Is there a usable Android newsreader?
I used to use Groundhog, but that one hasn't been maintained for a few
years (and the apk can be installed but doesn't play well with my
current Android phone).
I also have PhoNews, but not only is that one incredibly slow, it also
keeps forgetting I paid for the full version.

On 2024-01-15, kyonshi <gmkeros@gmail.com> wrote:
> Is there a usable Android newsreader?

Well... There's slrn (you can compile the source code for termux
--from F-Droid-- under Android, requiring only a few minor
changes (this is described on the web, somewhere).

On 1/15/2024 9:04 PM, De ongekruisigde wrote:
> On 2024-01-15, kyonshi <gmkeros@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Is there a usable Android newsreader?
>
> Well... There's slrn (you can compile the source code for termux
> --from F-Droid-- under Android, requiring only a few minor
> changes (this is described on the web, somewhere).
>

hummmm... I tried tin via connectbot already (via my rpi), but that was
rather demanding. I am gonna check if slrn works better like that.

On Mon, 15 Jan 2024 20:44:54 +0100, kyonshi <gmkeros@gmail.com> wrote:
>Is there a usable Android newsreader?
>I used to use Groundhog, but that one hasn't been maintained for a few
>years (and the apk can be installed but doesn't play well with my
>current Android phone).
>I also have PhoNews, but not only is that one incredibly slow, it also
>keeps forgetting I paid for the full version.

although there are dozens of free news servers (such as those listed with
links here https://sybershock.com/#usenet) and great freeware newsreaders
(e.g. 40tude dialog), seems like the rocksolid format is becoming popular
in consideration of google groups imminent demise, because it runs in any
web browser and is tor-friendly, user-friendly, and it works really great
https://news.novabbs.org/computers/thread.php?group=news.software.readers

(using Tor Browser 13.0.8)
https://gitlab.com/rslight-public/rocksolid-light
>rocksolid-light
>Project information
>Rocksolid Light is a web based forum using nntp as a backend. It may be run
>as a standalone server, or may synchronize with other nntp servers and other
>instances of Rocksolid Light.
>Name Last commit Last update
>Rocksolid_Light Fix bug in search relating to group 1 week ago
> names with special characters.
>INSTALL.md Add upgrade information for 0.9.0. 4 months ago
>LICENSE.md Fix copywrite date in license.md. 4 months ago
>README.md Bring README a bit up to date. 4 months ago
>README.md
>Rocksolid Light (rslight) - a web based Usenet news client
>Visit https://www.novabbs.com to try Rocksolid Light
>Rocksolid Light is based on NewsPortal, which discontinued development in 2008,
>and was developed by Florian Amrhein https://florian-amrhein.de/newsportal/
>rslight contains some major code and feature changes, but would not exist
>without NewsPortal as a basis for development.
>Rocksolid Light is a php web forum interface that basically uses nntp as a
>backend. Forums can be Usenet newsgroups, or any groups you wish to create.
>Forums can be synchronized with other rslight installs, or other nntp servers.
> *Uses sqlite3 database. No configuration required
> *Does not require Javascript
> *Built in nntp server
> *Synchronize with inn or another rslight site, or run standalone
> *Read and post using a news client
> *SSL encryption
> *Tested with Claws Mail, Thunderbird, Knews, tin, Pan and some others
> *NoCeM and Spamassassin support
> *Message expiration by site or by group
> *Send/Receive mail to/from users at other Rocksolid Light sites
> *Search article bodies
> *Display body snippet in overboard and search results
> *Email authentication if enabled
> *Protect poster email addresses if enabled
> *Interface works reasonably well on small devices
> *Colors in CSS are in a separate file for easy testing and modification
> *Groups can be renamed for cleaner display
> *Configuration options may be set for each individual 'section'
>See INSTALL.md for installation instructions.
>If you have trouble, post to rocksolid.nodes.help (www.novabbs.com) and
>we'll try to help.
>Retro Guy retroguy@novabbs.com
[end quote]

