• newsreaders in 2025

    From Internetking@VERT/TIME to All on Saturday, April 19, 2025 17:50:37
    hi all.. what newsreader recomend use in 2025? that allow setup mulipile news servers and read and posting?

    thank you all

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    þ Synchronet þ Time Warp of the Future BBS - Home of League 10 IBBS Games
  • From MRO@VERT/BBSESINF to Internetking on Saturday, April 19, 2025 21:03:35
    Re: newsreaders in 2025
    By: Internetking to All on Sat Apr 19 2025 05:50 pm

    hi all.. what newsreader recomend use in 2025? that allow setup mulipile news servers and read and posting?

    thank you all

    i have always used xnews.
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::
  • From Boraxman@VERT/MSRDBBS to MRO on Sunday, April 20, 2025 18:51:40
    Re: newsreaders in 2025
    By: MRO to Internetking on Sat Apr 19 2025 09:03 pm

    Re: newsreaders in 2025
    By: Internetking to All on Sat Apr 19 2025 05:50 pm

    hi all.. what newsreader recomend use in 2025? that allow setup mulipile news servers and read and posting?

    thank you all

    i have always used xnews.

    I use slrn. You have to use a command line parameter to ues a different new

    s server, but it does work. For graphical newsreaders, Thunderbird is actually a good option that allows multiple accounts and posting.

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ MS & RD BBs - bbs.mozysswamp.org
  • From Accession@VERT/PHARCYDE to Boraxman on Sunday, April 20, 2025 07:17:08
    Hey Boraxman!

    On Sun, Apr 20 2025 03:51:40 -0500, you wrote:

    i have always used xnews.

    I just looked at the website for this, and it definitely looks like work on it was discontinued 20 years ago (the GUI is terrible to look at these days, but maybe wasn't so bad in it's heyday when everything else looked like that, too). ;)

    I use slrn. You have to use a command line parameter to ues a
    different news server, but it does work. For graphical newsreaders, Thunderbird is actually a good option that allows multiple accounts
    and posting.

    slrn is great for console (my personal favorite, also). So is tin and neomutt. They do the job and do it well. They all use iconv for character set translations without issue, and you can use whatever external editor you want with them.

    As for graphical, Thunderbird (what I'm currently using to write this) and Claws Mail are probably your best options for both Windows and Linux, and then Pan is a good one for Linux (there has been Windows ports but it seems support has stopped for that, and the latest one isn't usable).

    Regards,
    Nick

    ... Sarcasm, because beating people up is illegal.
    ---
    ï¿­ Synchronet ï¿­ _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin)
  • From Gamgee@VERT/PALANTIR to Internetking on Sunday, April 20, 2025 10:13:56
    Internetking wrote to All <=-

    hi all.. what newsreader recomend use in 2025? that allow setup
    mulipile news servers and read and posting?

    I recommend Pan.



    ... Gone crazy, be back later, please leave message.
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL
  • From Boraxman@VERT/MSRDBBS to Accession on Monday, April 21, 2025 09:57:22
    Re: Re: newsreaders in 2025
    By: Accession to Boraxman on Sun Apr 20 2025 07:17 am

    Hey Boraxman!

    On Sun, Apr 20 2025 03:51:40 -0500, you wrote:

    i have always used xnews.

    I just looked at the website for this, and it definitely looks like work on was discontinued 20 years ago (the GUI is terrible to look at these days, bu maybe wasn't so bad in it's heyday when everything else looked like that, to ;)

    I use slrn. You have to use a command line parameter to ues a
    different news server, but it does work. For graphical newsreaders, Thunderbird is actually a good option that allows multiple accounts
    and posting.

    slrn is great for console (my personal favorite, also). So is tin and neomut They do the job and do it well. They all use iconv for character set translations without issue, and you can use whatever external editor you wan with them.

    As for graphical, Thunderbird (what I'm currently using to write this) and Claws Mail are probably your best options for both Windows and Linux, and th Pan is a good one for Linux (there has been Windows ports but it seems suppo has stopped for that, and the latest one isn't usable).

