Announcing Our Member Rewards Program

February 19, 2011 | by

Ready to earn a little extra cash? Good, because that’s exactly what our Member Rewards Program is designed to help you do. Starting today our customers can begin earning credits toward the NewsgroupDirect accounts. Our rewards program is unique in the usenet industry and another example of how we take better care of our customers than anyone else.

Here’s how the program is going to work. You will be able to earn rewards for helping to promote the NewsgroupDirect brand. The first reward opportunity that we’re rolling out is our Twitter rewards. It’s simple, if you have a Twitter account you can simply post a tweet mentioning @newsgroupdirect (our Twitter account) to earn a $0.50 credit off your next payment. You can earn one Twitter reward credit each month. To get started, simply login to our website and click the Rewards link at the top of the screen. There you will see the link to follow to send your tweet. We’ll automatically credit your account when the tweet is sent. You are, of course, free to tweet whatever you want about us, as long as you include “@newsgroupdirect” and the included link back to our site. We just pre-fill the default text as a starting point for you.

NewsgroupDirect Twitter Rewards

We have several other opportunities to earn rewards coming out soon, so stay tuned! Our Membership Rewards program is a great way to save on your usenet bill while helping us to promote our service.

Membership Rewards Terms

Membership rewards are not available to Worldpay subscription customers. Worldpay block account customers are eligible. All customers paying with a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover card are eligible. A maximum of one Twitter credit per month can be earned.

Text Group Downsizing Discussion

February 9, 2011 | by

Big 8The Big 8 is considering downsizing 198 text groups that they perceive as not being used. Please reply back to them in news.announce.newgroups, news.groups.proposals, or news.groups if you believe that those groups should be kept. Discussion on the removal of the groups is expected to last at least 8 weeks.

