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Usenet Celebrates 1,400 Days Binary Retention

June 15, 2012 by

This week several of our favorite Usenet providers are crossing 1,400 days of binary retention.  As services including UseNetServer, Newshosting, NewsDemon and Astraweb cross 1,400 days and continue to grow daily.  We celebrate the continued increase of retention and other innovations helping Usenet grow.  Just a few years ago we were discussing retention in terms of days.  Now we’re nearing four years of binary retention!

Usenet fans now have access to over three and a half years of binary newsgroup posts.  At 1,400 days you can access newsgroup posts from 3 years and 10 months ago.  As 1,400 days ago was August of 2008.  Back then the highest retention to be found was 240 days, which works out to around 8 months.  Now we can all explore over 46 months of Usenet posts for a fraction of the 2008 price of newsgroup access.

The quality and value offered by Usenet providers has also progressed since 2008.  Back then services offered unlimited Usenet for $20-$30 a month.  Fast forward to 2012 and the price is half that much.  Not only has the price dropped significantly.  Users now enjoy free extras.  Including faster speeds and additional features like newsreaders, Usenet search and online storage.  All for under $10 a month.

We look forward to celebrating again in 100 days as Usenet hits 1,500 days of binary retention.  Surpassing 4 years of retention in the meantime.  Until then continue enjoying the best Usenet has to offer.  Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet. Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest offers.

Filed Under: Astraweb, NewsDemon, Newshosting, Usenet Providers, UseNetServer Tagged With: ,

SABnzbd 0.7.0 Pre-Download Check

June 13, 2012 by

June 13, 2012 update – SABnzbd released version 0.7.0 final.  Visit sabnzbd.org to learn more and download the new 0.7.0 release.  Continue reading our post to learn about a key new features in SABnzbd 0.7.0.

Those who follow the development of SABnzbd closely are enjoying the latest SABnzbd 0.7.0 beta.  The new beta 3 version was released last week.  The client has a number of new features including a completion checker.  The official name is pre-download check and the purpose is similar to the NZB Completion Checker app.  Checking for completion before downloading can save you a lot of time and frustration.  The new feature is experimental.  You can learn more about SABnzbd 0.7.0 beta 3 and find the download link here.

Here’s some more info on the new pre-download check feature directly from the SABnzbd wiki:

Pre-download check (Experimental)

If you are hit by frequent incomplete and non-repairable downloads and worry about wasted time, bandwidth or quota, there’s the pre-check.
Before downloading, SABnzbd will check if enough articles are available on the server.
Note that this an experimental feature, with the following issues:

  • The pre-download check takes some time, but much less than a (failed) download.
  • SABnzbd calculates the balance between missing articles and available par2 file. However it’s not possible to make a 100% accurate prediction

If you turn on this feature (Config->Switches), it will be used for all new jobs that enter the queue. When something in the queue is being pre-checked, the mouse-over will show “Status: Checking”. Note that during this phase, the download speed shown by SABnzbd will be low (for example “7 kB/s”), and thus the ETA will be very high. You should ignore the high ETA.
When a pre-download check fails, the job will go to History with a message like “Download would not be successful, only 99.5% available “in red. You can click Retry if you want to download anyway.

As the pre-download check feature description explains, SABnzbd will attempt to determine completion and whether or not there are enough PAR2 files to fill in the gaps.  The process isn’t perfect but we cheer the addition of the new feature.  While NZBcc is a great app, having similar functionality built into your client is a big plus.

With close to 4 million downloads SABnzbd is easily the most popular free Usenet browser ever released.  You’ll find that most people either love or hate it.  Those with technical backgrounds appreciate all the features, options and add-ons available.  While some find the client confusing.  If you’re new to SABnzbd give it some time.  Check out their user manual and rely on other users in the forum when needed.  SABnzbd has a very active and growing community around it.  Then after you get comfortable take a look at all the great add-ons.

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet.  Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest specials.

Filed Under: Newsreaders, SABnzbd Tagged With: , ,

NewsgroupDirect June Terabyte Tuesday

June 12, 2012 by

Have you been thinking about grabbing a block Usenet account.  If so today is a great time to buy.  As NewsgroupDirect is offering their popular Terabyte Tuesday promotion.  Enjoy a 1 TB block account for just $40.  That’s over 50% off the regular price and works out to just 4 cents a gig.  Visit their Terabyte Tuesday page for more details.  Make sure you sign up before midnight CST to enjoy the savings.

We like NewsgroupDirect’s Usenet blocks for backups and as a fill account.  At 1 TB some users can use the block by itself for several months.  At 4 cents a gig the price is an excellent value.  The block is non-expiring so you can download until the 1 TB is all used up.  NGD members enjoy high retention along with 50 SSL connections.  Sign up before 12 AM CST through the NGD Terabyte Tuesday page and save!

Visit NewsgroupReviews to learn more about newsgroups.  Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest deals.

