You’ve probably heard it elsewhere, but BitTorrent is now offering a beta that can be used to publish files without the support of a tracker. This is a Good Thing.

There have been many times I’ve wanted to share files using BitTorrent for various means (none nefarious, I assure you, especially if you are from the RIAA), but did not have access to a site to set up a tracker. Yes, there are public trackers out there, but they are pretty dodgy affairs. This new version will eliminate that barrier to entry, which should increase file sharing using BitTorrent.

By the way, if you haven’t already, you should donate a few greenbacks to Bram Cohen, the creator and maintainer of BitTorrent.

ALSO: Azureus, a Java implementation of BitTorrent, is where this feature first appeared two weeks ago (in version 2.3.0.0). Their Wiki explains how trackerless operation works. Very cool.