List of Groups Considered for Downsizing

comp.arch.bus.vmebus - Hardware and software for VMEbus Systems.
comp.archives.msdos.d - Discussion of materials available in MSDOS archives.
comp.bbs.tbbs - The Bread Board System bulletin board software.
comp.bbs.tsx - TSX BBS discussions.
comp.bugs.2bsd - Reports of UNIX* version 2BSD related bugs.
comp.bugs.4bsd - Reports of UNIX version 4BSD related bugs.
comp.bugs.sys5 - Reports of USG (System III, V, etc.) bugs.
comp.compilers.tools.pccts - Construction of compilers and tools with PCCTS.
comp.databases.revelation - All products produced by Revelation Software.
comp.dcom.frame-relay - Technology and issues regarding frame relay networks.
comp.dcom.isdn - The Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN).
comp.dcom.lans.fddi -  Discussions of the FDDI protocol suite.
comp.dcom.lans.token-ring - Installing and using token ring networks.
comp.dcom.servers - Selecting and operating data communications servers.
comp.dcom.sys.bay-networks - Bay Networks hardware, software, other products.
comp.emulators.freemware - Open source PC Virtualisation software.
comp.emulators.mac.executor - ARDI's Mac emulator, Executor.
comp.games.development.art - Creative use of visual art in games.
comp.games.development.audio - Music, sound, speech production.
comp.graphics.api.inventor - Object-oriented 3D graphics in Inventor.
comp.graphics.api.pexlib - The PEXlib application programming interface.
comp.graphics.apps.avs - The Application Visualization System.
comp.graphics.apps.data-explorer - IBM's Visualization Data Explorer (DX).
comp.graphics.apps.freehand - Questions, answers, tips and suggestions.
comp.graphics.apps.iris-explorer - The IRIS Explorer, aka MVE.
comp.graphics.apps.softimage - Softimage applications and products.
comp.graphics.apps.wavefront - Wavefront software products, problems, etc.
comp.groupware.groupwise - Novell's Groupwise product (Wordperfect Office).
comp.infosystems.harvest - Harvest information discovery and access system.
comp.infosystems.interpedia - The Internet Encyclopedia.
comp.infosystems.intranet - Intranet topics.
comp.infosystems.www.advocacy - Comments and arguments over the best and worst.
comp.infosystems.www.databases - Web Database Integration.
comp.infosystems.www.servers.mac - Web servers for the Macintosh platform.
comp.internet.services.social.myspace - Teenage social networking.
comp.ivideodisc - Interactive videodiscs -- uses, potential, etc.
comp.lang.basic.visual.3rdparty - Add-ins for Visual Basic.
comp.lang.limbo - The Inferno OS's Limbo programming language.
comp.lang.lisp.mcl - Discussing Apple's Macintosh Common Lisp.
comp.lang.pascal.delphi.advocacy - Contentious issues related to Delphi.
comp.lang.pascal.delphi.components.usage - Using pre-written components.
comp.lang.pascal.delphi.components.writing - Writing Delphi components.
comp.lang.sather - The object-oriented computer language Sather.
comp.lsi.cad - Electrical Computer Aided Design.
comp.mail.list-admin.policy - Policy issues in running mailing lists.
comp.mail.mush - The Mail User's Shell (MUSH).
comp.mail.smail - Administering & using the smail email transport system.
comp.mail.zmail - The various Z-Mail products and their configurability.
comp.org.cpsr.talk - Issues of computing and social responsibility.
comp.org.decus - Digital Equipment Computer Users' Society newsgroup.
comp.org.eff.talk - Discussion of EFF goals, strategies, etc.
comp.org.issnnet - The International Student Society for Neural Networks.
comp.org.sug - Talk about/for the The Sun User's Group.
comp.org.user-groups.apcug - Association of Personal Computer User Groups.
comp.org.user-groups.management - Running a user group.
comp.org.user-groups.newsletters - User group newsletter Production.
comp.os.chorus - CHORUS microkernel issues, research and developments.
comp.os.inferno - The Inferno network operating system from Lucent.
comp.os.lantastic - The LANtastic network operating system.
comp.os.ms-windows.apps.comm - MS-Windows communication applications.
comp.os.ms-windows.apps.compatibility.win95 - Running DOS&Win3 apps in Win95.
comp.os.ms-windows.apps.utilities.win3x - Utility/add-on programs for Win3.x.
comp.os.ms-windows.apps.winsock.mail - Winsock email applications.
comp.os.ms-windows.apps.winsock.news - Winsock news applications.
comp.os.ms-windows.networking.ras - Windows RAS networking.
comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy - Windows NT advocacy arguments.