Filed Under: NewsgroupDirect, Usenet Providers Tagged With:

Newshosting Extended Free Usenet Trial

June 8, 2012 by

Last week we talked about UNS offering a 100 GB free trial this summer.  Today we’d like to share a summer promotion from another leading Usenet provider.  Newshosting is celebrating summer by offering an extended free trial.  Those who sign up before August 1st will enjoy an extra week to test the service free of charge.  So you can enjoy 10 GB of free downloads over the first 21 days.  Visit Newshosting.com by July 31st to sign up.

It’s easy to take advantage of the Newshosting’s extended free trial offer this summer.  Just visit the site and sign up for any of their Usenet plans (Lite, Unlimited, XL Powerpack) by July 31st.  The 21 day, 10 GB trial is available for any plan.  Giving you three weeks and up to 10 gigs of downloads to test their service.  Don’t forget to take the Newshosting client for a test spin.  You can use it to find newsgroup content, preview, download, repair and extract.  Providing the advantages of a premium newsreader plus a Usenet search engine.

Along with the summer trial promotion Newshosting is offering our readers special pricing on their Unlimited plan.  Instead of paying $14.95 a month you can enjoy unlimited Usenet downloads with the Newshosting client for just $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year.  An exceptional value.  While the free trial isn’t available in combination with the special pricing we think the deep discount is well worth it.  Saving you 30% to 45% off the normal price.

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet.  Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest promotions.

Filed Under: Newshosting, Usenet Providers Tagged With: ,

Forte Agent 7.0 Usenet Client Released

May 30, 2012 by

Forte recently announced the release of Forte Agent 7.0 Usenet client.  The last version (6.0) came out toward the end of 2009 so we we’re glad to see Forte release another major update.  It sounds like they put a lot of effort into re-engineering Agent 7.0 to handle the rapid growth and expansion of Usenet.  The major updates include article number expansion, optimized message retrieval, improved saving of attachments and improved connectivity with SMTP servers.  Take a look at the Agent 7.0 bulletin to learn more about the new release.

Those new to Forte Agent can download a 30 day free trial of the newsreader.  You can purchase a new license for $29 or upgrade from version 6.0 for $19.  Either comes with three months of free APN access.  Agent Premium News (APN) is Agent’s Usenet service.  It supports 600 days of binary retention.  Those who buy a license for Agent 7.0 also receive 15 GB of APN Usenet access a month for three consecutive months.  After that prices range from $2.95 a month up to $14.75 a month depending on your desired usage.

Those currently running older versions of Agent will want to back up your data before installing 7.0.  The new release is not compatible with older versions of Agent.  See their Agent release notes for more details.

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet.  Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest deals.

Filed Under: Forge Agent, Newsreaders Tagged With: , ,

NewsgroupDirect Memorial Day Block Sale

May 27, 2012 by

Our friends over at NewsgroupDirect are helping celebrate the Memorial Day weekend with a special on 500 GB block accounts.  The sale is similar to their monthly Terabyte Tuesday promotion.  Except instead of a 1 TB block for $40 they are offering 500 GB blocks for $20.  Which is even better in our opinion since 500 gigs will last a long time for most Usenet fans.  Especially as a backup / fill account.  Visit the NGD sale page for more details.

Through the end of Memorial Day you can purchase a 500 GB non-expiring block account for just $20.  That’s a $30 (60%) savings off the normal $50 price.  Bringing the cost down to just 4 cents a gig!  We encourage you to check out this deal and share it with friends.  What better way to kick start the summer than with 500 GB of newsgroup access.  If you prefer unlimited downloads then check out our Usenet deals.  Otherwise head on over to the NGD sale page before the Memorial Day celebration ends to take advantage of their latest offer.

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet.  Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest promotions.

Filed Under: NewsgroupDirect, Usenet Providers Tagged With:

Just How Much Usenet Does $10 Buy?

May 25, 2012 by

We recently joined in on a forum discussion in regards to the current price of Usenet accounts.  As many top newsgroup services offer unlimited access for around $10 to $12 a month.  You still have services like Easynews and Giganews that offer premium plans in the $30 range but most providers have settled in around $10 to $12. A price point that excites a lot of Usenet fans.  Just how much Usenet does $10 buy these days?

If you haven’t shopped for Usenet in awhile you’ll be happily surprised by the current pricing and innovations.  For $10 a month you’ll find fast, reliable access.  Better yet you’ll find high retention and unlimited downloads for that price.  Along with a number of free extras like newsreaders, Usenet search and online storage.

We’ll highlight a few of our favorite deals in a moment but we also encourage you to visit our Usenet providers section where you can compare over 100 newsgroup services.  While not all are created equal you’ll find  a number of fine options to choose from.  Along with reviews and guides to help you get started.

Here’s a quick look at our favorite Usenet deals.  All for $10 a month or less with lots free extras.

Newshosting – Unlimited Usenet + Client for $9.99/mo. or $99/yr.

