From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android


PSA: What is the current state of Android Usenet nntp newsreaders?

Yes. I know. It's been asked a million times prior.
This is posted so that we can all have the latest updates together.
If I missed anything important (& I probably did), please add value.

In a separate thread, AJL asked about newsreaders, where, from my notes,
this is what I have, but others may have better information than I do.

There never really was a great mobile Usenet newsreader, but here is a reference list of what has existed on Android, along with the PiaHong
mod builds that some of us still use.

PLAY STORE LINKS (historical; many abandoned)

PhoNews
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=at.cmg.android.phonews
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cmgapps.android.phonewspro

Groundhog Reader
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.almarsoft.GroundhogReader

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

NNTPReader (Ken)
Demo: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ken.android.nntpreader
Pro: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ken.android.nntpreader.pro

Noasy Newsreader
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.noasy.newsreader

Usenet Reader (sinaapp)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=usenet.sinaapp.com

PIAHONG MOD BUILDS (M16 and M17)
These are the community-modified versions. M16 is generally preferred.
M17 adds an X-Face header option but changes behavior some people do not
want.
a. If you like the original colors, use the OC versions.
b. If you want different colors, use the MC versions.

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

Mod16 - Modified Colors
https://mega.nz/file/GAwnTAaI#CshrBLtSl2smdcmHiBD0wdj-V409CJyq9nJ7IpQ0ooY
Name: MC-ModNewsReader 2.02.M16.apk
Size: 3935119 bytes (3842 KiB)
SHA256: 010AAF7EFF0ABBE040E66BE0486F6D32936432EC16C8F2FB56717479C76F4CDA

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

Caveat:
PhoNews appears to break on Android 16 but still works on older devices. PiaHong appears to remain usable thanks to the modded builds above.
Most of the other apps are long abandoned but still installable (AFAIK).
--
Had I tested them recently, I would have written up a tutorial instead
since I'm a rare person who delights in edifying everyone around me.
--- Synchronet 3.21c-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Maria Sophia wrote:

PSA: What is the current state of Android Usenet nntp newsreaders?

Ignore this one, as I tried to cancel it, but failed, since I added a 2nd related newsgroup so as to get more newsreader help for the team.

Respond to this instead...

Newsgroups: comp.mobile.android,news.software.readers
Subject: PSA: What is the current state of Android Usenet nntp newsreaders?
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:40:56 -0600
Message-ID: <10nnj88$1g23$[email protected]>
--- Synchronet 3.21c-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Dave Royal wrote:

*Piaohong*

Thanks for that correction. I always appreciate a fix to my work, since
we're all working together, as a Usenet team, for the benefit of everyone.

Just so folks know, in my "reference thread" on the subject on XDA
developers (originally posted on Oct 8, 2023), I had spelled it correctly,
and it's correct in my notes (which date from the same time period).

*A list of Android Usenet newsreaders*
*and how to search & reference NNTP DejaNews/Google web archives*
*for comp.mobile.android newsgroup topics in one tap*
<http://xdaforums.com/t/a-list-of-android-usenet-newsreaders-how-to-search-reference-nntp-dejanews-google-web-archives-for-comp-mobile-android-newsgroup-topics-in-one-tap.4634973>

But, apparently my spellchecker pipe got the best of me this time.
So I greatly appreciate the correction so we don't lead others astray.

As an aside, since that thread contained Usenet web-searchable archives
which work sans needing an account on an NNTP server, many are defunct.
<https://tinyurl.com/pug-comp-mobile-android>
<https://i2pn2.pugleaf.net/groups/comp.mobile.android>
<https://newsgrouper.org/comp.mobile.android>
<https://comp.mobile.android.narkive.com/>
<https://tinyurl.com/comp-mobile-android>
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/comp.mobile.android
<https://groups.google.com/g/comp.mobile.android>
<https://www.novabbs.com/tech/thread.php?group=comp.mobile.android>
etc.
--
Some people are so helpful, good, so detailed, so technically competent,
that almost everything they write, becomes a great reference for others.
--- Synchronet 3.21c-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

MummyChunk wrote:

Also, it may be worth linking to an "index thread" for people
who land on this later. There's an XDA thread that's basically a
living reference list of Android Usenet newsreaders and related
searching tips, and it's newer than most of the usual
"asked a million times" answers.

Do you mean this helpful canonical thread from Oct 8, 2023?

*A list of Android Usenet newsreaders*
* & how to search & reference NNTP DejaNews/Google web archives*
*for comp.mobile.android newsgroup topics in one tap*

<http://xdaforums.com/t/a-list-of-android-usenet-newsreaders-how-to-search-reference-nntp-dejanews-google-web-archives-for-comp-mobile-android-newsgroup-topics-in-one-tap.4634973>
--
Some people are so helpful, good, so detailed, so technically competent,
that almost everything they write, becomes a great reference for others.
--- Synchronet 3.21c-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

If you have a tablet you can install Termux, then install Emacs and use
Gnus. This also works on Amazon tablets. But you'll need to know the keystrokes. You can do this on the phone too if you have small fingers.