    Regards,
    Nick

    I didn't know neomutt
    could read NNTP. I would have used tha tinstead, as I use it for mail as well.

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ MS & RD BBs - bbs.mozysswamp.org
  • From MRO@VERT/BBSESINF to Accession on Sunday, April 20, 2025 23:11:15
    Re: Re: newsreaders in 2025
    By: Accession to Boraxman on Sun Apr 20 2025 07:17 am

    Hey Boraxman!

    On Sun, Apr 20 2025 03:51:40 -0500, you wrote:

    i have always used xnews.

    I just looked at the website for this, and it definitely looks like work

    on
    it was discontinued 20 years ago (the GUI is terrible to look at these days, but maybe wasn't so bad in it's heyday when everything else looked like that, too). ;)

    well i wouldn't call it terrible. it's functional. https://i.imgur.com/sqxA5bx.png

    and quit acting like you're not old!

    There's something about thunderbird in it's gui that's always been a turn off for me. claws is just too wonky for me. i would say the gui is crummy and outdated, also.


    i would recommend xnews to anybody that wants a compact program that works well and is easy to setup.
    also.

    You can set it up and view msgs or grab binaries in seconds.
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::
  • From Cougar428@VERT/CJSPLACE to ACCESSION on Monday, April 21, 2025 11:23:03
    Quoting Accession to Boraxman <=-

    i have always used xnews.

    I use Forte Agent 8 which is looks pretty dated, and I also use Newsbin Pro 64 which looks more modern in the UI. Both work great.

    ... DOS never says "EXCELLENT command or filename"...

    ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ CJ's Place, Orange City, FL - cjsplace.thruhere.net
  • From MRO@VERT/BBSESINF to Cougar428 on Monday, April 21, 2025 13:22:30
    Re: Re: newsreaders in 2025
    By: Cougar428 to ACCESSION on Mon Apr 21 2025 11:23 am

    Quoting Accession to Boraxman <=-

    i have always used xnews.

    I use Forte Agent 8 which is looks pretty dated, and I also use Newsbin Pro 64 which looks more modern in the UI. Both work great.


    i used newsbin pro back in the day. it was great for downloading binaries.

    do people even write in newsgroups anymore? i think it might be even more dead than bbsing and fidonet
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::
  • From Mortar@VERT/EOTLBBS to Cougar428 on Monday, April 21, 2025 15:26:35
    Re: Re: newsreaders in 2025
    By: Cougar428 to ACCESSION on Mon Apr 21 2025 11:23:03

    I use Forte Agent 8 which is looks pretty dated...

    I used Agent exclusively, from day one 'til newsgroups were no longer a thing. <sigh>...I miss the old Usenet.

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com
  • From Gamgee@VERT/PALANTIR to MRO on Monday, April 21, 2025 16:04:23
    MRO wrote to Cougar428 <=-

    do people even write in newsgroups anymore? i think it might be even
    more dead than bbsing and fidonet

    There are a few newsgroups in the alt.os.linux family that still have
    some useful content. Certainly not like it used to be though.



    ... Users come in two types: Those who have lost data, and those who will.
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL
  • From Accession@VERT/PHARCYDE to Boraxman on Monday, April 21, 2025 17:00:56
    Hey Boraxman!

    On Sun, Apr 20 2025 18:57:22 -0500, you wrote:

    I didn't know neomutt could read NNTP. I would have used tha
    tinstead, as I use it for mail as well.

    It does. And it's not too bad at it, either!

    I have it setup on another VM, configured to switch between two email addresses as well as NNTP via F1-f3 keys. It works pretty good, considering the developer told me the NNTP code needs an overhaul (that he's not interested in doing). ;)

    Regards,
    Nick

    ... Sarcasm, because beating people up is illegal.
    ---
    ï¿­ Synchronet ï¿­ _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin)
  • From Gamgee@VERT/PALANTIR to Mortar on Monday, April 21, 2025 20:06:40
    Mortar wrote to Cougar428 <=-

    I used Agent exclusively, from day one 'til newsgroups were no longer a thing.