e.g. (using Tor Browser 13.0.8) . . .
https://news.novabbs.org/common/connect.php
>Clearnet Newsreader Access:
>Approximately 42,000 Usenet text groups
>Create an account on www.i2pn2.org (it's free)
>Direct your news client to: news.i2pn2.org:119 or 563
>Using i2p or Tor?
>Create an account on:
>rslight.i2p
>or
>fev4bgoasgxttqb3x3tukxxia6lwryteq6a2ramqb2gjiol3zbu6xaid.onion
>Connect your news client here:
>v77lu6t26velvaddm4gibyzd5sogskuczp7vwoc4vxmukvvaucva.b32.i2p
>or
>tk4pwu574u4zrndofwx7dtlh2g2swauhtfblyrbhzxypznomgxxhgqyd.onion:119
[end quoted excerpt]

https://www.i2pn2.org/common/grouplist.php
>List of Groups containing messages
>(total groups 42790)
>...
page shows 10,671 newsgroups containing at least one or more messages,
leaving about 42790 - 10671 = 32119 newsgroups containing no messages,
so about 75% - three out of four - of these newsgroups not being used

On Mon, 15 Jan 2024 20:44:54 +0100, kyonshi wrote:

> Is there a usable Android newsreader?
> I used to use Groundhog, but that one hasn't been maintained for a few
> years (and the apk can be installed but doesn't play well with my
> current Android phone).
> I also have PhoNews, but not only is that one incredibly slow, it also
> keeps forgetting I paid for the full version.

On Android, I use PiaoHong's NewsGroup Reader

<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.piaohong.newsgroup>

It is OK for reading.

It is OK for posting original posts (not replies).

But when replying to a post, the current version screws up the quoted
text by removing all line-breaks from the quoted text. (One's own new
text is OK.)

See this subthread of the thread "Newsgroup cl;ient for Android" in
the newsgroup comp.mobile.android:
* NovaBBS: <https://www.novabbs.com/computers/article-flat.php?id=45759&group=comp.mobile.android#45759>
* Google Groups: <https://groups.google.com/g/comp.mobile.android/c/-d_L12-cC-Q/m/doWficEbBAAJ>

FYI - other Android newsreaders which I have not tried:

* Usenet Reader for Android DEMO <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ken.android.nntpreader>
* Usenet Reader for Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ken.android.nntpreader.pro>

--
Kind regards
Ralph Fox
🦊

You cannot make velvet of a sows ear.

kyonshi submitted this idea :
> Is there a usable Android newsreader?

<https://mega.nz/file/aJpFRI4Z#UjkHkl90feawI1_EFOd4eEkautnQPWFSwmqW7NUW2jA>

--
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............ [ al lavoro ] ...........

On Mon, 15 Jan 2024 20:44:54 +0100, kyonshi wrote:

> Is there a usable Android newsreader?

For the last couple of days I've been testing a modded version of PiaoHong
- the one linked to this morning by Ammammata, and another one without ads
which I'm going to use.

You can read my comments in this thread in it.tlc.cellulari.android:
<https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/ntEtNepA/modded-newsreader-
apk-by-piaohong-download>

I suggest if reposting links those versions you credit it to 'alfio' or
'P/ero' on that Italian newsgroup.
--
(Remove any numerics from my email address.)

Dave Royal <dave@dave123royal.com> Wrote in message:
> On Mon, 15 Jan 2024 20:44:54 +0100, kyonshi wrote:
>
>> Is there a usable Android newsreader?
>
> For the last couple of days I've been testing a modded version of PiaoHong
> - the one linked to this morning by Ammammata, and another one without ads
> which I'm going to use.
>
> You can read my comments in this thread in it.tlc.cellulari.android:
> <https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/ntEtNepA/modded-newsreader-
> apk-by-piaohong-download>
>
> I suggest if reposting links those versions you credit it to 'alfio' or
> 'P/ero' on that Italian newsgroup.

