The Azureus Experience

From VuzeWiki

[edit] Introduction

This page is for those users who have been using Azureus, now called Vuze, since version 2 - or even just those of you who remember what the old interface was like and want to have the same "experience" with the latest version. If you're sticking to version 2.5.0.4 - you might want to read this page.

Some people believe that version 2.5.0.4 is the last version which users can have the old style view - not true...

[edit] Screenshot of Azureus 2.5.0.4

[edit] Screenshot of Vuze 3.1

[edit] Screenshot of Vuze 4.2.0.8

[edit] Benefits

So what are the benefits of using 3.1 with the classic UI rather than 2.5.0.4? Well - you'd get the features, bugfixes and improvements we've made since then...

[edit] Facts

Although the new version does include the Vuze UI, if you use the classic UI, none of it gets loaded. The main JAR file (a zip file containing all the code) is about 11 MB as of Vuze 3.1 - between 3 and 4 MB of this is Vuze UI code. Despite that its presence, it doesn't get loaded - this has been the case ever since Vuze interface code has been bundled together in the JAR file. Even in 2.5.0.4 has Vuze interface code in it (or Zudeo, as it was known then) - but it doesn't get initialised.

There are additional plugins which are enabled by default (regardless of which interface you're using), you may decide you want to disable these (more information below).

You can leave "check for updates" checkbox enabled - the interface you were last using is stored in the configuration file, and will be used after you update it. If you're using a version older than 3.0.2.0, there's a possibility that you might be returned back to the Vuze UI - if so, you can just follow this guide to get back to the classic UI (this because the UI being used wasn't recorded in older versions). It shouldn't be the case that you have to keep switching back to the classic UI every time you upgrade (if it is, something's gone wrong!)

[edit] Differences

If you're going straight from 2.5.0.4 to 3.1, but sticking to the classic interface - what things are going to be different in terms of usability? Well, it acts the same as it has before, but for the sake of completeness:

As the program is now named Vuze, all references to Azureus should now say Vuze.
The splash screen has changed (from the blue Azureus screen to the dark Vuze one).
Some additional built-in plugins have been added and are enabled by default.
The UI switcher icon is now present on the icon bar.
You don't get the classic interface by default when you first install - you start off with the Vuze UI, and have to use the UI switcher to get to the classic interface. That should be the only time you need to choose the interface though - every time you run the program from then, the interface should "stick".

[edit] How to change it

Download the latest version of Vuze here and install it.
Run it and you should see this splash screen...

If you were previously using an old version, you might start up with the classic interface - if so, job done!
Otherwise, you will get the default Vuze interface, which looks like this (taken from version 3.1):

Click on the Tools menu and go to Options. From there, expand the Interface tab, and choose Start.

On that page, click on the UI chooser button - you should then be shown this window:

Select "Classic Interface" and click OK. You will be asked if you want to restart the program.
The program should restart - you'll be shown the same splash screen as before, but then...

There we go!

[edit] Changing interface after install

You can choose to go back and forth at any point to any of the interfaces that you like by using the UI switcher - available in the menu (described earlier), or in some cases, by clicking the UI switcher button .

[edit] What to do next

Once you've changed the interface - well, that's it. However, you can make some additional changes...

[edit] Disabling Plugins

You might want to disable plugins which are primarily Vuze related. We recommend that you keep them enabled so that you can use them in you want to try the Vuze UI in future, but if you still want to disable them, here's what to do:

On the menu, go to Tools -> Options -> Plugins page.

There is a checkbox on the left to indicate if the plugin is enabled. Uncheck the plugins you no longer want - it's recommended that you don't just start disabling built-in plugins, as you might stop Azureus working altogether! Note - the ability to disable built-in plugins didn't behave correctly in earlier versions, you will need to use version 3.1.0.2 or greater to properly disable these plugins.

[edit] Which plugins should I disable?

Again - it's not necessary to disable the plugins, the following ones are mentioned because they are new builtin ones which aren't entirely BitTorrent related or Vuze related...

[edit] Vuze UI related

Embedded Media Player (azemp). This plugin is only used in the Vuze UI to play videos.
Friends (azbuddy). Some of the functionality is provided here still works in the classic UI, but is mainly configured through the Vuze UI.

[edit] Non BitTorrent (enabled by default)

UPnP Media Server (azupnpav). This plugin allows downloaded content to be available to other UPnP compatible devices - details here.
Network Status (aznetstat). This plugin is useful for configuring your network connection - more details here.

[edit] Using the Vuze UI...

You may decide at some point you might want to try some of the functionality presented in the Vuze UI, such as the Friends feature or the torrent search feature - but not want to leave the classic interface behind. You might want to use the Vuze Advanced interface - which provides the classic interface view, but with some of the additional Vuze functionality wrapped around it.

Whether you want to use this interface or not is up to you, but it's just being pointed out for completeness.

[edit] Links

Wiki page explaining more about the move between Azureus 2 and 3 (and the relationship with Vuze).