    They're still a thing, to a lesser extent. Just like BBSes.

    <sigh>...I miss the old Usenet.

    So do I.



    ... HAL 9000 - Dave. Put down those Windows disks. Please, Dave.
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL
  • From Boraxman@VERT/MSRDBBS to Gamgee on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 08:26:00
    Gamgee wrote to MRO <=-

    @MSGID: <6806B2D7.36947.dove-general@palantirbbs.ddns.net>
    @REPLY: <68068CE6.14839.dove-gen@bbses.info>
    MRO wrote to Cougar428 <=-

    do people even write in newsgroups anymore? i think it might be even
    more dead than bbsing and fidonet

    There are a few newsgroups in the alt.os.linux family that still have
    some useful content. Certainly not like it used to be though.

    Usenet is part of my daily correspondence routine. Definately still alive, though certainly not as active as it used to be.

    Some of the Linux groups are active (a lot of political spam though), as is the action games group. Politics is active, but mostly about US Politics and Trump,
    so pretty horrid and lowbrow. The eternal.september groups have a few messages,
    as does the rocksolid areas. There are some BBS groups, occasional messages there. Philosophy sees some activity.

    The busier groups probably have close to the same levels of activity as Dovenet and fsxNet. Usenet is still worth a look, whether its worth staying is another matter. I do need to find a good discussion forum with intelligent people, thats
    kind of hard to get now. Social Media sucks as a format, and places where people
    use their phones to access are also not that great.



    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    þ Synchronet þ MS & RD BBs - bbs.mozysswamp.org
  • From Boraxman@VERT/MSRDBBS to Accession on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 23:36:42
    Re: Re: newsreaders in 2025
    By: Accession to Boraxman on Mon Apr 21 2025 05:00 pm

    Hey Boraxman!

    On Sun, Apr 20 2025 18:57:22 -0500, you wrote:

    I didn't know neomutt could read NNTP. I would have used tha
    tinstead, as I use it for mail as well.

    It does. And it's not too bad at it, either!

    I have it setup on another VM, configured to switch between two email addres as well as NNTP via F1-f3 keys. It works pretty good, considering the develo told me the NNTP code needs an overhaul (that he's not interested in doing).

    Regards,
    Nick

    Now I'm interested. How
    do you get it to change configurations on a keypress? I know how with mutt to do it by a command line parameter, but while its running?

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ MS & RD BBs - bbs.mozysswamp.org
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@VERT/REALITY to Mortar on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 08:00:22
    Mortar wrote to Cougar428 <=-

    I used Agent exclusively, from day one 'til newsgroups were no longer a thing. <sigh>...I miss the old Usenet.

    Oh, those days - getting on the computer and running out of space,
    finding out Agent needed to clear out old binaries because it took up
    most of my 30 gb hard drive...



    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    þ Synchronet þ .: realitycheckbbs.org :: scientia potentia est :.
  • From Nightfox@VERT/DIGDIST to poindexter FORTRAN on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 09:44:36
    Re: Re: newsreaders in 2025
    By: poindexter FORTRAN to Mortar on Tue Apr 22 2025 08:00 am

    I used Agent exclusively, from day one 'til newsgroups were no longer a
    thing. <sigh>...I miss the old Usenet.

    Oh, those days - getting on the computer and running out of space, finding out Agent needed to clear out old binaries because it took up most of my 30 gb hard drive...

    I used Forte Agent in the mid-late 90s for newsgroups.. Forte Agent's article list is what mainly inspired me to make my message lister for Synchronet years ago (which is now the 'message list' feature in DDMsgReader).

    Nightfox

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com
  • From Cougar428@VERT/CJSPLACE to MRO on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 15:33:25
    Quoting Mro to Cougar428 <=-

    I use Forte Agent 8 which is looks pretty dated, and I also use Newsbin Pro 64 which looks more modern in the UI. Both work great.

    i used newsbin pro back in the day. it was great for downloading
    binaries.

