Hecks: "Headers are also useless for searching, unless you want to keep umpteen GB of data locally to match your 240+ day retention across all your subscribed groups. So let's be clear about what browsing means here: only recent posts in non-indexed groups. The return is small, the effort is large. But hey, I'm all for choice, so whataver."
Actually, no. You're not all for choice. You're totally opposed to ANY suggestion from any Altbinz user that header browsing by group be implemented into the app. Which seems odd to me. Why do you CARE so much about a feature that, by your own admission, you will never use?
Also, everyone who replies to these threads in a negative way always repeats the same tired old crap: "Why mess up a simple lightweight app...who needs headers when you have search engines...if you want headers switch to another news app...etc etc etc...blah blah blah." But you're all ignoring two crucial points.
1. There is no way that implementing a group/header browsing function will effect the app in any way if you never use it! Don't want to use all the massive "resources" required for downloading headers? No problem. Just DON'T DOWNLOAD ANY. How could that possibly effect your use of the program? And how could it slow the app down if you never use the function in the first place. That argument is completely invalid and, frankly, needs to be retired.
2. A rather significant number of Altbinz users WANT this functionality. Witness the repeated requests, to the point that you have added a sticky to the requests forum, just to address the issue. Let's reason together here. If a large number of users (or potential users) want header fetching, then it stands to reason that if a developer wants to increase his or her user base, he/she will implement the desired feature.
Me? I would ditch Newsleecher right this second and donate to download the latest build of Altbinz IF it supported the functionality. It's the only thing keeping me from abandoning Newsleecher altogether. As it stands today, I use Altbinz as a portable app, and Newsleecher on my home machine so I can browse the groups.
To me, the whole debate is silly. If enough users want it, then add it. If you hate it and don't want it, then don't use that function. No one is going to stand over you and force you to click on that 'Download All Headers' button!
Oh, and by the way, I can think of one application where browsing is absolutely indispensible...browsing picture groups. And I don't mean just pr0n groups, although I've done my share of that. Wallpapers, photography, etc. Trust me, you don't want to download 2000 high res images just so you can go through the folder and decide which ones to discard. It is SO much easier to just browse through the groups, cherry picking the pics you want and leaving the rest. And there is NO search engine that will do that with the speed and ease that a newsreader app can.
Oh well. I'm sure this will fall on deaf ears, just as the countless other requests have. But I tried.