The Newshosting $9.99 special marks their lowest price ever.  With unlimited Usenet downloads and a free premium newsreader for $9.99 a month or $99 a year.  Expect fast, reliable downloads, uncapped speeds, free newsreader and Usenet search engine.  All for just $9.99 a month or $99 a year for our visitors.  Visit the Newshosting special page to sign up and save!

UseNetServer – Unlimited Usenet + Search for $10/mo. or $95/yr.

The UseNetServer (UNS) $10 a month and $95 yearly unlimited deals are both a great value.   They offer unlimited downloads and uncapped speeds, free SSL and news servers located in the US and Europe.  Along with free Usenet search (UNS Global Search).  All for just $10 a month or $95 a year for our visitors.  Visit the UseNetServer special page and enjoy the savings!

NewsDemon – Unlimited Usenet + Client + Storage for $9.99

The NewsDemon Demon Deal includes a ton of extra features.  They start with unlimited Usenet access and then add a free copy of News Rover newsreader and 30 GB of online storage for just $9.99 a month.  Visit the NewsDemon special page to save 50% off their most popular account.

As you can see $10 goes a long way these days.  Not to knock services like Easynews and Giganews as each has premium features like web & mobile access (Easynews) and personal VPN (Giganews).  Yet we’re more than happy to stick with quality services like Newshosting, UseNetServer, NewsDemon and a few others that offer a good balance of service, support and features for an even better price of $10 or less a month.

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet.  Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest specials.

Filed Under: NewsDemon, Newshosting, Usenet Providers, UseNetServer Tagged With: ,

Giganews iPhone / iPad Control Panel App

May 23, 2012 by

Last week we wrote about Giganews Android app.  Since then they’ve released an iOS version.  The two releases came within a couple days of each other.  Allowing Giganews members with iPhone, iPad or Android devices to view control panel stats and disconnect VyprVPN connections.  You can head on over to the Giganews control panel app page to learn more about the app or download it free from the iTunes store.

The Giganews app is mainly an informational tool.  For Diamond users the app allows you to disconnect from VyprVPN remotely.  While members on metered accounts (Pearl, Bronze, Silver) can use it to track their usage stats.  The same as you would see by logging into the control panel and viewing usage.

We’re interested in what direction Giganews takes in the future.  As many of us rely more and more on iPad / Android tablets and mobile phones.  Having an app that allows you to download from Usenet (like EZ Global Search) would be a cool addition to an already feature rich Giganews service.

What might Giganews do next to enhance the service for mobile users?  There are lots of opportunities.  Including apps for some of their current features – VyprVPN and Dump Truck.  At the core though we’re interested to see if they bring Usenet downloads to mobile users.  Mimo mobile perhaps?

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet.  Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest news.

Filed Under: Giganews, Usenet Providers Tagged With: , ,

SABnzbd Exceeds Four Million Downloads

May 17, 2012 by

SABnzbd, one of our favorite newsreaders recently celebrated a new milestone.  Having exceeded four million downloads of the popular Usenet client.  The open-source browser continues to impress users with their regular updates along with several nice add-ons developed for the client.  Earlier today the SAB development team pushed a new beta version.  Their fourth new beta release this month.  You can keep up with the all the latest developments via their announcements page.  As always SABnzbd is free to download and use.

Whether your new to Usenet or a veteran, SABnzbd has something for everyone.  Those with a technical background will especially like the level of control you have when configuring the web-based Usenet browser.  While new users appreciate SABnzbd automatically downloading their chosen content.  In the end the reader has something for just about everyone.  Visit sabnzbd.org to download the latest 0.6.15 final release.  Those who want the latest features and don’t mind the trial and error of testing can check out their beta releases.

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet.  Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest offers.

Filed Under: Newsreaders, SABnzbd Tagged With:

Microsoft Cuts Price on Xbox 360 Console

May 17, 2012 by

Microsoft has cut the price of their Xbox 360 250 GB console by $50.  Taking the price from $299 down to $249.  We were hoping they would also reduce the price on the 4 GB system but it doesn’t appear that happened.  Making the choice between versions a more difficult decision.  With the 250 GB a much better value in comparison to the 4 GB.  You can visit the Microsoft Store to buy the 250 GB Xbox 360 for $249.99.

Here’s a list of the items that come with the Xbox 360 250 GB console:

  • Xbox 360 250 GB S console
  • 250 GB removable hard drive
  • Xbox 360 headset
  • Wireless headset
  • Composite A/V cable
  • One-year limited warranty
  • One-month Xbox Live Gold membership

Those interested in Kinnect will end up paying $149 for the addition.  We looked to see if bundles were less but the Xbox 360 250 GB with Kinnect is priced at $399.99.  Meaning whether you buy in bundle or separate the price is the same.  You might keep an eye on vendors like Amazon and Best Buy for special offers.

Update: Amazon is offering the Kinnect sensor with Kinnect Adventures game for $136.99.  A better price that that offered directly from Microsoft.

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet.  Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest tech deals.

Filed Under: Xtra Tagged With:
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