comp.os.ms-windows.nt.pre-release - Unreleased and beta Windows NT versions.
comp.os.ms-windows.nt.setup.hardware - Windows NT hardware setup.
comp.os.ms-windows.pre-release - Pre-release/beta versions of Windows.
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.multimedia - Multimedia programming.
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.tools.owl - OWL-based development for Windows.
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.winhelp - WinHelp/Multimedia Viewer development.
comp.os.ms-windows.setup.win3x - Setup, hardware, and driver issues in Win3.x.
comp.os.ms-windows.setup.win95 - Setup, hardware, and driver issues in Win95.
comp.os.ms-windows.win95.setup - Setup and Configuration of Windows 95.
comp.os.msdos.mail-news - Administering mail & network news systems under MS-DOS.
comp.os.netware.security - Netware Security issues.
comp.os.os2.comm - Modem/Fax hardware/drivers/apps/utils under OS/2.
comp.os.os2.programmer.oop - Programming system objects (SOM, WPS, etc).
comp.os.os2.scitech - Real-time, engineering/CAD, sciences, etc.
comp.os.parix - Forum for users of the parallel operating system PARIX.
comp.os.xinu - The XINU operating system from Purdue (D. Comer).
comp.protocols.appletalk - Applebus hardware & software.
comp.protocols.ibm - Networking with IBM mainframes.
comp.protocols.iso - The ISO protocol stack.
comp.publish.cdrom.multimedia - Software for multimedia authoring & publishing.
comp.publish.electronic.developer - Electronic publishing developer tools.
comp.publish.electronic.end-user - Electronic publishing end-user tools.
comp.security.gss-api - Generic Security Service Application Program Interface.
comp.security.pgp.resources - PGP related resources, information and more.
comp.society - The impact of technology on society.
comp.society.development - Computer technology in developing countries.
comp.soft-sys.app-builder.appware - Novell's visual development environment.
comp.soft-sys.app-builder.dynasty - Dynasty Development.
comp.soft-sys.khoros - The Khoros X11 visualization system.
comp.soft-sys.middleware.opendoc - OpenDoc and its related technologies.
comp.soft-sys.shazam - The SHAZAM econometrics computer program.
comp.soft-sys.stat.systat - The statistical program package SYSTAT.
comp.sources.games.bugs - Bug reports and fixes for posted game software.
comp.specification.larch - Larch family of formal specification languages.
comp.std.internat - Discussion about international standards.
comp.sys.alliant - Info and discussion about Alliant computers.
comp.sys.amiga.datacomm - Methods of getting bytes in and out.
comp.sys.amiga.multimedia - Animations, video, & multimedia.
comp.sys.amiga.networking - Amiga networking software/hardware.
comp.sys.amiga.uucp - Amiga UUCP packages.
comp.sys.apple2.gno - The AppleIIgs GNO multitasking environment.
comp.sys.be.advocacy - Why BeOS is better/worse than XYZ.
comp.sys.be.programmer - Topics related to BeOS programming.
comp.sys.convex - Convex computer systems hardware and software.
comp.sys.harris - Harris computer systems, especially real-time systems.
comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.marketplace - PC clone games wanted and for sale.
comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.advocacy - Advocacy for a particular soundcard.
comp.sys.intergraph - Intergraph hardware and software products.
comp.sys.isis - The ISIS distributed system from Cornell.
comp.sys.mac.games.adventure - Adventure games for the Macintosh.
comp.sys.mac.oop.macapp3 - Version 3 of the MacApp object oriented system.
comp.sys.mac.oop.powerplant - Metrowerks' PowerPlant (CodeWarrior) Framework.
comp.sys.mac.oop.tcl - Symantec's THINK Class Library for object programming.
comp.sys.mac.programmer.codewarrior - Macintosh programming using CodeWarrior.
comp.sys.mac.programmer.games - Macintosh game programming.
comp.sys.net-computer.advocacy - Relative merits of Network Computers.
comp.sys.next.advocacy - The NeXT religion.
comp.sys.next.bugs - Discussion and solutions for known NeXT bugs.
comp.sys.nsc.32k - National Semiconductor 32000 series chips.
comp.sys.proteon - Proteon gateway products.
comp.sys.psion.comm - Discussions about Psion communications.
comp.sys.psion.marketplace - Buy and sell Psion computers and accessories.
comp.sys.ridge - Ridge 32 computers and ROS.
comp.sys.sequent - Sequent systems, (Balance and Symmetry).