    I mostly use it for the binaries. Photos and ebooks, I guess I'm a
    lurker there.

    do people even write in newsgroups anymore? i think it might be even
    more dead than bbsing and fidonet -!-

    I do see messages but mostly for requests in the groups. I am probably
    part of the problem since I don't really post there.

    It is pretty dead, but there are tons of flood posts with ebooks and
    such.

    ... If I only had one more teragigadactylbyte...

    ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ CJ's Place, Orange City, FL - cjsplace.thruhere.net
  • From Cougar428@VERT/CJSPLACE to MORTAR on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 15:33:25
    Quoting Mortar to Cougar428 <=-

    I used Agent exclusively, from day one 'til newsgroups were no longer
    a thing. <sigh>...I miss the old Usenet.

    Yeah, it's mostly junk there now. I do use the ebook binary floods
    though. There's not much conversation other than requests. I still use
    Agent, but Newsbin Pro seems to work faster at downloading the headers.

    I admit, I don't post much.

    ... Taglines are irrelevant. You will be assimilated into the Blue Wave.

    ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ CJ's Place, Orange City, FL - cjsplace.thruhere.net
  • From Accession@VERT/PHARCYDE to Boraxman on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 18:05:15
    Hey Boraxman!

    On Tue, Apr 22 2025 08:36:42 -0500, you wrote:

    I have it setup on another VM, configured to switch between two
    email addres as well as NNTP via F1-f3 keys. It works pretty good,
    considering the develo told me the NNTP code needs an overhaul
    (that he's not interested in doing).

    Now I'm interested. How do you get it to change configurations on a keypress? I know how with mutt to do it by a command line
    parameter, but while its running?

    Yeah, you'd have to add mappings for your F-keys to switch accounts, source your accounts in .neomuttrc and use 'folder-hook' commands. It's a bit extensive to be trying to describe here in a message, though. ;)

    https://neomutt.org/test-doc/bestpractice/multiprofile

    .. and a better explanation of what you need even though this guy missed something that he figured out later:

    https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/578945/neomutt-multi-account

    Unfortunately, I left my setup alone for too long, and now something is broken. I can confirm it worked at some point, though! I just tend to prefer slrn and mutt, separately. They do their own specific things very well. And, don't expect the neomutt developer(s) to update the NNTP code, if you find anything quirky:

    "A lot of NeoMutt has been re-engineered, but the NNTP part got left behind. It needs a good overhaul, but unless someone volunteers, it's pretty low priority." - Richard Russan

    Regards,
    Nick

    ... Sarcasm, because beating people up is illegal.
    ---
    ï¿­ Synchronet ï¿­ _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin)
  • From MRO@VERT/BBSESINF to Cougar428 on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 21:06:28
    Re: Re: newsreaders in 2025
    By: Cougar428 to MRO on Tue Apr 22 2025 03:33 pm

    Quoting Mro to Cougar428 <=-

    I use Forte Agent 8 which is looks pretty dated, and I also use Newsbin Pro 64 which looks more modern in the UI. Both work great.

    i used newsbin pro back in the day. it was great for downloading binaries.

    I mostly use it for the binaries. Photos and ebooks, I guess I'm a
    lurker there.

    do people even write in newsgroups anymore? i think it might be even more dead than bbsing and fidonet -!-

    I do see messages but mostly for requests in the groups. I am probably
    part of the problem since I don't really post there.

    It is pretty dead, but there are tons of flood posts with ebooks and
    such.

    i just use torrent sites. when i was using newsgroups i'd have to donate to an indexer site and do other stuff to get what i wanted. with torrents it's just so easier.
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::
  • From phigan@VERT/TACOPRON to Cougar428 on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 20:28:03
    Re: Re: newsreaders in 2025
    By: Cougar428 to MORTAR on Tue Apr 22 2025 03:33 pm

    use the ebook binary floods

    What group(s) for that?

