INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Industry analysts have been predicting the imminent demise of Usenet for a decade or more, and it's easy to see why
Top providers have been closing down, plus we’ve witnessed a tidal wave of spam and virus-infested downloads, and a general shift towards
torrents.But somehow, despite all the odds, this ancient internet technology is thriving, with a lengthy list of popular services giving
low-cost Usenet access to a whole new audience.Newsgroup clients have greatly improved, too
Old-style Usenet header browsers employ neat spam detection tricks to help you avoid dummy downloads, while NZB managers often provide
easier and more effective ways to locate content
There's plenty of top-quality choice around, but keep reading – we've listed five of our favourite Usenet clients and NZB downloaders to
point you in the right direction.1
Newsbin ProFast, feature-packed news reading from the Usenet veteranEasy-to-useLoads of essential featuresWindows-onlyNewsbin Pro is a
full-featured commercial Usenet client for Windows.After more than 20 years of development, it's probably no surprise that the program is
absolutely crammed with high-end functionality
But despite that, it manages to be straightforward and user-friendly
The installer prompts you to enter your Usenet server details, then you can search for the files you need and download them right
away.Newsbin Pro uses multiple techniques to boost its performance
XFeatures header compression support can download headers up to 10 times faster
You're able to set up multiple servers for simultaneous use, and the program can block RARs which are password-protected or contain
executable files, hopefully reducing the time you'll waste downloading spam and malware.Heavy-duty Usenet users might still find their
downloads take a while, but Newsbin Pro can help there, too
You're able to limit the program's bandwidth use, allowing it to run in the background without hogging your connection, or you can use the
scheduler to download files while you sleep.All this runs smoothly, with full support for all the standards you would expect
Newsbin Pro can handle SSL encryption, and supports per-server SOCKS 4, SOCKS 5, and HTTPS proxies
Smart NZB handling can automatically download the files you need, and the AutoPAR feature repairs or replaces missing or corrupted RARs,
then expands the contents.Newsbin Pro is available on a lifetime licence for just $20 (£14.30), or you can add a one-year Usenet search
subscription for a total of $30 (£21.45)
A 15-day trial version allows sampling the service before you buy.2
NewsleecherUsenet searching with the emphasis on speedReliable NZB supportSpeedy Usenet searchNo software-only purchase optionNewsleecher is
a popular Windows Usenet reader with many timesaving technologies and extras.The program's SuperSearch is a speedy Usenet search tool with
The SuperLeech service can be set up to regularly check Usenet for the files you need, downloading copies almost as soon as they've been
And if you're tired of wasting time on spam files, there’s more good news: NewsLeecher can detect and avoid password protected files,
RAR-in-RAR files, and anything containing an executable (EXE or SCR).NewsLeecher was the first Usenet client to support NZB files, and its
latest version provides many ways to work with the file type
You can create NZBs directly from articles or search results, import them manually or set the program to monitor folders, import anything
new and automatically download the specified files.All this is presented in a handy tabbed interface
You can manage servers in one tab, browse articles in another, and there are tabs to run searches, check the transfer queue, even access
downloaded files via an embedded Explorer window
It's a great way to keep track of all your ongoing tasks with minimal on-screen clutter or hassle.NewsLeecher is available with its Usenet
SuperSearch service for $3.99 (£2.85) a month, or as part of a full unlimited Usenet package (2,850 days binary retention, 4,150 days for
text, 30 simultaneous connections) for $11.99 (£8.55) a month
That's not cheap, but there are no commitments beyond the monthly payment, and you can try before you buy with a free 14-day trial period
NZBGetExpert-level, fast and free NZB processingVery fastHighly configurableOpen sourceNZBGet is a lightweight open source NZB downloader
which runs almost anywhere: desktops (Windows, Linux, Mac), routers, NAS devices, media players and more.The package works this magic by
running as a background process which is largely accessed from a browser-based interface
This allows NZBGet to be used from mobiles and tablets, as well as its host hardware, and ensures you get a consistent interface
everywhere.Operations are mostly very easy
Add one or more NZB files from the interface, copy them to NZBGet's incoming folder or just point the program at a URL and it'll download
NZBGet is highly optimized for speed, even on low-end devices (the developer says you can run it with less than 32MB of RAM).The focus on
performance continues elsewhere with intelligent PAR file verification, smarter retries and a multi-core repair process ensuring damaged
files are recovered as fast as possible.Neat bonus touches include speedy and accurate deobfuscation of file names, effortlessly restoring
cryptic nonsense – like, for example: cf8ae6185547f6ca0ad263439f2279fa.01 – to its original version.While NZBGet could be used by
newsgroup novices without too much difficulty, the real value here is for more expert users
Automation features include support for powerful RSS filters, plus there are a huge number of low-level options and settings, and every
aspect of the program can be controlled via an RPC API and your own scripts.4
Nzb360A powerful NZB manager for AndroidSupports many Usenet servicesStylish and easy-to-use interfaceOnline support forumNzb360 is a
comprehensive NZB manager for Android
The app works with a host of popular services: SABnzbd, NZBGet, Deluge, Transmission, µTorrent, qBittorrent, Sick Beard, Sonarr, Radarr,
CouchPotato, Headphones and unlimited Newznab Indexers.Set up a service on your PC, for instance, tell Nzb360 about it, and you're able to
monitor and control what's going on
The app queues up content for your services, ensuring it works even if the remote computer is turned off (although built-in Wake-On-LAN
support means you may also be able to start your system remotely).There's support for managing a wide range of connection types, including
local/remote addresses, SSL/TLS, HTTP authentication, URL rewrites, reverse proxies, and more.Nzb360 isn't an app for beginners, and there's
something of a learning curve as you figure out how to get the software working as you would like.Still, an attractive and well-designed
interface points you in the right direction, and experienced users should have few problems (the exceptional 4.8 average review score on
Google Play suggests the developer is doing something right)
But if you do have any issues, the built-in feedback mechanism and a web support forum are on hand to help you out.If you're interested, a
free build gives you a basic idea of Nzb360's abilities, and the full-featured Pro version is available at the bargain price of £4.49
($6.30) for a lifetime licence.5
Usenet WireThe news client of choice for some big Usenet providersStylish and straightforward interfaceVideo and image previewsNot available
standaloneUsenet Wire is a polished, professional and easy-to-use Usenet client for Windows, Linux and Mac.The package is more about
simplicity than high-end NZB-handling power, but there's still plenty to enjoy here
The well-designed interface looks great, and works just as you would expect
A quality search system helps you find the files you need
Previews for images and videos confirm that the files really do contain what the uploader has promised, and whatever you download is
automatically validated, repaired if necessary, and decompressed, ready for use.Usenet Wire can't match the expert-level automation options
of a utility like NZBGet, but there are some handy tools here
Searches can be automated to look out for specific results and automatically download them, for instance.While this sounds great, there's a
problem: you can't buy Usenet Wire as a standalone product
Instead it comes bundled as a free Usenet client with some Usenet providers.At the time of writing, downloads from the Usenet Wire website
will prompt you to set up an account with TweakNews
When we reviewed TweakNews, we found it had a limited 2,500 days binary retention and slow tech support, but if you can live with that,
downloads are fast and the prices are very low.Newshosting also bundled a version of Usenet Wire when we last reviewed the service, and that
could be a smarter choice
Retention is above 3,300 days, downloads are fast, a generous 750GB trial allows in-depth testing and there are some big sign-up
discounts.8NPguqSKKKTcjBCCGAYEk6.jpg#