Some of the posts in that Italian ng thread, including one
containing permanent d/l links, appear to have gone.

I'm now using the version 'Mod M10' by 'alfio' which is the d/l
provided by Ammammata in /this/ thread.

It has bugs, but it fixes the screwed-up quoting of the playstore
app. I summarise the bugs in my comments (EN) in the Italian
thread.
--
Remove numerics from my email address.

On 2024-01-16, Dave Royal <dave@dave123royal.com> wrote:
> On Mon, 15 Jan 2024 20:44:54 +0100, kyonshi wrote:
>
>> Is there a usable Android newsreader?
>
> For the last couple of days I've been testing a modded version of PiaoHong
> - the one linked to this morning by Ammammata, and another one without ads
> which I'm going to use.
>
> You can read my comments in this thread in it.tlc.cellulari.android:
><https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/ntEtNepA/modded-newsreader-
> apk-by-piaohong-download>
>
> I suggest if reposting links those versions you credit it to 'alfio' or
> 'P/ero' on that Italian newsgroup.

IDK why no one created a libre/free newsreader for Android under FDroid,
writting an NNTP client is not difficult task if you already wrote
a mail client.

On Sat, 20 Jan 2024 23:57:09 -0000 (UTC)
Bozo User <anthk@disroot.org> wrote:

> On 2024-01-16, Dave Royal <dave@dave123royal.com> wrote:
> > On Mon, 15 Jan 2024 20:44:54 +0100, kyonshi wrote:
> >
> >> Is there a usable Android newsreader?
> >
> > For the last couple of days I've been testing a modded version of PiaoHong
> > - the one linked to this morning by Ammammata, and another one without ads
> > which I'm going to use.
> >
> > You can read my comments in this thread in it.tlc.cellulari.android:
> ><https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/ntEtNepA/modded-newsreader-
> > apk-by-piaohong-download>
> >
> > I suggest if reposting links those versions you credit it to 'alfio' or
> > 'P/ero' on that Italian newsgroup.
>
> IDK why no one created a libre/free newsreader for Android under FDroid,
> writting an NNTP client is not difficult task if you already wrote
> a mail client.

Go for it.

--
Bah, and indeed Humbug.

Dave Royal <dave@dave123royal.com> Wrote in message:
>
> For the last couple of days I've been testing a modded version of PiaoHong
> - the one linked to this morning by Ammammata, and another one without ads
> which I'm going to use.
>
> You can read my comments in this thread in it.tlc.cellulari.android:
> <https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/ntEtNepA/modded-newsreader-
> apk-by-piaohong-download>
>
> I suggest if reposting links those versions you credit it to 'alfio' or
> 'P/ero' on that Italian newsgroup.

Alfio has produced a new version M11 of his modded version of
PiaiHong newsreader:
<https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/Q64EXrJy/piaohong-news-reader-mod-11>

This fixes bugs in M10. It's a new app from Android's viewpoint so
you should delete M10 or the original. It doesn't work on Android
14. It's based on the 1.65 free version of PH Newsreader.
--
Remove numerics from my email address.

On 1/21/2024 12:57 AM, Bozo User wrote:
> On 2024-01-16, Dave Royal <dave@dave123royal.com> wrote:
>> On Mon, 15 Jan 2024 20:44:54 +0100, kyonshi wrote:
>>
>>> Is there a usable Android newsreader?
>>
>> For the last couple of days I've been testing a modded version of PiaoHong
>> - the one linked to this morning by Ammammata, and another one without ads
>> which I'm going to use.
>>
>> You can read my comments in this thread in it.tlc.cellulari.android:
>> <https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/ntEtNepA/modded-newsreader-
>> apk-by-piaohong-download>
>>
>> I suggest if reposting links those versions you credit it to 'alfio' or
>> 'P/ero' on that Italian newsgroup.
>
> IDK why no one created a libre/free newsreader for Android under FDroid,
> writting an NNTP client is not difficult task if you already wrote
> a mail client.

because nobody seems to care.

