2023 Black Friday Usenet Deals & Holiday Specials

Let’s get this party started. We have a large list of Black Friday Usenet deals to share with you this year. Most of the deals listed below are live. Keep an eye on this page as we will keep it updated throughout the week.

The following Black Friday / Cyber Monday promos all include unlimited Usenet access:

  • Easynews – $5.99/mo. with web Usenet + VPN. Best choice for beginners.
  • Newshosting – $5.99/mo. with 5,575 days of retention
  • Eweka – €6,99/mo. with 5,575 days of binary retention
  • Newsgroup Ninja – $5.83/mo. with 5,575 days of retention
  • NewsDemon – sales starting at 7am on Black Friday
  • ThunderNews – $6/mo. with 4,040 days of retention
  • UsenetExpress – $7.50/mo. with 3,000 days of retention
  • FrugalUsenet – $3.99/mo. with 5,545 days of retention
  • NewsgroupDirect – $13/mo. for access to UE, Farm, and Supernews
  • ViperNews – $3.59/mo. with 3,500 days of retention
  • UsenetPrime – $6.25/mo. with 3,000 days of retention
  • StingyUsenet – €4,58/mo. with 2,400 days of retention
  • UsenetAgency – €5,83/mo. with 3,015 days of retention

Here are a few options for those seeking a block account:

Finally, we will share a few deals with limitations:

  • Usenet.Farm – €3,98/mo. for at least 6 months with a 10 TB limit
  • UseNight – €1,99/mo. for fast speeds at night and slow during the day

It’s almost time to launch the Black Friday Usenet deals again this year.  Last time around was a lot of fun and we plan to cover all the Black Friday / Cyber Monday / Holiday newsgroup specials right here again this year.  Enjoy some of the best deals of 2023 courtesy of top Usenet providers.  We’ll have some great holiday specials along with a few surprises.  Make sure to keep an eye on this post mid-week as we plan to get the Black Friday deals rolling a little early this time around.  From what we’ve heard so far this year will be fun as always.

Black Friday Usenet Deals

We will start from the top and cover the top 10 Black Friday / Holiday Usenet deals of 2023.  Like most merchants, a number of Usenet providers like to keep their Black Friday promotions secret until they launch.  The details for some will start to materialize closer to Thanksgiving Day.  No worries though as we plan to carry all the promotions.  Our list of deals will be updated as Black Friday draws closer so please check back for the best deals of 2023.  Click on any provider below or visit the Newsgroup Reviews home page for more info.

1. Easynews – $5.99 a month for unlimited web, NNTP, and VPN

Easynews is offering unlimited web Usenet + NNTP Usenet access along with high binary retention and 60 SSL connections from $5.99 a month. Read our Easynews review to learn more.

2.  Newshosting – $5.99 a month with unlimited NNTP access

Newshosting is offering unlimited Usenet, a free newsreader with built-in search, 60 connections and SSL for just $5.99 a month with free VPN access.  Read our Newshosting review for details.

3.  UseNetServer – $95.40 a year (with free VPN) for life

UNS offers high retention, free SSL and Usenet search for $95.40 a year with free VPN access. This is the best dal for experiences users. Read our UNS review to learn more about the service.

4. Eweka – €7 a month for unlimited Usenet access

Eweka is offering unlimited newsgroup downloads at 300 Mbit for €7,00 a month. This makes them out favorite European Usenet provider. Read our Eweka review to learn more.

5.  TweakNews – €90 a year (with client + VPN) for life

TweakNews special includes unlimited Usenet with free newsreader and VPN access for just €90 a year which is €7,50 a month.  Read our TweakNews review for more details.

6.  Giganews – $99 unlimited Usenet access

Giganews is offering unlimited access to newsgroups along with free SSL encryption and VPN access for just $99 a year.  Read our Giganews review for more details.

7.  Supernews – $99 a year for unlimited Usenet

Supernews is offering $9.99 a month / $99 a year unlimited Usenet access with 20 connections, SSL  and good binary retention.  Read our Supernews review for more details.

8.  NewsDemon – $5 unlimited Usenet + VPN

NewsDemon offers unlimited newsgroup access along with a newsreader, SSL and 50 connections for just $5 a month.  Read our NewsDemon review to learn more.

