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Windows 8 Compatible Usenet Clients

October 28, 2012 by

Microsoft officially released Windows 8 to the masses on October 26th.  Since then we’ve received inquiries as to which Usenet clients are compatible with the new operating system.  To answer the question we upgraded a Windows 7 box to Windows 8 and tested some of our favorite newsreaders.  Let’s take a look at a few newsgroup readers that passed the test.  Along with the version numbers that support windows 8.

We’ll try some more clients soon but for now we tested the Newshosting client, Newsbin Pro and NewsLeecher.

Newshosting Usenet Client

We tested the Newshosting client first since they pushed an update in July that was compatible with the dev release of Windows 8 as well as Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion.  We still wanted to make sure the software could handle the final Windows release and it did.  Members can download version 1.3.2 of the client directly from the Newshosting site.  Those new to the service can enjoy unlimited Usenet for just $9.99 a month or $99 a year.

Newsbin Pro

We had a friend running Newsbin Pro on an earlier release of Windows so we didn’t expect any issues nor did we have any.  We ran the latest version of the client which is Newsbin 6.40.  It was just released at the beginning of October and worked just fine in our testing under Windows 8.  Those who have a license can download version 6.40 free from the Newsbin site.  Others can visit their site to download a 10 day free trial.

NewsLeecher

Next up on our list of newsreaders to test was NewsLeecher.  We fired up the latest beta release which is NL version 5.0 beta 15.  Everything seemed to work just fine under Windows 8 including the SuperSearch feature.  With that said we understand there’s an install issue with the NewsLeecher version 4.0 final release.  So if you plan to run NL under Windows 8 then you’ll want to do so with the v 5.0 beta 15 release.

We look forward to also testing SABnzbd, Binreader and GrabIt with windows 8 in the near future.

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

Filed Under: Newsreaders Tagged With: , , ,

Happy 15th Birthday to Newsbin

October 24, 2012 by

Cheers to the Newsbin team as they celebrate the 15th anniversary of launching Newsbin.com today.  While Newsbin Pro was available on shareware sites in 1994, their website launched on October 24, 1997.  The guys at Newsbin are constantly working on new features including the release of version 6.40 earlier this month.  New users can download a ten day free trial while customers can download the latest version for free.  In addition users can join in the celebration as Newsbin is offering free Usenet searches all day.

Here are some interesting facts about Newsbin:

  • Newsbin website went live on October 24, 1997
  • Newsbin was available as shareware on Indiana State University shareware site  papa.indstate.edu back in 1995.  It frequently hit the top 10 most downloaded list and required a winsock dll installed under Windows 3.1 to work.  Once windows 95 came out with a built in TCP/IP stack, it made things easier.
  • Agent is the only other newsreader still under development that was available in 1995.
  • Newsbin was the first automated Usenet download tool.  The others were either text readers or provided rudimentary support for binary content.
  • First newsreader to provide a native 64 bit version.
  • Early adopter of the yEnc encoding scheme now popular on Usenet.
  • Early adopter of the NZB format created by newzbin.com (no affiliation)
  • Contributed to the design of the XFeatures NNTP extended command to support compressed headers.  Early adopter of that standard.
  • First newsreader to support article numbers increasing over the signed 32 bit barrier (> 2.1 billion) and the unsigned 32 bit barrier (> 4.2 billion).
  • Early adopter of PAR and PAR2
  • One of the first to integrate RAR and PAR processing into the reader.
  • Newsbin forums have been active for over 10 years, started in May, 2001
  • Started offering an integrated Usenet search service in June, 2007.  Search engine covers full retention of the longest retention news servers available.
  • Included a remote interface for use with mobile devices in 2011.  Currently an iOS app for iPhone and iPad called NBRemote is available in free and pay versions.
  • Newsbin was written by (and continues to be developed by) a single developer known as Quade in the Newsbin forums.
  • The backend systems and customer support are handled by Dexter.  There are no other full time staff involved.

For those considering Newsbin Pro we especially enjoy the easy to use interface, Internet (Usenet) search feature and excellent support for header downloads offered by Newsbin.  Our favorite feature is the lifetime license.  While most other premium clients charge for upgrades, Newsbin offers a lifetime license.  Allowing customers to download new versions along with regular beta releases free of charge.

We tip our cup to Dexter and Quade as they celebrate the 15th birthday of Newsbin Pro and wish them the best for years to come.  Visit Newsbin.com to learn more about the client and download the latest 6.40 release.

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet.  Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for news and deals.

Filed Under: Newsbin Pro, Newsreaders Tagged With: , ,

Enjoy Usenet Without a Newsreader

October 12, 2012 by

Would you like to download from Usenet but can’t decide on a newsreader or don’t want to bother with a Usenet client at all?  Not a problem.  That’s where Easynews comes in.  They offer a full featured web client.  Unlike traditional newsreaders, the Easynews client runs inside your web browser.  No install necessary.  Just log into their website and enjoy all the benefits of Usenet.  News members also receive a two week free trial.

