NewsLeecher is a Newsgroup client that allows you to download binary files. Newsgroups servers is the way to go when you need to download big files at fast speeds and NewsLeecher makes that process a lot simpler. The application is divided into tabs for easier access. The first tab that you will see is the Manager tab, where all your newsgroup servers will be stored. To really use this application you need a newsgroup server and there are many providers that offer cheap alternatives out there. I personally haven't a free one, but was able to get my hands on a free trial to test this application. So, when you add the server to your list, you can fetch all the Groups, which read something like "alt.binaries.boneless," etc. Then you are ready to start downloading. All you need to do is get an NZB file online and that will allow you to download the actual binary files off the groups. The user interface is really not easy to use. I had to do some research in order to figure the application out. But I guess that people who are more used to newsgroups will not have much of a problem adjusting to this application. Once you are downloading, you are given a little, neat graphic that shows your speed and you can check the progress of your downloads in the queue tab.
v5.0 [Jan 17, 2011]
-The graphical user interface in NewsLeecher has been changed quite a bit, to make the application more streamlined.
- Implemented an xmas theme for NewsLeecher. The animated snow, that is part of the theme, can be turned off via this setting:
Settings -> Adv. Nerdy Tweaks -> GUI Theme Animations Allowed
--This, and future themes, can be turned off complete from:
Settings -> Adv. Nerdy Tweaks -> GUI Theme Allowed
--The Repair & Extract Destination Manager can now also match PAR2 set names against group names, to decide the destination folder for extracted archives.
- Implemented a GUI compact mode feature, that, when enabled, will resize some of the toolbars in NewsLeecher, so they take up less space on screen. Can be accessed via settings:
Settings -> Adv. Nerdy Tweaks -> GUI Compact Mode
--Vastly reduced the CPU cycles used by NewsLeecher, when lots of sets were present in the Repair & Extract view.
