From Newsgroup: news.software.readers


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 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: news.software.readers


*Piaohong*
--
Remove numerics from my email address.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: news.software.readers

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 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: news.software.readers

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 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: news.software.readers

On 25/02/2026 20:42, Dave Royal wrote:

*Piaohong*

Are you still using Alfio's version?
--
Jeff
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: news.software.readers

Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> Wrote in message:

On 25/02/2026 20:42, Dave Royal wrote:

*Piaohong*

Are you still using Alfio's version?

Yes. This is a slightly modified version of Alfio's M17OC on an
Android 13 tablet.
--
Remove numerics from my email address.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2