As you can see above Easynews let’s you search for content across individual groups or all of Usenet.  With a wide range of filter options to help you find the best results.  Once you find your topic of interest Easynews will let you preview and download from within the web browser.  Whether you’re a fan of Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari or Opera the Easynews service has you covered.  They offer monthly accounts ranging from 20 GB all the way up to 150 GB.  All of which include a 14 day free trial.  Visit Easynews.com to learn more.

Visit Newsgroup Reviews for more on web Usenet.  Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest news and deals.

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

NZBVortex $9.95 MacUpdate Sale

October 11, 2012 by

It’s been over a year since we’ve seen a special on NZBVortex so we were happy to see MacUpdate running another promotion on the popular Mac newsreader.  If you’ve been looking for a solid Mac Usenet client then NZBVortex is one of a handful of readers we would recommend.  Along with the Newshosting client, Binreader, SABnzbd and Unison.  The sale is for one day only so pick up your copy of NZBVortexx today for just $9.95.

The current version of NZBVortex is 2.8.2.  The development of the Mac Usenet client continues at a fast pace.  With over ten releases so far this year.  If you’d like to compare NZBVortex with other leading Mac clients before purchasing then also take a look at the Newshosting client, Binreader SABnzbd and Unison.  Each has it’s own advantages.  Just don’t forget that the MacUpdate NZBVortex promotion will end at the end of the day.

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

Filed Under: Newsreaders, NZBVortex Tagged With: ,

Newsbin Pro 6.40 Release Candidate 2

September 6, 2012 by

Shortly before the holiday weekend our friends over at DJI pushed the latest version of their popular Usenet client.  Customers can download Newsbin Pro 6.40 Release Candidate 2 directly from their beta page.  We’re excited that the final 6.40 version will be coming along soon.  With features like the NZB Watch Folders and Performance Options.  New users can download a 10 day free trial or purchase a lifetime key for just $20.

Newsbin 6.40 includes a number of new features including:

  • New pathing mechanism to allow you to insert different elements to create custom download paths.
  • New NZB Watch Folder feature. You can create a folder for sending NZB files for processing and specify different download and unrar paths to apply to the contents of the NZBs in each watch folder if you like. The feature is configured under Options/NZB Options.
  • AutoPAR tweaks so it will work better with a wider variety of RAR set posting styles.
  • utoPAR state data is all stored in memory now. AutoPAR2.db3 only saves data between runs now. This increases reliability by reducing the chance of corrupting the database file and provides some performance optimizations.
  • Performing an empty search in Internet Search is now a wildcard search. Returns the the most recent items added to the Search database. If you specify a group or group folder, it will return all posts for the current day for the specified groups. Clicking the “Load Older Posts” will then go back a day at a time into the past.
  • New “Performance” section in the Options menu that allows you to easily tweak options to work best on high end machines or low end machines.
  • Now prompts on exit. This can be turned off under Options/Confirmation Windows. Defaults to on so people can see the new feature exists.

Newsbin customers can download version 6.4 RC 2 from their beta page since all full releases and betas are free of charge for users with a software license.  New users can download a 10 day free trial to test the client.

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

Filed Under: Newsbin Pro, Newsreaders Tagged With: ,

NewsLeecher Guide : Server Priority

August 22, 2012 by

Today’s post is in response to a recent question posed from a fellow Usenet fan who wants to set up a second Usenet provider as a backup in NewsLeecher.  A popular trend as many users are choosing unlimited Usenet plans and then adding a secondary block Usenet account.  In a moment we’ll show how to configure both services in NewsLeecher along with setting the server priority so you only pull from the block when needed.

First you’ll want to set up your primary Usenet provider in NewsLeecher.  To get started click on the Manager tab and click on Add Server.  From there you can enter the providers news server address, SSL preference and port number.  Along with your login credentials.  For your primary server there are no additional changes needed as NewsLeecher will set the server priority to 01 by default.  Meaning it will try that server first.

Next you’ll want to set up a second server for your block account.  We’ve heard people refer to secondary servers as backup, fill or slave servers.  The bottom line is that NewsLeecher will check the servers below priority 01 only when necessary.  As you can see we’ve set our block account for priority 02 so NewsLeecher knows to check this server if the primary fails or is missing content.  That’s all there is to setting up server priority.

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

Filed Under: Newsleecher, Newsreaders Tagged With: ,

Newsbin Pro Performance Options

August 5, 2012 by

The Newsbin team has been rolling out lots of cool new features over the last few months as they prepare a 6.40 version of the popular Usenet client.  As a Newsbin fan we always enjoy checking out the latest features in the beta releases and sharing them with you.  Today we’d like to share a new set of performance options that are part of the Newsbin 6.40 beta.  You can now optimize Newsbin to run on high or low end systems.

To access the new features download the latest Newsbin 6.40 beta release.  Once you open the newsreader simply click on  Options – Options – and then come down and click on the performance tab in the bottom left section of the screen.  You’ll be presented with the list of performance options shown above.

