Now at the top of the page when one opens Google Groups:

"Effective February 15, 2024, Google Groups will no longer support new Usenet content. Posting and subscribing will be disallowed, and new content from Usenet peers will not appear. Viewing and searching of historical data will still be supported as it is done today."

:-(

On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 2:51:17 AM UTC, Futbolmetrix wrote:
> Now at the top of the page when one opens Google Groups:
>
> "Effective February 15, 2024, Google Groups will no longer support new Usenet content. Posting and subscribing will be disallowed, and new content from Usenet peers will not appear. Viewing and searching of historical data will still be supported as it is done today."
>
> :-(

I'm not sure I understand what that means. Does it mean that nothing posted from newsreaders will show up on Google groups at all? But stuff from before Feb 15 will still be there? So, from Feb 15, either we've all got to use google groups or we've all got to use newsreaders, otherwise we won't be able to see everybody's messages?

Mark wrote:
>
> I'm not sure I understand what that means. Does it mean that
> nothing posted from newsreaders will show up on Google groups at
> all? But stuff from before Feb 15 will still be there? So, from Feb
> 15, either we've all got to use google groups or we've all got to
> use newsreaders, otherwise we won't be able to see everybody's
> messages?

No, it means if you want to access Usenet you've got to use a proper
news service provider, there will be no Google Groups.

Finally Google have done something sensible. <claps>

Futbolmetrix wrote:

> Now at the top of the page when one opens Google Groups:
>
> "Effective February 15, 2024, Google Groups will no longer support
> new Usenet content. Posting and subscribing will be disallowed, and
> new content from Usenet peers will not appear. Viewing and
> searching of historical data will still be supported as it is done
> today."
>
> :-(

Why the sad face? Download a newsreader and sign up to a free nntp
service - I recommend www.eternal-september.org - and you can have a
proper Usenet experience...

It's time for happy faces!!!

Mark wrote:

> On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 2:51:17 AM UTC, Futbolmetrix wrote:
> > Now at the top of the page when one opens Google Groups:
> >
> > "Effective February 15, 2024, Google Groups will no longer
> > support new Usenet content. Posting and subscribing will be
> > disallowed, and new content from Usenet peers will not appear.
> > Viewing and searching of historical data will still be supported
> > as it is done today."
>
> I'm not sure I understand what that means. Does it mean that
> nothing posted from newsreaders will show up on Google groups at
> all? But stuff from before Feb 15 will still be there? So, from Feb
> 15, either we've all got to use google groups or we've all got to
> use newsreaders, otherwise we won't be able to see everybody's
> messages?

If you want to continue accessing Usenet, download a free newsreader,
sign up for a free news service... as mentioned, I recommend
www.eternal-september.org - and away you go. If you need help setting
a newsreader up, ask..

Or you can stay on Google Groups and only have access to Google's own
groups... or the Usenet archive pre-February 2024. No fresh content
from Usenet will appear and you won't be able to post to RSS via the
Google Groups interface.

On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 9:58:56 AM UTC+1, Blueshirt wrote:
> Futbolmetrix wrote:
>
> > Now at the top of the page when one opens Google Groups:
> >
> > "Effective February 15, 2024, Google Groups will no longer support
> > new Usenet content. Posting and subscribing will be disallowed, and
> > new content from Usenet peers will not appear. Viewing and
> > searching of historical data will still be supported as it is done
> > today."
> >
> > :-(
>
> Why the sad face? Download a newsreader and sign up to a free nntp
> service - I recommend www.eternal-september.org - and you can have a
> proper Usenet experience...
>
> It's time for happy faces!!!

Well I guess with no web-based client available anymore the chances, already slim, that somebody
new will discover this - or any - newsgroup by chance are virtually nil. The decline has been inexorable
regardless, but this will hasten it. And despite all its shortcomings, using Google Groups was comfortable,
especially with the same account on various devices. I for one will no longer be able to access Usenet
on my work computer without it.

Also, after February Google won't add any new messages to the archives anymore, and there's no
replacement for that, is there?

Ciao,
Werner

On 12/15/2023 3:58 AM, Blueshirt wrote:

> Why the sad face? Download a newsreader and sign up to a free nntp
> service - I recommend www.eternal-september.org - and you can have a
> proper Usenet experience...

Do you have any advice on free newsreaders? I'm using
Thunderbird/Eternal September here, but was having trouble installing it
on another computer.

Futbolmetrix wrote:
>
> Do you have any advice on free newsreaders? I'm using
> Thunderbird/Eternal September here, but was having trouble
> installing it on another computer.