Maybe other terminal based options are there, e.g. slrn?
--- Synchronet 3.21c-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Richmond <[email protected]> writes:

If you have a tablet you can install Termux, then install Emacs and use
Gnus. This also works on Amazon tablets. But you'll need to know the keystrokes. You can do this on the phone too if you have small fingers.

As I understand it, Termux can no longer work, let alone any other app
using external binaries, starting since Android 10 or whenever target
API greater than 28 is required. Or was that solved somehow?

I used to use a similar if simpler terminal thing called sshelper but
the dev pulled the plug on that, stating this as a reason.

OTOH, there's a native port of Emacs available now (from F-Droid) so
Gnus is a possibility there. I haven't tried it though.
--- Synchronet 3.21c-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Anssi Saari <[email protected]> writes:

Richmond <[email protected]> writes:

If you have a tablet you can install Termux, then install Emacs and
use Gnus. This also works on Amazon tablets. But you'll need to know
the keystrokes. You can do this on the phone too if you have small
fingers.

As I understand it, Termux can no longer work, let alone any other app
using external binaries, starting since Android 10 or whenever target
API greater than 28 is required. Or was that solved somehow?

I used to use a similar if simpler terminal thing called sshelper but
the dev pulled the plug on that, stating this as a reason.

OTOH, there's a native port of Emacs available now (from F-Droid) so
Gnus is a possibility there. I haven't tried it though.

It is working currently on my Amazon tablet, but that is FireOS which is
based on Android 11. I installed it from F-droid I think.
--- Synchronet 3.21c-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Richmond <[email protected]> writes:

It is working currently on my Amazon tablet, but that is FireOS which is based on Android 11. I installed it from F-droid I think.

OK, thanks. I installed Emacs on my phone but, well, it's Emacs and
pretty hard to use on a phone's touch screen. But then I thought of
Samsung's DeX and plugged in my 32" display. Unfortunately Emacs didn't
seem to scale its UI, fonts and the toolbar were huge. Other than that,
DeX was great, I had no idea. It really turns a phone into a desktop but
then I only tried Brave and settings.
--- Synchronet 3.21c-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Anssi Saari <[email protected]> writes:

Richmond <[email protected]> writes:

It is working currently on my Amazon tablet, but that is FireOS which
is based on Android 11. I installed it from F-droid I think.

OK, thanks. I installed Emacs on my phone but, well, it's Emacs and
pretty hard to use on a phone's touch screen. But then I thought of
Samsung's DeX and plugged in my 32" display. Unfortunately Emacs
didn't seem to scale its UI, fonts and the toolbar were huge. Other
than that, DeX was great, I had no idea. It really turns a phone into
a desktop but then I only tried Brave and settings.

Having started gnus from the command line with:

emacs -f gnus

I find I can select a group and select a message with the touch screen,
so it's not as bad as one might think. Also touch the message window
then drag up and down to scroll it. I expect these are functions of
Termux.

If I had the patience I would set up the necessary key bindings to make
it easier.
--- Synchronet 3.21c-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Richmond <[email protected]> wrote:

If you have a tablet you can install Termux, then install Emacs and use
Gnus. This also works on Amazon tablets. But you'll need to know the keystrokes. You can do this on the phone too if you have small fingers.

Maybe other terminal based options are there, e.g. slrn?

Other CUI (Character/'Console' UI) newsreader options (for use 'on'
Termux) are trn and, my favourite, The Ideal Newsreader :-) 'tin'.

FWIW, I don't bother using Usenet/NetNews on a smartphone/tablet, but
others do, so it's good to have options, especially having a non-broken newsreader like the ones mentioned above.

As my 'User-Agent:' shows, one can run good software on a 'bad' OS, so
no reason why one can't do the same on Android! :-)
--- Synchronet 3.21c-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Arno Welzel wrote:

Termux works just fine here with Android 16 and it is also still offered
on Google Play but also on F-Droid:

<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.termux> <https://f-droid.org/packages/com.termux/>

It's kind of an aside, but last we discussed Termux at length it turned out that even the developers openly deprecated the Termux on Google Play Store
as I recall. I'd have to dig it up again, but just be careful with it.

OK. I ran a quick search...

Since Google Play Termux builds are frozen at v0.101, they point to old, incompatible repositories. Modern Termux (from GitHub or F-Droid) uses packages.termux.dev, which contains:
updated packages
security fixes
compatibility with Android 10�V14
current Termux tooling

If we use the Play Store version, our APT repo is outdated & may break.
The only "correct" Termux, nowadays, is apparently either the F-Droid:
<https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.termux/>
Or the GitHub Releases which are usually released before F-Droid is.
<https://github.com/termux/termux-app/releases>
--
Usenet allows purposefully helpful people to pool their experiences.
--- Synchronet 3.21c-Linux NewsLink 1.2