I think at one point there was at least one on there, but now it can't
be found anymore. But I seem to remember using one I got from FDroid on
one of my older phones.

kyonshi presented the following explanation :
> Is there a usable Android newsreader?

Update: ask google to translate ;)

non mi andava di lasciare i possessori di Android 14 senza la mia Mod.
:-)))
quindi mi sono messo di impegno e questo e' il risultato:
https://mega.nz/file/iVYSlRKD#kSeQuOLfmAqocp_6MkWWDxoE3MN1S17pwQ2WSRrss4M

si tratta dell'ultima versione rilasciata da PiaoHong, la 2.02, in cui
ho apportato tutte le modifiche fatte in questi anni alla precedente
1.65.
non credo che sia esente da bug, provatela e fatemi sapere.

purtroppo nonostante il nome di questa mod sia diverso dall'originale,
non si possono installare insieme, si ottiene questo avviso:
https://i.postimg.cc/05wPh4hm/Screenshot-2024-01-23-22-38-24-511-com-miui-packageinstaller.jpg
qualunque cosa Google intenda con "servizi", si lamenta che vede lo
stesso identificativo in applicazioni diverse.

se invece aggiornate la M11, non ci sono problemi.

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Ammammata explained on 24/01/2024 :
> non credo che sia esente da bug, provatela e fatemi sapere

e uno lo avete gia' trovato! :-)))

ecco la correzione:
https://mega.nz/file/3cpgyCiR#xtmcG09dvt3E0oqlk4awBz7VbrNUpfJ9Y1qXM4Jec0o

il link precedente non e' piu' valido.

maybe further updates will follow

--
/-\ /\/\ /\/\ /-\ /\/\ /\/\ /-\ T /-\
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............ [ al lavoro ] ...........

kyonshi wrote:

> Is there a usable Android newsreader?

Is WINE a possibility?
https://wiki.winehq.org/Android

This would add more choices of newsreaders to the mix, if so.

--
dee

The latest version of mod.piaohong.M12 by 'alfio' (24-1-24 11.14)
is here:
<https://mega.nz/file/OEBjAK4A#-RfkwmqsrONXnL84PeiV74F1R8LHutjIeAAH8tnlFBQ>

The Italian thread about it is here:
<https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/8YZTRkpt/piaohong-newsreader-mod-12>

It fixes the quoting fault of the official app but, unlike the VIP
version, it has google ads.
--
Remove numerics from my email address.

Dave Royal <dave@dave123royal.com> Wrote in message:

> The latest version of mod.piaohong.M12 by 'alfio' (24-1-24 11.14)
> is here:
> <https://mega.nz/file/OEBjAK4A#-RfkwmqsrONXnL84PeiV74F1R8LHutjIeAAH8tnlFBQ>
>
> The Italian thread about it is here:
> <https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/8YZTRkpt/piaohong-newsreader-mod-12>
>
> It fixes the quoting fault of the official app but, unlike the VIP
> version, it has google ads.

Version M14
- displays x-posted groups and has (limited) ability to change
them when replying.
- creates a thread from a reply if it doesn't have the replied to
post (i.e threads that start Re:.xxxxxxxxx)

It's here:
<https://mega.nz/file/fFRE1Dob#-2zDfsB2XJvckN2ZZ1dJUk1GVwEEC1xrsj5aTnIbi0I>

The Italian thread about it is here:
<https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/Qzv1uCma/piaohong-newsreader-mod-14>

(It has google ads.)
--
Remove numerics from my email address.

Mod 15 fixes a major bug and adds the option to not hide quotes.

<https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/YWALr2Gj/piaohong-newsreader-mod-15>
--
Remove numerics from my email address.