9.  ThunderNews – $7 a month for unlimited Usenet

ThunderNews includes unlimited Usenet access with secure (SSL) encryption, 50 connections for $7 a month.  Read our ThunderNews review to learn more.

10.  UseNetNow – $7.99 unlimited Usenet access

UseNetNow offers NGR visitors unlimited Usenet downloads along with free SSL encryption and 50 connections. for just $7.99 a month.  Read our UseNetNow review for more details.

A sincere thank you to all the Usenet providers offering holiday specials.  We  appreciate your efforts and consideration in making the deals available.  To our NGR visitors we hope you enjoy the Black Friday / holiday Usenet deals.  Save some money and enjoy the best premium newsgroup access!

Top 10 Summer Usenet Promotions

It’s that time of year again.  Time to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. The summer brings some of the best Usenet promotions of the year.  The summer season is typically slow for Usenet providers.  A good time for them to offer exceptional discounts and test special offers that you won’t find other times of the year.  In a second we’ll list our top 10 Summer Usenet promotions.  Some were recently launched while others have continued into the summer.  All discounts except Giganews are recurring so enjoy the savings month after month.

Summer Usenet deals

1. Newshosting – Unlimited Usenet + VPN from $5.99/mo.

We consistently get the fastest speeds from the Newshosting client and news servers.  With over 5,115 days of binaries, free SSL and 100 connections.  Newshosting is the best Usenet service on the market.  Take advantage of the Newshosting summer special and enjoy unlimited Usenet from just $8.33 a month with free VPN.  Saving you up to 70% on Newshosting.

2. UseNetServer – Unlimited Usenet with VPN from $7.95/mo.

The UNS $10 promotion has been very popular since it launched.  UseNetServer continues to deliver an outstanding service for a low price.  With 5,115+ days of binary retention, 20 connections, free SSL and Usenet search engine.  Take advantage of the UNS summer promotion and enjoy unlimited Usenet access for $10 a month or $95 a year.  Saving you up to 60% on Usenet + VPN.

3. Easynews – Unlimited Web Usenet + NNTP & VPN for $5.99/mo.

Easynews is best known for their web interface but they also offer NNTP Usenet access.  With 5,114 days of binary retention, 60 connections and free SSL encryption.  Easynews NNTP access is on par with other leading newsgroup providers.  Take advantage of the Easynews summer special and enjoy unlimited Usenet for $5.99 a month.  In addition to a 30 day money back guarantee.

4. Eweka – High Speed Usenet for €7,00/mo.

Eweka has a reputation for providing quality Usenet service and excellent technical support.  With over 5,111 days of binary retention, 50 connections and free 256-bit SSL encryption for privacy.  Access newsgroup servers in The Netherlands.  Take advantage of the Eweka summer special and enjoy high speed Usenet downloads for €7,00 a month. Saving you 27% on Eweka.

5. TweakNews – Unlimited Usenet for €7,50/mo.

TweakNews is one of our favorite European Usenet providers.  With 4,200+ days of binary retention, 60 connections and free SSL encryption.  Access the TweakNews news servers in the Netherlands and enjoy free VPN with the promotion.  Take advantage of the TweakNews summer special and enjoy unlimited Usenet + VPN access for €7,50 a month. Saving you 42% on Supernews.

6. Giganews – Unlimited Usenet + VPN from $8.33/mo.

Giganews was the first Usenet services we tested and is still one of the best in the world.  With 3+ years of binary retention, 50 connections and VyprVPN premium.  Access news servers in the US and Europe.  Take advantage of the Giganews summer special and enjoy unlimited Usenet + VPN access from $8.33 a month. Saving you 50% on Giganews.

7. Supernews – Unlimited Usenet for $9.99/mo. or $99/yr.

Supernews has been around a long time and offers some of the best Usenet access around.  With 3+ years of binary retention, 30 connections and free SSL encryption.  Access news servers in Europe or the US.  Take advantage of the Supernews summer special and enjoy unlimited Usenet access for $9.99 a month. Saving you 32% on Supernews.

8. NewsDemon – Unlimited Usenet + VPN for $5.00/mo.

NewsDemon offers more than just unlimited Usenet access.  With a package of features for their members that includes a no-logging SlivkVPN account.  Take advantage of the NewsDemon summer special and enjoy unlimited Usenet access along with a no-log VPN from $5 a month.  Saving you 50% on NewsDemon.