comp.sys.sgi.audio - Audio on SGI systems.
comp.sys.sgi.graphics - Graphics packages and issues on SGI machines.
comp.sys.tahoe - CCI 6/32, Harris HCX/7, & Sperry 7000 computers.
comp.text.desktop - Technology & techniques of desktop publishing.
comp.unix.advocacy - Arguments for and against Unix and Unix versions.
comp.unix.cde - The Common Desktop Environment.
comp.unix.large - UNIX on mainframes and in large networks.
comp.unix.machten - The MachTen operating system and related issues.
comp.unix.pc-clone.16bit - UNIX on 286 architectures.
comp.unix.pc-clone.32bit - UNIX on 386 and 486 architectures.
comp.unix.sys3 - System III UNIX discussions.
comp.unix.sys5.r3 - Discussing System V Release 3.
comp.unix.xenix.sco - XENIX versions from the Santa Cruz Operation.
comp.windows.garnet - The Garnet user interface development environment.
comp.windows.interviews - The InterViews object-oriented windowing system.
comp.windows.open-look - Discussion about the Open Look GUI.
comp.windows.suit - The SUIT user-interface toolkit.
comp.windows.ui-builders.teleuse - Using/augmenting the TeleUSE UI Builder.
comp.windows.x.i386unix - The XFree86 window system and others.
misc.forsale.computers.discussion - Discussions only about items for sale.
misc.forsale.computers.mac-specific.cards.video - Macintosh video cards.
misc.forsale.computers.mac-specific.portables - Portable Macintosh systems.
misc.forsale.computers.mac-specific.systems - Complete Macintosh systems.
misc.forsale.computers.monitors - Monitors and displays for sale and wanted.
misc.forsale.computers.other.systems - Complete other types of systems.
misc.forsale.computers.pc-specific.audio - PC audio equipment.
misc.forsale.computers.pc-specific.cards.video - PC video cards.
misc.forsale.computers.pc-specific.motherboards - PC motherboards.
misc.forsale.computers.printers - Printers and plotters for sale and wanted.
misc.industry.pulp-and-paper - Technical topics in the pulp and paper industry.
misc.jobs.offered.entry - Job listings only for entry-level positions.
news.admin.nocem - NoCeM protocol policy issues and information.
rec.arts.comics.elfquest - The Elfquest universe and characters.
rec.arts.sf.starwars.collecting.customizing - Customizing Star Wars toys.
rec.arts.sf.tv.quantum-leap - Quantum Leap TV, comics, cons, etc.
rec.autos.sport.rally - Any type of interest in any form of rally motorsport.
rec.crafts.dollhouses - Collecting and making of dollhouse miniatures.
rec.games.bolo - The networked strategy war game Bolo.
rec.games.computer.quake.editing - Editing and hacking Quake-related files.
rec.games.computer.quake.playing - Playing Quake and user-created levels.
rec.games.computer.quake.quake-c - Modifying Quake with Quake-C.
rec.games.frp.industry - Roleplaying industry & companies.
rec.games.frp.storyteller - World of Darkness and StoryTeller games.
rec.games.trading-cards.marketplace.magic.trades - Trading Magic cards.
rec.games.trading-cards.startrek - Star Trek Trading Card Games.
rec.games.video.cd-i - CD-i topics with emphasis on games.
rec.games.video.cd32 - Gaming talk, info and help for the Amiga CD32.
rec.games.xtank.play -Strategy and tactics for the distributed game Xtank.
rec.games.xtank.programmer - Coding the Xtank game and its robots.
rec.music.artists.ani-difranco - Ani Difranco, related topics.
rec.music.artists.danny-elfman - Composer Danny Elfman's music.
rec.music.artists.stevie-nicks - Singer/songwriter Stevie Nicks.
rec.music.artists.wallflowers - Music group The Wallflowers.
rec.music.iranian - Discussion of Iranian music.
rec.parks.theme - Entertainment theme parks.
rec.scouting.guide+girl - Guiding and girl scout organizations.
rec.sport.basketball.women - Women's basketball at all levels.
rec.sport.footbag - Discussion about the sport of footbag.
rec.sport.orienteering -  All matters related to the sport of orienteering.
rec.sport.skating.roller - Conventional (quad) roller skating.
rec.video.dvd.advocacy - DVD-Video pro/con arguments.
sci.aquaria - Only scientifically-oriented postings about aquaria.
sci.engr.coastal - Coastal and ocean engineering.
sci.engr.marine.hydrodynamics - Marine Hydrodynamics.
sci.med.occupational - Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) & job injury issues.
soc.adoption.parenting - Adoptive parenting by adoptive parents.
soc.college.teaching-asst - Issues affecting collegiate teaching assistants.
soc.support.depression.seasonal - Seasonal affective disorder.

