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Alt.binz is a powerful freeware "binary newsreader", for downloading and managing articles from Usenet. Checking the downloaded files, auto unpausing missing PAR2 blocks, repairing, and finally unraring them, are a few options in this utility.

Currently it appears the program development has been discontinued.

Confusingly named, a "binary newsreader" is not actually a true news reader, which is a software application or web service designed for reading usenet text posts. Instead, a binary "newsreader" is a specialized application for downloading multi-part binary file attachments posted to usenet. To avoid confusion, many users prefer to call such an appliation a "binary grabber", "binary leecher" or "binary downloader". Although traditional newsreaders may support binary attachments, they generally have difficulty handling the large, multi-part attachments that are increasingly becoming more common as more and more DVDs are posted to usenet, although there are clients which are capable of doing everything effectively, but with steeper learning curve.

Various usenet search engines fully supported, browsing groups, searching for files and importing them for download, has never been easier.

Features

Various usenet search engines fully supported.

*Containing NewzLeech, Binsearch, beta.binaries.nl, NZBIndex, Yabse, Super Search and TvNZB.

Auto PAR & RAR

*After downloading , alt.binz downloads the needed par2 files ( if nescesary ) and repairs the files and finally it will unrar the files for you.

Full NZB file support.

*Allows you to import NZB files into alt.binz Download Queue

Powerful scheduler.

*Allows you to easily manage when to start your downloads, and with what speed.

Full XPAT-server side search support.

Multi-server support.

*Adding several news servers, gives you the option of downloading from multiple servers in the same session.

Detailed log.

*Gives you a detailed overview of started and finished downloads

Collapse / Expand batches of files.

*Allows you to collapse or expand batches of files you are downloading so you have a clear overview.

Customizable user interface.

*Gives you the option to ex. add/remove tabs from the tab pane, or show/hide panels from the statusbar.

Works on Linux.

*With WINE you are able to use alt.binz on a linux machine.

Encrypted communication via SSL

*Secure downloading via news servers that support SSL.

Can be run "standalone" from folder without "installing" on Windows

*No-install version available, which can be run entirely from portable USB flash drive. Alt.binz does not require writing to the Windows Registry.

What Alt.Binz does not do:

No Header support:

Traditionally, binary newsreaders have allowed users to fetch and browse headers, which are the subject headings of posts. Since the advent of the NZB file and the growing popularity of NZB indexing websites, several recently developed binary newsreaders - including Alt.Binz - have omitted header support.

No Posting

Alt.Binz does not support posting text or binary attachments

No viewing of message bodies

Many single-part binary posts (such as MP3s) often contain additional information in the post body, and alt.binz does not allow the user the ability to read posts.


Alt.Binz is best suited for downloading large multi-part files posted on usenet. Examples would include large video files such as HDTV television shows and movies ripped from DVDs.

Traditional newsreaders are arguably more suitable for browsing and downloading MP3s posted to the alt.binaries newsgroups. This is because many MP3 posters submit text information in the message body, such as listing the contents of the MP3's ID3 tag.

Users of Alt.binz (and other binary newsreaders) would not be able to read this information in the message body. For instance, an Alt.binz user wanting to select and download only high-bitrate MP3s would therefore have to rely on this information being contained in the message's subject line - if it exists at all - or downloading the file blind.


Legal implications

Because Alt.binz taps into the databases of several NZB search engines without the site owner's authorization or permission, this could potentially be considered an unlawful infringement or theft of service. Alt.binz is currently available for download free of charge while the software is in its beta-testing phase, but this search engine leeching issue may complicate plans to turn the application into commercial software.


From other side if to look at the matter realistically there are no legal issues since those sites mainly operate as advertising portals to lure users to use certain usenet providers in exchange for commission and they are not really big guys who would sue, so no real legal actions are likely. But because usenet searching sites are small the real problem is old sites disappear or stop indexing properly or new sites appear and given it is a free utility with lack of support lately incorporating those new usenet search sites or addressing changing the format that old sites could resort to for various reasons might not have place.

External links

Alt.Binz website: http://www.altbinz.com/