Clickster - freeware program lets you search and download MP3s ...

Clickster is an easy to use program which searches and downloads MP3 files from the Internet and NOT from P2P or file-sharing networks.

The real beauty of the program is that it provides a "comprehensive and credible alternative" to those who either can't connect to P2P or file-sharing networks, say at home, work, or especially school in light of the RIAA's most recent crackdown, or are afraid to use them out of concerns for being targeted by the RIAA or other copyright enforcement entities.

With Clickster any track can be previewed in the program as it has an integrated MP3 player that allows you to play and stream stream the songs without having to download them first. Downloading too, is a simple point and click process, with fairly quick download speeds.

There are over 25 million MP3 tracks already available on the Internet, hosted by a number of web servers just waiting to be downloaded.

At less than 1.8MB in size, Clickster is a small application, which can even be installed and run from a portable Flash-Drive, allowing users to use the program at work or school.

“Most users are struck, by just how easy this application is to use," says Clickster’s developer, Robert Palmer. “Often, mainly for security reasons, people do not feel confident about accessing P2P networks and very often find BitTorrent clients too confusing and geekish to use.”

I don't know about people finding BitTorrent clients "too confusing or geekish to use" but, the fact that you are grabbing the music from the internet instead of via P2P or file-sharing networks can make it a handy application to have if you are on an Internet connection where such networks are monitored. In light of the recent crackdown by the RIAA on users of such networks nationwide, this may just be the answer to many people's problems.

Additionally, having installed and used it on my PC for the purposes of this article, I can tell you that I have yet to encounter and adware, spyware, malware that one may think it is likely to contain. It does have a "Go Pro" option that solicits a donation of $15 in exchange for claims of "enhanced download speeds and more extensive search patterns" but, the regular version works just fine.

How Does It Work?

It's pretty simple. First type the the name of the artist you wish to search for in the query box, and then press "Find." I chose the artist U2 as as example.

It will then seek out the results and display them for you to browse, download, or play.

Here I selected "Where the Streets Have no Name" to play.

In another example I searched out the artist Beck as seen below.

To download a track simply select the GREEN DOWNLOAD ARROW as pictured here.

So as you can see, it's pretty darn easy. The best part,as I mentioned before, is that you are not only safe from the prying eyes of P2P and file-sharing copyright snoops, but you're also guaranteed to be able to use it from practically any location or connection. No port forwarding, throttling, or blocking headaches, the program will let you grab music anytime and at anyplace you choose.