Mod 16 adds a simple filter on the Newsgroups header, so you can
filter out posts x-posted to a specified group.

There is a version with different colours.

<https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/hfxpyFVL/nreader-mod16-quando-un-link-per-il-download>
--
Remove numerics from my email address.

On 2/24/2024 9:04 AM, Dave Royal wrote:
> Mod 16 adds a simple filter on the Newsgroups header, so you can
> filter out posts x-posted to a specified group.
>
> There is a version with different colours.
>
> <https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/hfxpyFVL/nreader-mod16-quando-un-link-per-il-download>

oh wow, so many versions so soon after one another. Will have to check
this out.

Dave Royal <dave@dave123royal.com> Wrote in message:

> Mod 16 adds a simple filter on the Newsgroups header, so you can
> filter out posts x-posted to a specified group.
>
> There is a version with different colours.
>
> <https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/hfxpyFVL/nreader-mod16-quando-un-link-per-il-download>

And Mod 17 a few weeks ago added:
- the option to _not_ display replies to posts where the
replied-to post had not been downloaded in that newsgroup (e.g.
the reply was x-posted from another ng)
- the ability to add simple customised headers

You'll find it if you look down the threads here:
<https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/>
--
Remove numerics from my email address.

On 3/24/2024 8:41 AM, Dave Royal wrote:
> Dave Royal <dave@dave123royal.com> Wrote in message:
>
>> Mod 16 adds a simple filter on the Newsgroups header, so you can
>> filter out posts x-posted to a specified group.
>>
>> There is a version with different colours.
>>
>> <https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/hfxpyFVL/nreader-mod16-quando-un-link-per-il-download>
>
> And Mod 17 a few weeks ago added:
> - the option to _not_ display replies to posts where the
> replied-to post had not been downloaded in that newsgroup (e.g.
> the reply was x-posted from another ng)
> - the ability to add simple customised headers
>
> You'll find it if you look down the threads here:
> <https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/>

How is that actually, that's just a modded version of the newsreader,
isn't it? I remember trying that particular reader before but not liking
it.

Dave Royal wrote on Sun, 24 Mar 2024 07:41:41 +0000 (GMT) :

> And Mod 17 a few weeks ago added:
> - the option to _not_ display replies to posts where the
> replied-to post had not been downloaded in that newsgroup (e.g.
> the reply was x-posted from another ng)
> - the ability to add simple customised headers
>
> You'll find it if you look down the threads here:
> <https://it.tlc.cellulari.android.narkive.com/>

Is it just me, or is the mod17 "ModColor" APK download link broken?
OriginalColor:
https://mega.nz/file/uYJSwBJD#3Ya4p0HpSczyt95c_MnXjyBXYqP5J_Phkz0gZ9RbkCI
Name: OC-ModNewsReader 2.02.M17.apk
Size: 3926860 bytes (3834 KiB)
SHA256: BB05B9FD454AD8D38047484FEA338DE9FDAB056F56B66D39C114162A53883815

ModColor:
https://mega.nz/file/CIhiFKDT#H4FvPyZ_SIWKitPvaUxjKstjNmg
The download attempt resulted in an error of an invalid decryption key.

Please see details in this recent Android thread.
<https://www.novabbs.com/computers/article-flat.php?id=51238&group=comp.mobile.android#51238>

To update this thread, it was my mistake (in my previous errant post)
that I didn't notice that the Google Translate from Italian to English
of the Narchive for this thread broke the URI (with a linefeed).

So there was nothing wrong with the URI.
The problem was the archive/translate broke the URI into two pieces.
And I made the mistake of not noticing that (which I should have).

Mea culpa.
I apologize.

Moving forward, based on a recent clarification from both Taf & Dave Royal
in the comp.mobile.android thread, this appears to be the proper M17 URI.

