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Tutorials - Binary Newsgroups

1. Introduction
2. Setup Newsbin
3. Download Files with Newsbin
4. Convert Downloaded Files
5. Music and Other Types of Files

5. Music & Other Files

Disclaimer - you are breaking the law by downloading and using copyright protected media. I am providing information only, what you choose to do with it is up to you. I am not responsible for anything you download and install from usenet servers or for any damage done to your computer operating system, or for any content you find and download that is illegal.

Music
Search the groups for music newsgroups, they are not hard to find, the files will be zip files or winrar files so you need to extract them as in part 4 but there will be no Par files to worry about. Sometimes album covers and artwork are included in the headers list (.jpg .gif. psd) these can be used to print the original CD cover. Most groups offer MP3s but if you look for the CD groups they usually are much higher quality wmp files of cd quality or near enough. Personally thiough I use Napster for music, its totally legal, its all high quality and the artists get paid - allegedly 8-).

Video
Search for "Multimedia" or "DivX" groups. Downloading old TV episodes you may have missed or want to see again is on the same level as time shift viewing on TV, which according to the law strictly speaking is illegal but obviously nobody has noticed this fact as we have been taping tv for many years now. Another common use is to get episodes not yet seen on UK TV or TV shows you like that have been axed after a few episodes, this is slightly more dubious as it is pushing "time shift viewing" beyond the limit but I don't think anybody has ever been prosecuted for downloading the next series of the West Wing or whatever from the USA because they cannot wait to see what happens. Downloading feature films and newly released movies is also possible but definately illegal as is downloading certain categories of movie, the line in the sand is very clear on that score.

Software
For software you need to look for "warez" groups. These groups hold all the software you could ever want, all of it cracked apart from freeware which is very rare on usenet. If you download and use cracked software there are risks both legally and to your PC security so make sure you check files with AV scanners before extracting and installing any of it. In reality there is no harm done if you want to try some software without using a neutered demo version, many people do just that because the demos offered legitimately are not fully functional, but you must either buy a legitimate copy or un-install after the usual 30 day trial period.

When you extract software there will usually be a file called .nfo (short for info) all the instructions for installation are in there and you open it with Notepad. To do this you have to right click and select "Open With" then select "Notepad". After that you are on your own I am not doing instructions on how to crack software RTFM if you really want to know.

A better place to get free software is sourceforge, its legal, safe and often as good as proprietory software. Open Office and The Gimp are excellent free versions of MS Office and Photoshop, I use both I don't like paying large license fees and having my production PCs messed up by so called "updates".

http://sourceforge.net/

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