Thunderbird is very popular, try a Thunderbird support newsgroup if
you want to stick with that. You should be able to install it on a
second computer.

For other newsreaders...

I am using XanaNews, available here...

https://xananews.software.informer.com/

Microplanet Gravity is available here...

https://sourceforge.net/projects/mpgravity/

Pan can be found here...

http://pan.rebelbase.com/

Microplanet Gravity is probably the best of those three, I only use
XanaNews as I've used it for years (off and on) and it suits my needs
and I don't like change! But they will all do the job.

Futbolmetrix wrote:

> On 12/15/2023 3:58 AM, Blueshirt wrote:
>
> > Why the sad face? Download a newsreader and sign up to a free nntp
> > service - I recommend www.eternal-september.org - and you can
> > have a proper Usenet experience...
>
> Do you have any advice on free newsreaders? I'm using
> Thunderbird/Eternal September here, but was having trouble
> installing it on another computer.

alt.comp.software.thunderbird

On 12/15/2023 5:55 AM, Werner Pichler wrote:

>
> Well I guess with no web-based client available anymore the chances, already slim, that somebody
> new will discover this - or any - newsgroup by chance are virtually nil.

How long has it been since we have had any real new blood in this
newsgroup? Probably more than 5 years...

> The decline has been inexorable
> regardless, but this will hasten it. And despite all its shortcomings, using Google Groups was comfortable,
> especially with the same account on various devices. I for one will no longer be able to access Usenet
> on my work computer without it.

Yep, same here.

> Also, after February Google won't add any new messages to the archives anymore, and there's no
> replacement for that, is there?

:-(

Going back to newsreaders? What's next? Dial up internet? Wired keyboards? DOS commands?

On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 7:58:36 a.m. UTC-5, Futbolmetrix wrote:
> On 12/15/2023 5:55 AM, Werner Pichler wrote:
>
> >
> > Well I guess with no web-based client available anymore the chances, already slim, that somebody
> > new will discover this - or any - newsgroup by chance are virtually nil..
> How long has it been since we have had any real new blood in this
> newsgroup? Probably more than 5 years...
> > The decline has been inexorable
> > regardless, but this will hasten it. And despite all its shortcomings, using Google Groups was comfortable,
> > especially with the same account on various devices. I for one will no longer be able to access Usenet
> > on my work computer without it.
> Yep, same here.
> > Also, after February Google won't add any new messages to the archives anymore, and there's no
> > replacement for that, is there?
> :-(

In article <nnd$1210acc8$2b1aecf0@e5f015fc2f454487>,
Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
>Mark wrote:
>
>> On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 2:51:17 AM UTC, Futbolmetrix wrote:
>> > Now at the top of the page when one opens Google Groups:
>> >
>> > "Effective February 15, 2024, Google Groups will no longer
>> > support new Usenet content. Posting and subscribing will be
>> > disallowed, and new content from Usenet peers will not appear.
>> > Viewing and searching of historical data will still be supported
>> > as it is done today."
>>
>> I'm not sure I understand what that means. Does it mean that
>> nothing posted from newsreaders will show up on Google groups at
>> all? But stuff from before Feb 15 will still be there? So, from Feb
>> 15, either we've all got to use google groups or we've all got to
>> use newsreaders, otherwise we won't be able to see everybody's
>> messages?
>
>If you want to continue accessing Usenet, download a free newsreader,
>sign up for a free news service... as mentioned, I recommend
>www.eternal-september.org - and away you go. If you need help setting
>a newsreader up, ask..
>
>Or you can stay on Google Groups and only have access to Google's own
>groups... or the Usenet archive pre-February 2024. No fresh content
>from Usenet will appear and you won't be able to post to RSS via the
>Google Groups interface.

I.E. GG is admitting incompetence.
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ; unsubscribe from Google Groups to be seen
Merry Christmas 2023 and Happy New year 2024 Beware https://mindspring.com

In article <nnd$69f54f32$071fe4bc@06e52b3eed543989>,
Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
>Futbolmetrix wrote:
>>
>> Do you have any advice on free newsreaders? I'm using
>> Thunderbird/Eternal September here, but was having trouble
>> installing it on another computer.
>
>Thunderbird is very popular, try a Thunderbird support newsgroup if
>you want to stick with that. You should be able to install it on a
>second computer.
>
>For other newsreaders...
>
>
>I am using XanaNews, available here...
>
>https://xananews.software.informer.com/
>
>Microplanet Gravity is available here...
>
>https://sourceforge.net/projects/mpgravity/
>
>Pan can be found here...
>
>http://pan.rebelbase.com/
>
>Microplanet Gravity is probably the best of those three, I only use
>XanaNews as I've used it for years (off and on) and it suits my needs
>and I don't like change! But they will all do the job.