9. ThunderNews – Usenet + VPN for $12.99/mo.

ThunderNews brings members unlimited Usenet downloads along with a VPN accoung.  With over 4,385 days of binary retention, 20 connections and free SSL.  Take advantage of the ThunderNews summer special and enjoy unlimited Usenet access + VPN for $12.95 a month.  Saving you 50% on ThunderNews.

10. theCubeNet – Unlimited Usenet for $9.99/mo.

theCuberNet is known for their outstanding deals on block account. This time around they are also offering a discount on unlimited Usenet with 50 SSL connections. Connect to their servers in the US or Europe to browse over 4,3830 days of newsgroup posts.  Take advantage of theCubeNet summer special and enjoy unlimited Usenet for $9.99 a month. Saving you 30% off theCubeNet.

Usenet Hosted Amazon’s First Job Posting

On August 22, 1994 (over 25 years ago) Jeff Bezos posted the first Amazon job offer to Usenet seeking a very talented developer to help launch the site. While Bezos hadn’t named it Amazon yet, the job posting on Usenet clearly shows that he needs a coder with lots of talent. In return he promises “meaningful equity ownership”. We can only imagine what that would be worth in Amazon stock today. Shel Kaphan, Amazon’s first CTO was hired shortly after the newsgroup post. It’s not clear whether or not he responded to the post but it’s very cool to see the history represented on Usenet.  Here’s a look at the post.

Amazon's first job post

The post reads:

Well-capitalized start-up seeks extremely talented C/C++/Unix developers to help pioneer commerce on the Internet. You must have experience designing and building large and complex (yet maintainable) systems, and you should be able to do so in about one-third the time that most competent people think possible. You should have a BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science or the equivalent. Top-notch communication skills are essential. Familiarity with web servers and HTML would be helpful but is not necessary.

Expect talented, motivated, intense, and interesting co-workers. Must be willing to relocate to the Seattle area (we will help cover moving costs).

Your compensation will include meaningful equity ownership.

Send resume and cover letter to Jeff Bezos:

mail: be…@netcom.com
fax: 206/828-0951
US mail: Cadabra, Inc.
10704 N.E. 28th St.
Bellevue, WA 98004

We are an equal opportunity employer.

“It’s easier to invent the future than to predict it.” — Alan Kay

First job posting to world domination in 25 years, all from a single Usenet post 🙂

Valentine’s Day Usenet Promotions

Why not get yourself or someone you love the gift of Usenet for Valentine’s Day? That’s the question that some top Usenet providers are asking this year. We’re excited to share a number of great promotions. All of the deals are live so you can enjoy some of the best prices of the year without waiting for Black Friday to roll around. Let’s take a closer look at Valentine’s promos from Newshosting, UseNetServer, Eweka, and TweakNews.


#1 – UseNetServer Valentine’s Day Promo

UseNetServer Valentine's promo

UseNetServer is arguably the best value in Usenet for those who use a third-party browser like SABnzbd or NZBGet. While the service lacks it’s own newsgroup reader, you can still use the UNS global search feature to find you favorite content. During the Valentine’s promotion you can sign up for a full year of unlimited Usenet + VPN for just $6.99 a month. That’s a savings of 65% off the regular price.


#2 – Newshosting Valentine’s Day Sale

Newshosting Valentine's sale

Let’s continue with our favorite Usenet provider. The team at Newshosting is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a sweet deal on their popular Usenet service. New members can enjoy 62% off unlimited Usenet with free zero-log VPN access. Pay just $7.50 a month for a full year of access. That’s a 62% savings off the retail price.


#3 – Eweka Valentine’s Day Special

Eweka Valentne's special

Eweka offers the highest retention of any Dutch Usenet service. Their retention rivals Newshosting and is well above other European competitors. The download speeds are hard to beat as well. You won’t have access to a custom newsreader but assuming you have a favorite already, you can enjoy unlimited Usenet with speeds up to 300 Mbps for just €6.50 a month during the Eweka Valentine’s Day promotion.


#4 – TweakNews Valentine’s Day Deal

TweakNews Valentine's deal

If you’re looking for a great Usenet service in Europe then TweakNews is a solid choice. Members have access to their Usenet client software with built-in search. You can also add VPN to any monthly plan or get free VPN with the Valentine’s offer. Enjoy unlimited Usenet + VPN for just €4.99 a month during the Valentine’s sale.

