From: pmiller@csugrad.cs.vt.edu (Paul Miller)
Subject: no subject (file transmission)
Organization: The Ohio State University Department of Computer and Information Science
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 22:23:40 GMT

I am preparing to release an evaluation version of an off-line news/mail
reader/poster/do everything program which interfaces to an AREXX program
which uses Term to talk to a standard UNIX account to get/post news and
mail automatically. It's basically a UUCP-type setup for people who can't
get SLIP or a UUCP feed, and it works with a standard modem and UNIX
account.

I am planning a full Announcement, but it's been brought to my attention
that MOST people on the net have daytime access through company accounts
or real UUCP connections (or at least very fast modem access, which I can't
get because our university modem pool is still 2400baud). So, this query
is for two reasons:

1) I want to get an idea of how many people out there do have wierd access
   restrictions because of speed (ie. my UNIX account fully supports news,
   but at 2400 baud access its easier to go to a CoSY system and read the
   news as a series of messages - meaning when I want to post or reply
   I have to go to my UNIX account and post through elm). Would those
   people be interested in a complete system which does all that stuff
   at night so you can read your news at full speed?

2) For those of you who have UUCP but still want good off-line reading
   capability with a real neat-o reader (more on this later) I need to
   know how many would be interested if the reader could be integrated
   into a UUCP setup. Right now I parse news and mail into a custom format
   for quick access, etc. etc, but I think I can make it compatible with
   UUCP news/mail.

Some notes on the reader:

Supports news from multiple groups
Mail
Post/Reply/Followups
Mailing list management (mailing list messages go to their own "group")
Super killfile (by From, Subject, or Global)
Super Aliases (with multiple addresses for simple outbound mailing lists)
Multiple-window GUI - EVERYTHING is keyboard and mouse controlled
   (including custom ListViews which are VERY FAST)
Automatic ageing, killing, killed-article flag, outdating, etc.
Built-in configuration windows for controlling program operations, paths,
   Term defaults, Arexx stuff, font, etc.
Add/Remove groups visually from Master group list
Signature file
Iconifies into an AppIcon which has a picture of a mailbox - the flag goes
   up if you have mail
Interfaces to UNIX account with custom UNIX script and AREXX program so
   is configurable to any term program or news system

I have some more nifty stuff planned but that gives you an idea. The system
is really designed for people like me who want a more convenient access
to news and mail (you have to wait until the next night to upload your
responses, but an instant flag is available that does it for you as soon
as you iconify), combining the AREXX scripts and such, but like I said
if there is interest I'll make sure it works with UUCP (but since I can't
get a feed I'll need specs on the news/mail format).

Please mail me with your comments.

BTW: This initial version will allow news-reading only and a Shareware
donation will get you a complete do-everything version.