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ TIRED of waiting 2 hours for a taco? GO TO TACOPRONTO.bbs.io
  • From Cougar428@VERT/CJSPLACE to MRO on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 09:12:00
    Quoting Mro to Cougar428 <=-
    i just use torrent sites. when i was using newsgroups i'd have to
    donate to an indexer site and do other stuff to get what i wanted.
    with torrents it's just so easier. -!-

    Thanks for the tip. I'll have to see what I can find in that arena!

    ... Live every day as though it were your last. One day, you'll be right

    ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ CJ's Place, Orange City, FL - cjsplace.thruhere.net
  • From Cougar428@VERT/CJSPLACE to PHIGAN on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 09:12:00
    Quoting Phigan to Cougar428 <=-

    use the ebook binary floods

    What group(s) for that?

    Hey there Phigan, the ones I 'lurk' in are...

    a.b.e-book.flood *
    alt.binaries.e-book-flood
    alt.binaries.e-books *
    alt.binaries.e-books.flood
    alt.binaries.ebooks
    alt.binaries.ebooks.flood
    alt.binaries.ebook

    There are probably others, but these are the ones I follow.

    Have a great day!

    Cougar

    ... All I need is a Wave and a board to surf it on.

    ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ CJ's Place, Orange City, FL - cjsplace.thruhere.net
  • From Gamgee@VERT/PALANTIR to phigan on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 08:27:22
    phigan wrote to Cougar428 <=-

    Re: Re: newsreaders in 2025
    By: Cougar428 to MORTAR on Tue Apr 22 2025 03:33 pm

    use the ebook binary floods

    What group(s) for that?

    alt.binaries.e-book
    alt.binaries.e-books

    Are two that I know of.



    ... Daddy, what does "now formatting drive C:" mean?
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL
  • From phigan@VERT/TACOPRON to Cougar428 on Thursday, April 24, 2025 10:16:35
    Re: Re: newsreaders in 2025
    By: Cougar428 to PHIGAN on Wed Apr 23 2025 09:12 am

    Hey there Phigan, the ones I 'lurk'
    are...

    Thank you for the list!

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ TIRED of waiting 2 hours for a taco? GO TO TACOPRONTO.bbs.io
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@VERT/REALITY to Cougar428 on Thursday, April 24, 2025 20:19:39
    Cougar428 wrote to MORTAR <=-

    Yeah, it's mostly junk there now. I do use the ebook binary floods
    though. There's not much conversation other than requests. I still use Agent, but Newsbin Pro seems to work faster at downloading the headers.

    I admit, I don't post much.

    I have a couple of newsgroups on my BBS. Alt.slack, just because. It's
    not about the collaboration tool. alt.smokers.pipes, although most of
    the posters have passed on, it seems. alt.bbs.ads, to post my BBS ads. alt.folklore.computers, lots of discussions of the big iron days. alt.sysadmin.recovery for therapy.



    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    þ Synchronet þ .: realitycheckbbs.org :: scientia potentia est :.
  • From Cougar428@VERT/CJSPLACE to POINDEXTER FORTRAN on Saturday, April 26, 2025 08:17:56
    Quoting Poindexter Fortran to Cougar428 <=-

    alt.smokers.pipes, although most of the posters have passed on,

    I think it's the same in alt.smokers.cigarettes...

    Just kidding! (I think)

    Not sure if that's an actual group or not. ;)

    ... If it ain't broke, hit it harder.

    ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ CJ's Place, Orange City, FL - cjsplace.thruhere.net
  • From Mortar@VERT/EOTLBBS to Cougar428 on Saturday, April 26, 2025 15:47:06
    Re: Re: newsreaders in 2025
    By: Cougar428 to POINDEXTER FORTRAN on Sat Apr 26 2025 08:17:56

    I think it's the same in alt.smokers.cigarettes...
    Not sure if that's an actual group or not. ;)

    Wouldn't surprise mr. There were sooo many alt groups back then. It was the largest category on Usenet.

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com