Andrzej Goscinski. "A Parallel Download Protocol for Internet-based Distributed Systems" (PDF). Grid and Service Oriented Architecture Research Group.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "ZDNet Names Radiate's Go!Zilla No. 1 Software Utility". PR Newswire. 2000-07-18. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  7. ^ "Go!Zilla 5 - A New Start". Headlight Software. January 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  8. ^ Ronald L. Ropp (February 2004). "I Know What Your Browser Did Last Night". GIAC Security Essentials Certification. Archived from the original on 2010-06-21.
  9. ^ "Download Deathmatch". ZDNet. 2001-09-25. Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2008-05-21.