2019 Best Usenet Provider Awards

We’re excited to share our 2019 Editor’s Choice Award winners.  The honorees include some of the best known and most popular Usenet providers in the world.  Those who frequent Newsgroup Reviews know that we update the awards post on a regular basis to keep up with changes in the market.  This time around we’re excited to share enhancements to some popular Usenet services and the addition of VPN packages.

2019 Best Usenet Providers

You’ll notice that we celebrate the accomplishments of multiple newsgroup services with our Editors Choice Awards.  The reason is that we enjoy a number of Usenet providers and feel each offers an advantage over the others.  With criteria to include extra features, high retention, completion, performance, reliability and value.

Congratulations to all of our 2019 NGR Editor’s Choice Award winners.  We would like to thank each provider for their ongoing efforts in supporting the continued growth of Usenet.  The list of award recipients starts with Newshosting followed closely by UseNetServer, Easynews, Eweka, and Supernews.

Let’s take a closer look at our 2019 NGR Editor’s Choice winners for “Best Usenet Providers“:

Newshosting – Usenet + VPN + Client with Search

Newshosting Special

Expect the best performance and premium features for a value from Newshosting.  Including unlimited Usenet downloads and free access to their popular Newshosting Usenet client.  A very nice addition!  Along with uncapped speeds and free 256-bit SSL encryption.  Connect to their North American or European servers and enjoy unlimited Usenet.  All for just $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year (with VPN) via our NGR special.

Newshosting offers 4,000+ days of binary retention along with 1,400 days of text posts.  Subscribers enjoy unlimited Usenet access, Newshosting Usenet client, 256-bit SSL, uncapped speed and 24/7 support.  Take advantage of the Newshosting $9.99/mo. and $99.99/yr. unlimited Usenet specials.

UseNetServer – Usenet + VPN + Search

UseNetServer Special

UseNetServer provides an excellent mix of quality and value.  Since releasing their popular $10 unlimited Usenet special the service has grown rapidly.  UNS was always a staple in the industry but at $10 a month or $95.40 a year they’re really hard to pass up.  In addition to value, UseNetServer offers high retention and UNS Global Search.  Those who sign up for the UNS $95 a year deal also receive free unlimited VPN access.

UseNetServer offers 4,000+ days of binary retention along with two years of text posts.  Subscribers enjoy unlimited Usenet access, 256-bit SSL, 20 connections, uncapped speed and 24/7 live support.  Take advantage of the UNS $10/mo. and $95.40/yr. unlimited Usenet specials.

Easynews – Web Usenet Interface

Easynews Web Usenet

Easynews has everything you could ask for in a Usenet service including web access.  A feature that sets them apart from our other award winners.  The Easynews web interface allows users to browse newsgroups and stream content without the need for a newsreader.  Simply open your favorite web browser.  With third party apps for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android mobile devices.  Easynews offers 4,000 days of NNTP retention if you want to connect via newsreader.  Web retention is over 2,600 days.  Take the new web interface for a test drive.

Easynews offers web Usenet access in addition to iPhone and Android apps.  Especially useful to those new to Usenet and others who would rather avoid the need for additional software.  Take advantage of the Easynews 14 day free trial and $9.95 unlimited NNTP offers.

Eweka – European Usenet Access

Eweka Special

Eweka is our favorite Dutch Usenet provider.  You will be hard pressed to find a better European newsgroup service.  They offer the highest retention in the region along with high speed downloads.  You will need to have a Dutch IP address to sign up.  You can use a VPN to subscribe to the service.  After you sign up you can connect to their servers from anywhere in the world.  Eweka is perhaps the best kept secret in Usenet.

Eweka offers 4,000+ days of binary retention and 1,265 days of text posts.  Subscribers enjoy unlimited Usenet, 256-bit SSL, 300 Mbps speeds, and 24/7 support for just €7,50 a month.  The special also includes a free upgrade to 100 Mbit which normally costs an extra €2,10 a month.

Supernews – Usenet Only Access

Supernews Special

Supernews was one of the first Usenet providers in the market.  I remember using their service along with Newsguy in the late 90’s.  That may seem like a long time ago but Supernews remains one of the top names in the industry.  The newspaper man is back with a good value on Usenet access.  The only difference is that Supernews doesn’t include extras like software and VPN.  Otherwise the quality is excellent.