Mod17 Original Colors by Alfie.
<https://mega.nz/file/uYJSwBJD#3Ya4p0HpSczyt95c_MnXjyBXYqP5J_Phkz0gZ9RbkCI>
Name: OC-ModNewsReader 2.02.M17.apk
Size: 3926860 bytes (3834 KiB)
SHA256: BB05B9FD454AD8D38047484FEA338DE9FDAB056F56B66D39C114162A53883815

Mod17 Modified Colors by Alfie.
<https://mega.nz/file/CIhiFKDT#H4FvPyZ_SIWKitPvaUxjKstjNmgPJhyMqwZxI4VkWVE>
Name: MC-ModNewsReader 2.02.M17.apk
Size: 3935052 bytes (3842 KiB)
SHA256: DA8C8DF91DFAA68047F58A3339B6D5B91857185623CB7F386B74F9DFE84D5B03

This is an archive link to that clarification by Taf & Dave Royal.
<https://cmacleod.me.uk/ng/news.software.readers/35868#unread>
<https://www.novabbs.com/computers/article-flat.php?id=2458&group=news.software.readers#2458>
<https://news.software.readers.narkive.com/acw6wpT3/android-usenet-news-newsreader>

The summary, for anyone reading this long convoluted thread, appears to be:
> From Dave Royal
> Ignore everything before M16.

Where the description of M16 OC appears to be this, also from Dave Royal.
> This [Mod16] solves the main problem with
> the PiaoHong newsreader - screwed-up quoting. Also the
> less-obvious design fault that it ignored replies if it didn't
> have the replied-to post. It also reports x-posts, which is
> important IMO.

The location of that M16 with original colors is this link from Alfie.
Mod16 Original Colors
<https://mega.nz/file/DdQyVBgY#jq7uq7r4e8waidolLyvLgD_G_Rc82_FURYxaak7NUCI>
Name: OC-ModNewsReader 2.02.M16.apk
Size: 3922831 bytes (3830 KiB)
SHA256: 97B27E062306C9D6FEA9FC6EA49FEA7D920FF7C0CB05AAFBBEB9C96758A68C97

Where the description of M16 MC appears to be this, also from Dave Royal.
> The OC (original colours) version of M16 works adequately - not
> perfectly - for me on an Android 13 tablet, and better than the
> paid-for (VIP) version which I used for years. The colour version
> is preferred by some on the Italian newsgroup - for phones I
> think.

The location of that M16 with modified colors is this link from Alfie.
Mod16 Modified Colors
<https://mega.nz/file/GAwnTAaI#CshrBLtSl2smdcmHiBD0wdj-V409CJyq9nJ7IpQ0ooY>
Name: MC-ModNewsReader 2.02.M16.apk
Size: 3935119 bytes (3842 KiB)
SHA256: 010AAF7EFF0ABBE040E66BE0486F6D32936432EC16C8F2FB56717479C76F4CDA

The description of how M17 differs from M16 by Dave Royal is this.
> If you prefer the old behaviour whereby replies to missing
> replied-to posts are ignored - which can lead to multiple threads
> starting Re: and doesn't play well with filtering - then you can
> revert that in M17. Also if you want to use odd headers, like
> x-face. I haven't used M17.

I'm updating this thread so that Dave doesn't have to, given he said:
> I will report on any future changes in the earlier thread I
> referred to in news.software.readers.

For reference for others, so they don't have to search for that thread as I
did, especially given newsreader retention sucks on the servers I use, is:

From: kyonshi <gmkeros@gmail.com>
Newsgroups: news.software.readers
Subject: Newsreader for Android
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2024 20:44:54 +0100
Message-ID: <uo41vk$124mn$2@dont-email.me>

<https://www.novabbs.com/computers/article-flat.php?id=1825&group=news.software.readers#1825>
<https://news.software.readers.narkive.com/9N1ys3VT/newsreader-for-android>
<https://cmacleod.me.uk/ng/news.software.readers/35512>