Newsbin is set to run on high end systems by default.  If your computer is slower then you can either click the “Low Powered PC” button at the top to toggle on all the performance options or choose them individually.  For maximum control Newsbin allows you to enable or disable the following options:

  • Pause download during unRAR/repair
  • Write downloaded files with no memory buffering
  • Reduce the amount of CPU that PAR repair and unRAR can use
  • Limit repair so it leaves one CPU available

Test out the new performance tweaks and see what combination works best for your system.  As always members can visit the Newsbin beta page to learn more about the new features and download the latest release.  Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about newsreaders along with the latest Usenet deals.

Filed Under: Newsbin Pro, Newsreaders Tagged With: ,

Newshosting Client for Mac Mountain Lion

July 25, 2012 by

Newshosting recently rolled out a new version of their popular newsreader.  Newshosting client 1.3.2 release includes support for Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion.  Along with the latest developer release of Windows 8.  This is great news for those getting ready to upgrade to Mountain Lion.  As there aren’t too many Usenet clients that support Mac.  Even less that do it well.  Enjoy unlimited Usenet access for just $9.99 a month or $99 a year.

Support for Mac OS X Mountain Lion and windows 8 were just a couple of the new features and improvements in the Newshosting Browser 1.3.2 update.  Here’s a full list directly from the release notes:

New Features:

  • Supports the upcoming Windows 8 and Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion* (Based on the current developer releases)
  • Windows: Before installation the installer checks if there’s an updated version online and if so installs the updated version instead of the older one.

Improvements:

  • All 3rd party libraries like SSL, UnRAR etc. have been updated to the latest version.
  • Improved support for Mac OS X 10.7
  • Timeout-behavior has been optimized.

Bug fixes:

  • Password protected archives are no longer deleted upon unsuccessful file extraction.
  • Mac OS: The tray icon has been removed. This solves display issues on non-standard Mac OS X desktops.
  • Queue priority editing has been fixed.

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

Filed Under: Newshosting, Newshosting Client, Newsreaders, Usenet Providers Tagged With: , ,

Newsbin Remote $0.99 Summer Sale

July 15, 2012 by

Late last year Newsbin Pro announced a new remote control app called NBRemote.  We enjoyed testing it out on an iPhone 4.  Being able to remotely control your newsreader has some nice advantages.  You can read our NBRemote review to learn more about the app.  The regular price of NBRemote is now $3.99.  A good value for the useful app.  This month NBRemote is on sale for $0.99.  If you’ve been considering NBRemote or already use Newsbin and have an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch then check it out.  The summer sale ends July 31st.

This is the perfect time for iOS users to pick up NBRemote.  We enjoy the app and think you will too.  Given the price of $0.99 you really have nothing to lose.  Remember to upgrade Newsbin to at least version 6.30.  Then you can use your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch to remotely control Newsbin, access your Dropbox account and browse NZB sites.  Make sure to download NBRemote by July 31st to save $2 off during their Summer sale.

I’m sure some are thinking “that’s great but what about Android users?”.  That’s a fair question.  An Android version of NBRemote is definitely in the works. The Newsbin team is currently working hard on Newsbin Pro 6.4 which includes some cool updates like custom paths.  According to their July 9th “Message of the Day”, the Android version of NBRemote will be the focus of development after Newsbin 6.4 is released.

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to compare Usenet clients and providers.  Follow @NewsgroupRevs for more deals.

Filed Under: NBRemote, Newsbin Pro, Newsreaders Tagged With: ,

Newsbin Pro 6.4 NZB Watch Folders Feature

June 19, 2012 by

We always enjoy checking out the Newsbin Pro beta releases.  Their latest (Newsbin 6.4 beta 3) includes a new feature that gives users even more control over their downloads.  Allowing you to setup NZB watch folders with different preferences for each.  You can control the folder structure for each NZB folder.  Including the watch folder itself along with download and UnRAR paths.  Visit the Newsbin beta page to learn more.

The customizable NZB watch folders are far more flexible than setting paths with checkboxes.  Now you can use preset symbols like $(GROUP), $(MONTH), $(NZBFILE) and several others to set the folder paths to your liking.  As shown in the screenshot above you can specify the details and order for each download and UnRAR path.

Newsbin 6.40 includes a number of new features including:

  • NZB Watch Folder feature. You can create a folder for sending NZB files for processing and specify different download and unrar pathsto apply to the contents of the NZBs in each watch folder if you like.
  • AutoPAR tweaks so it will work better with a wider variety of RAR set posting styles.
  • AutoPAR state data is all stored in memory now. AutoPAR2.db3 only saves data between runs now. This increases reliability by reducing the chance of corrupting the database file and provides some performance optimizations.
  • Peforming an empty search in Internet Search is now a wildcard search. Returns the last 2000 items added to the Search database.
  • New “Performance” section in the Options menu that allows you to easily tweak options to work best on high end machines or low end machines.

Newsbin customers can download version 6.4 beta 3 from their site.  As all full releases and betas are free of charge for users with a software license.  New users can download a 10 day free trial to test the Usenet client.

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

Filed Under: Newsbin Pro, Newsreaders Tagged With: , ,
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