Supernews offers 2,350+ days of binary retention along with 4,500 days of text posts.  Members enjoy unlimited Usenet, 256-bit SSL, 30 connections, and 24/7 tech support.  Take advantage of our Supernews deal and sign up for $9.99/mo. or $99/yr. and enjoy unlimited Usenet access.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our 2019 Editor’s Choice Awards for the best Usenet providers.  Please help us recognize and congratulate the winners for their accomplishments.  We look forward to the year ahead.

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

Newshosting Black Friday 2018 Discount

The Newshosting team just launched the latest Black Friday / Cyber Monday Usenet deal. The Newshosting sale consists of 12 months of unlimited Usenet and VPN for $50. That works out to just $4.17 a month. Best of all, the Newshosting Black Friday deal is recurring so you can enjoy unlimited downloads, 60 connections, over 10 years of binary retention, Newshosting browser and VPN service for just $4.17 a month for life!

Newshosting Black Friday dal

The Newshosting Black Friday deal is a limited time offer so you will want to sign up soon to take advantage of the offer. Please note that you will not need any coupon code. The discount is automatically applied. Simply click on the image above to visit Newshosting and sign up for the annual plan which includes all the bells and whistles. At a 79% discount, this is the best price we’ve ever seen Newshosting offer on unlimited Usenet with free VPN access. The VPN alone is worth $5 to $10 a month.

As our top ranked Usenet provider, Newshosting has a lot to offer. They have NNTP servers in the United States, The Netherlands, and Germany. Pro tip: set up multiple server locations to get the best performance and completion across the entire Newshosting network. You will want to give the server closest to you the highest priority to achieve the fastest download speeds. You will find that Newshosting can sustain very high download speeds in the US and Europe. Use the minimum number of connections necessary to max out your connection.

Visit Newshosting during their Black Friday sale to save 79% off unlimited Usenet and VPN access. Enjoy the best Newshosting has to offer for just $4.17 a month for life!

Read our Newshosting review to learn more about the service and follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest Usenet news and deals.

Labor Day Usenet Deals : 79% Off Unlimited Usenet

Summer is winding down the Labor Day holiday weekend is upon us.  Giving Usenet fans a great opportunity to save big on newsgroup access.  Including up to 80% off unlimited newsgroup access.  Leading Usenet providers like Newshosting, UseNetServer,  Easynews, Giganews, and Supernews are offering some excellent promotions.  With prices as low as $3.95 a month for unlimited Usenet and VPN access!

Newshosting Labor Day Deal

Take full advantage of the Labor Day holiday.  Enjoy the beginning of the college football season, barbeques and perhaps even a few cold ones with friends, responsibly of course.  Then when you’re partied out come back and enjoy your new Usenet account.  All of the Labor Day Usenet deals listed below are lifetime offers and include unlimited access to newsgroups.  Some even include extras like newsreaders, search and online storage.

#1 – Newshosting – Unlimited Usenet + Client for $7.00/mo. or $49/yr.

Take advantage of Newshosting‘s special promotion which includes unlimited Usenet access and free access to their Usenet client for just $7.00 a month or $49 a year.  Expect the very best from Newshosting.  High retention, excellent performance, spot on reliability and the Newshosting newsreader with built-in search engine.  All for just $7.00 a month or $49 a year.  The annual plan also includes free VPN access which is a $5/mo. value. Visit our NGR Newshosting special page to save up to 79% off Newshosting unlimited Usenet access.

#2 – UseNetServer – Unlimited Usenet + Search + VPN for $47/yr.

The UseNetServer (UNS $47 yearly Usenet specials is an amazing deal.   UNS comes close to topping our list of the best Usenet providers for a number of reasons.  The service offers high retention, UNS Global Usenet search feature, speed, reliability and everything else you expect from a leading newsgroup service.  You can add free VPN to the mix when you sign up for their annual promotion. The price is just $3.95 a month.  Visit our NGR UseNetServer special page to save up to 80% off UNS unlimited Usenet access.