Great options!
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ; unsubscribe from Google Groups to be seen
Merry Christmas 2023 and Happy New year 2024 Beware https://mindspring.com

In article <nnd$69f54f32$071fe4bc@2c52aa28dfb49e56>,
Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
>Futbolmetrix wrote:
>
>> On 12/15/2023 3:58 AM, Blueshirt wrote:
>>
>> > Why the sad face? Download a newsreader and sign up to a free nntp
>> > service - I recommend www.eternal-september.org - and you can
>> > have a proper Usenet experience...
>>
>> Do you have any advice on free newsreaders? I'm using
>> Thunderbird/Eternal September here, but was having trouble
>> installing it on another computer.
>
>alt.comp.software.thunderbird

busy times!
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ; unsubscribe from Google Groups to be seen
Merry Christmas 2023 and Happy New year 2024 Beware https://mindspring.com

Binder Dundat wrote:

> Going back to newsreaders? What's next?

Some people don't need to 'go back' anywhere, we've been happily
sailing away on the good ship Usenet and avoiding the rocks caused by
Google spammers! :-)

Futbolmetrix wrote:

> On 12/15/2023 5:55 AM, Werner Pichler wrote:
>
> > Also, after February Google won't add any new messages to the
> > archives anymore, and there's no replacement for that, is there?
>
> :-(

That's the sad face of ignorance... there are other Usenet archives
out there, ye all just got too lazy with all the Google shit! Clearly
nobody has heard of Narkive...

There has been a thriving Usenet community outside of Google Groups
but people preferred the crutch of the Big G.

This is the RSS narkive... bookmark it for February 2024! ;-)

https://rec.sport.soccer.narkive.com/

The Doctor wrote:

> In article <nnd$69f54f32$071fe4bc@2c52aa28dfb49e56>,
> Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
> > Futbolmetrix wrote:
> >
> >> On 12/15/2023 3:58 AM, Blueshirt wrote:
> >>
> >> > Why the sad face? Download a newsreader and sign up to a free
> >> > nntp service - I recommend www.eternal-september.org - and you
> >> > can have a proper Usenet experience...
> >>
> >> Do you have any advice on free newsreaders? I'm using
> >> Thunderbird/Eternal September here, but was having trouble
> >> installing it on another computer.
> >
> > alt.comp.software.thunderbird
>
> busy times!

Now's the time to offer the people here free Usenet from your NetKnow
NNTP servers in Canada Dave!!!

Be the hero for once... :-)

In article <nnd$50ce4059$45804a2a@f639fba16782b202>,
Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
>Futbolmetrix wrote:
>
>> On 12/15/2023 5:55 AM, Werner Pichler wrote:
>>
>> > Also, after February Google won't add any new messages to the
>> > archives anymore, and there's no replacement for that, is there?
>>
>> :-(
>
>That's the sad face of ignorance... there are other Usenet archives
>out there, ye all just got too lazy with all the Google shit! Clearly
>nobody has heard of Narkive...
>
>There has been a thriving Usenet community outside of Google Groups
>but people preferred the crutch of the Big G.
>
>This is the RSS narkive... bookmark it for February 2024! ;-)
>
>https://rec.sport.soccer.narkive.com/
>
>

rock!!
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ; unsubscribe from Google Groups to be seen
Merry Christmas 2023 and Happy New year 2024 Beware https://mindspring.com

In article <nnd$6e64c992$5f601058@26ab9b65034db816>,
Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
>The Doctor wrote:
>
>> In article <nnd$69f54f32$071fe4bc@2c52aa28dfb49e56>,
>> Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
>> > Futbolmetrix wrote:
>> >
>> >> On 12/15/2023 3:58 AM, Blueshirt wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > Why the sad face? Download a newsreader and sign up to a free
>> >> > nntp service - I recommend www.eternal-september.org - and you
>> >> > can have a proper Usenet experience...
>> >>
>> >> Do you have any advice on free newsreaders? I'm using
>> >> Thunderbird/Eternal September here, but was having trouble
>> >> installing it on another computer.
>> >
>> > alt.comp.software.thunderbird
>>
>> busy times!
>
>Now's the time to offer the people here free Usenet from your NetKnow
>NNTP servers in Canada Dave!!!
>
>Be the hero for once... :-)
>

I need them to pay the small monthly fee!
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ; unsubscribe from Google Groups to be seen
Merry Christmas 2023 and Happy New year 2024 Beware https://mindspring.com

The Doctor wrote:

> In article <nnd$6e64c992$5f601058@26ab9b65034db816>,
> Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
> >
> > Now's the time to offer the people here free Usenet from your NetKnow
> > NNTP servers in Canada Dave!!!
> >
> > Be the hero for once... :-)
> >
>
> I need them to pay the small monthly fee!