A usenet account will be needed for accessing these groups.

Binary Retention Reaches 810 Days

January 20, 2011 | by

Our binary retention continues to climb into the stratosphere. We have zoomed past 800 days and are currently around 810 days and growing – that’s OVER 2 YEARS of articles. At a lowball average of 1.5 TB/day for the usenet feed, that means that our servers house an astounding 1.2 petabytes of data.

Gigantic warehouse in Raiders of the Lost Ark (a la usenet retention)

New Year’s Block Sale: 50% Off!

December 30, 2010 | by

We’re ringing in the New Year at NewsgroupDirect. We’re having a special limited-time 50%-off sale on all of our block usenet accounts. Take this opportunity to stock up on your block accounts at this greatly reduced rate. The sale runs from Dec. 30, 2010 until Jan. 5, 2011 at 11:59PM EST. Here is the complete pricing list for our blocks during the sale:

  • 10 GB – $2.50
  • 25 GB – $4.00
  • 50 GB – $7.50
  • 100 GB – $12.50
  • 200 GB – $20.00
  • 500 GB – $50.00

How To Purchase

New users can purchase a 50 GB block for $7.50. Once you’re a member you’ll be able to choose from the full assortment of block plans that we offer. Current customers can just login to our website and choose the Add Block option to purchase.

We wanted to thank all of our customers for a great year by giving you another shot at great savings. We look forward to a great 2011 with you!

50% Off

About NewsgroupDirect Block Accounts

Our block accounts are a simplified way to access usenet. There is no monthly subscription; you simply pay as you go. We offer a few different sizes for block accounts – the more you purchase the cheaper it is. Our blocks never expire, so you don’t have to worry about using your bandwidth or losing it.

Please Note: Existing coupons will not work during the sale. All block purchases will be made at the price listed on the website. Monthly subscription accounts will continue to bill as usual.

Black Friday Blowout – $8 Unlimited Usenet, Win an iPad!

November 24, 2010 | by

We’re pulling out all the stops this year for our Black Friday special. Each year we raise the bar, and this year we’ve outdone ourselves yet again. We’re selling our famous unlimited usenet accounts for $8/month (a 60% discount off our regular price)! That’s $8/month for life, not an introductory rate. Signup now at NewsgroupDirect.com/signup. You get all of the features of our unlimited accounts:

  • 30 GB of online storage through StorageNinja
  • 50 connections
  • SSL security
  • US and European servers
  • Free newsreader
  • Much more

Black FridayWe will also give away an Apple iPad to one new customer who signs up for the $8 unlimited plan.

The deal runs from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, so act quickly. Signup now at NewsgroupDirect.com/signup.

The Fine Print
Offer is available only to new customers. Current customers are not eligible for this sale price. There is no free trial available with this offer. Offer is available from 12AM November 26, 2010 until 12AM November 30, 2010. The iPad model is the 16 GB Wi-Fi version and will be shipped 4-6 weeks after contest end. iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc. iPad giveaway is available only for customers in the United States and Canada.

Usenet Goes Mobile

November 12, 2010 | by

Like most everything else now, usenet has gone mobile. There are various usenet mobile apps available depending on what type of mobile device you have. Mobile devices are usually only fast enough to handle text newsgroups at this point, so the functionality is still somewhat limited compared to your home computer, but it’s a start. Here are some of our favorite mobile usenet apps.

NewsTap – iPhone/iPad – $3.99

Newstap is the original mobile usenet app. For $3.99 you get the universal app, which works on both iPhone and iPad. There is also a Newstap Lite version for free.

PhoNews – iPhone – Free

PhoNews is a new iPhone usenet client. It has a very nice interface and a lot of potential for future development.

Mews – Windows Mobile – Free

Mews is a great looking alternative for Windows Mobile users. It’s freeware, so give it a try.

Rubasoft Nzb Mobile – Windows Mobile – $14.95

Nzb Mobile is a ssl-enabled, nzb-compatible reader for Windows Mobile. It’s pretty costly at $14.95, but it may be worth it if you need the features it provides.

Newzdroid – Android – Free

Similar to Nzb Mobile, Newzdroid offer nzb management for Android Users.

Do you have any other favorite mobile newsreaders? List them in the comments section.