#3 – Easynews – Unlimited NNTP Usenet Access for $9.99

The Easynews NNTP special includes $9.99 unlimited NNTP + 150 GB of web Usenet access a month.  While Easynews is best known for their popular web Usenet interface, they also offer excellent NNTP servers.  Featuring unlimited Usenet downloads plus a taste of their easy to use web interface.  All for just $9.99 a month.  Sign up via our NGR Easynews special page and enjoy 50% off your first 3 months of their Big Gig plan.

#4 – Giganews – Unlimited Usenet + Client + Search for $10.99

The Giganews special includes unlimited Usenet downloads and access to their VyprVPN client with built-in Usenet search engine.  Along with free unlimited access to VyprVPN for $10.99 a month. for the first month  The Giganews service is top notch, offering high retention, uncapped speeds and free features (Usenet client and search).  All for just $10.99 the first month and then $21.99 a month.  Visit our NGR Giganews special page to save 50% off unlimited Usenet.

#5 – Supernews – Unlimited Usenet for $9.99/mo. or $99/yr.

The Supernews $9.99 special is gives you unlimited access to their Usenet servers in the United States and Europe.  It started with a focus on value at a time when the economy was in the crapper.  Even though that part has changed. Supernews continues to offer unlimited Usenet access for $9.99 a month or $99 a year.  Which is a great value.  If extra features (newsreader, search, VPN) aren’t that important then visit our NGR Supernews special page and save 31% off Supernews.

As always stay up to date on all the latest promotions via the Usenet specials section of NewsgroupReviews.  Please also consider following us (@NewsgroupRevs) on Twitter.  Enjoy your Labor Day festivities!

Introducing Usenetic Usenet Client for Mac

The Usenet client options for Mac have been fairly sparse since the Panic team decided to discontinue development of Unison in 2014. You still have apps like Newshosting that are maintained by Usenet providers but very few choices for those who want to connect to multiple Usenet services. That’s why we’re excited to share the news of a new Mac client called Usenetic from the Xorox team located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. You can try the new Mac client for free. In fact the Xorox team is currently offering all new users a 7 day free trial to test the app. You will also have full access to the MegaSearch Usenet search engine built into the app.

Usenetic

After the 7 day free trial of Usenetic you can buy a license at a 50% discounted price of €14.99 during their launch promotion. Your purchase includes a lifetime license for Usenetic along with a year of MegaSearch which is their built-in Usenet search engine. After that you can continue using MegaSearch for €9.99 a year. Depending on how much retention your Usenet provider supports, you can search for content across over 10 years of binary and text articles with the client. The app requires Mac OS X v10.10 or later.

Some of the features of Usenetic include the ability to search across thousands of newsgroups without downloading headers, import and export NZB files, auto repair and extract your Usenet downloads, a watchdog feature to automatically download content when it becomes available, and the ability to post.

We haven’t tested Usenetic yet so we can’t speak to the quality of the app. We’ll circle back in a couple weeks and post a full review. In the meantime we wanted to share the news so you can test out Usenetic for yourself. As always we welcome you to share your impressions with us via Twitter. We look forward to hearing what you think of the new Mac Usenet client.

Newsbin 6.80 – Faster Downloads and More

Quade’s latest efforts are ready for primetime as Newsbin 6.80 is expected to come out of beta later today.  If you haven’t had a chance to test out the new version then I suggest you head over to their site and grab the download.  If you’ve ever purchased a license for Newsbin then you’re in luck since you’re eligible for version 6.80 and all future upgrades.  Those new to Newsbin can download a 15 day free trial.  Simply visit newsbin.com and click on the “Free Trial Key” button.  The free trial includes full access to Newsbin 6.80 and their Usenet search engine.  When the trial ends you can buy a license with lifetime updates for just $20 or subscribe to their search engine and continue to use it free.

Newsbin

Newsbin 6.80 has several new features and we’re especially excited about the new download engine.  You can expect a faster, more reliable download experience.  Continue to download while you process files.  Here are just a few of the new features that Newsbin shared with us.  You can view the change log for a full list of new features and bug fixes in the new version.

  • Better support for obfuscated posting styles
  • Increased download performance and reliability
  • Updated RAR and PAR processing code
  • Sonarr integration improvements

It’s great to see the continued efforts in developing new features.  In the last two weeks we’ve covered new releases from Newsbin and SABnzbd.  Both of which add new features to make for a better Usenet experience.  We’re especially excited to see the increased performance updates in Newsbin and the expanded support for obfuscated posts.  Remember to share any feedback you have with their team so they can continue to refine and make the Usenet client even better.  Cheers to the @Newsbin team.  Here’s to a great 2018!