Define small ...

In article <ulibl5$21q2u$1@dont-email.me>,
Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
>The Doctor wrote:
>
>> In article <nnd$6e64c992$5f601058@26ab9b65034db816>,
>> Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
>> >
>> > Now's the time to offer the people here free Usenet from your NetKnow
>> > NNTP servers in Canada Dave!!!
>> >
>> > Be the hero for once... :-)
>> >
>>
>> I need them to pay the small monthly fee!
>
>Define small ...

C$10 / month!
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ; unsubscribe from Google Groups to be seen
Merry Christmas 2023 and Happy New year 2024 Beware https://mindspring.com

The Doctor wrote:

> In article <ulibl5$21q2u$1@dont-email.me>,
> Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
> > The Doctor wrote:
> >
> >> In article <nnd$6e64c992$5f601058@26ab9b65034db816>,
> >> Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
> >> >
> >> > Now's the time to offer the people here free Usenet from your
> >> > NetKnow NNTP servers in Canada Dave!!!
> >> >
> >> > Be the hero for once... :-)
> >>
> >> I need them to pay the small monthly fee!
> >
> > Define small ...
>
> C$10 / month!

news.individual.net is €10... for the whole year!!!

On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 8:40:30 AM UTC, Blueshirt wrote:
> Mark wrote:
> >
> > I'm not sure I understand what that means. Does it mean that
> > nothing posted from newsreaders will show up on Google groups at
> > all? But stuff from before Feb 15 will still be there? So, from Feb
> > 15, either we've all got to use google groups or we've all got to
> > use newsreaders, otherwise we won't be able to see everybody's
> > messages?
> No, it means if you want to access Usenet you've got to use a proper
> news service provider, there will be no Google Groups.
>
> Finally Google have done something sensible. <claps>

I'm still unsure what this all means. After Feb 15 2024, will I be able to access rss using google groups?

Mark wrote:

> On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 8:40:30 AM UTC, Blueshirt wrote:
> > Mark wrote:
> > >
> > > I'm not sure I understand what that means. Does it mean that
> > > nothing posted from newsreaders will show up on Google groups
> > > at all? But stuff from before Feb 15 will still be there? So,
> > > from Feb 15, either we've all got to use google groups or we've
> > > all got to use newsreaders, otherwise we won't be able to see
> > > everybody's messages?
> >
> > No, it means if you want to access Usenet you've got to use a
> > proper news service provider, there will be no Google Groups.
> >
>
> I'm still unsure what this all means. After Feb 15 2024, will I be
> able to access rss using google groups?

No Mark, you won't.

You will need a news service (i.e. somebody who provides access to
Usenet) and a newsreader of some sort.

If you are interested...

Free News servers:

https://www.eternal-september.org/

https://solani.org/

Free Newsreaders:

https://www.thunderbird.net/en-GB/

https://mpgravity.sourceforge.net/index.html

On Sunday, December 17, 2023 at 10:18:24 AM UTC, Blueshirt wrote:
> Mark wrote:
>
> > On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 8:40:30 AM UTC, Blueshirt wrote:
> > > Mark wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I'm not sure I understand what that means. Does it mean that
> > > > nothing posted from newsreaders will show up on Google groups
> > > > at all? But stuff from before Feb 15 will still be there? So,
> > > > from Feb 15, either we've all got to use google groups or we've
> > > > all got to use newsreaders, otherwise we won't be able to see
> > > > everybody's messages?
> > >
> > > No, it means if you want to access Usenet you've got to use a
> > > proper news service provider, there will be no Google Groups.
> > >
> >
> > I'm still unsure what this all means. After Feb 15 2024, will I be
> > able to access rss using google groups?
> No Mark, you won't.
>
> You will need a news service (i.e. somebody who provides access to
> Usenet) and a newsreader of some sort.
>
> If you are interested...
>
>
> Free News servers:
>
> https://www.eternal-september.org/
>
>
> https://solani.org/
>
>
> Free Newsreaders:
>
> https://www.thunderbird.net/en-GB/
>
>
> https://mpgravity.sourceforge.net/index.html

How do I download a newsreader? I tried eternal September and there's no information about how to download it, even in the FAQ. So I'm completely stuck already. See? I told you I was technophobic.