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to compare Usenet clients and providers.  Join us on Twitter @NewsgroupRevs.

SABnzbd Releases Version 2.3.3

SABnzbd continues to refine their popular Usenet browser.  The SABnzbd 2.3.3 release includes an update to enforce “host_whitelist” to reject DNS Rebinding attacks. Version 2.3.3 was released a few days ago.  You can choose whether you want to wait for any bugs to be flushed out.  We’re comfortable with SABnzbd releases and this isn’t a beta or RC.  In this case you can expect fewer bugs since it’s a full release. We haven’t heard of any major issues with the yet. As of Thursday afternoon, SABnzbd 2.3.3 has been downloaded 15,636 times.  Those who haven’t tried SABnzbd in the past are welcome to grab the latest release from their downloads page or learn more about the project at sabnzbd.org.

SABnzbd 2.3

SABnzbd is one of our favorite newsreaders along with NZBGet, Newshosting client, Newsbin and NewsLeecher.  All of them do a great job at downloading from Usenet.  If your goal is text newsgroups we would suggest Newsbin.  SABnzbd focuses on binary files.  The open-source client runs as a web server on your system.  You can access it through your favorite web browser.  They have versions available for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Since SABnzbd is open-source and has such a large following you will find a number of cool add-ons and services like CouchPotato, Sick Beard, Sonarr and SABMobile for iOS and Android devices.  Check out the SABnzbd forum to learn more about these add-ons and others available for the client.

Here’s a full list of new features and bug fixes in the SABnzbd 2.3.3 release:

Changes since 2.3.3

  • Introduce and enforce “host_whitelist” to reject DNS Rebinding attacks. If you access SABnzbd from a non-standard URL, you will need to add the hostname. More info: https://sabnzbd.org/hostname-check
  • SABYenc updated to 3.3.5 to fix false-positive CRC errors
  • SSL-Ciphers can now be set per-server
  • Failed URL fetches also trigger post-processing script (if configured)
  • Added “maxurlretries” to set maximum retries of URL fetching
  • Added “ignoreemptyfiles” option to not warn on empty files in NZB
  • Added “X-Frame-Options” HTTP-header to prevent click-jacking
  • Added “httpOnly” HTTP-header to prevent script cookie access
  • Extended SAN list of newly generated self-signed certificates
  • Indicate that SMPL-skin is no longer supported
  • Removed undocumented “callback” option from API calls
  • macOS: 64bit version of unrar instead of 32bit
  • Windows: Set process priority of external processes (unpack/repair)
  • Windows: Default external process priority increased to “Normal”

Bugfixes since 2.3.2

  • NZB’s can be added via command-line but this was not shown in “–help”
  • Only show bad-SSL-warning if it was actually tested
  • Language-change via API did not directly change display language
  • Cheetah 3 is also accepted as template engine
  • Correctly indicate that 99 is the maximum server priority
  • Results of unpacked zip/7zip files were not sorted
  • Joining of split files was limited to 999 files
  • Media files with “password” in filename were detected as encrypted
  • Servers that could not be DNS-resolved could block the queue
  • Detect ‘502 Byte limit exceeded’ as payment problem
  • Server load-balancing setting was ignored when testing server
  • Windows: MultiPar checksum errors during repair would result in crash
  • Windows: Update 7zip to 18.01

Upgrading from 2.2.x and older

  • Finish queue
  • Stop SABnzbd
  • Install new version
  • Start SABnzbd

Upgrade notices

  • When upgrading from 2.2.0 or older the queue will be converted. Job order, settings and data will be preserved, but all jobs will be unpaused and URL’s that did not finish fetching before the upgrade will be lost.
  • The organization of the download queue is different from 0.7.x releases. This version will not see the 0.7.x queue, but you can restore the jobs by going to Status page and using Queue Repair.

Who said Usenet isn’t popular?  SABnzbd continues to grow and has now passed 9 million downloads.  Having so many popular extensions integrated with the Usenet browser will only help the project continue to grow.  If you have any questions or need help getting started the SABnzbd team has some nice guides.  The forum is also a great place to ask questions and learn about all the custom add-ons.

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