An Internet forum is a facility on the World Wide Web for holding discussions, or the web application software used to provide the facility. Web-based forums, which date from around 1995, perform a similar function as the dial-up bulletin boards and Internet newsgroups that were numerous in the 1980s and 1990s. A sense of virtual community often develops around forums that have regular users. Technology, computer games, and politics are popular areas for forum themes, but there are forums for a huge number of different topics .

Internet forums are also commonly referred to as web forums, message boards, discussion boards, discussion forums, discussion groups, bulletin boards (but see also dial-up bulletin boards), fora (the proper Latin plural) or simply forums.

Culture

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Internet forums are prevalent in several developed countries. In terms of countable posts, Japan is far in the lead with over two million posts per day on their largest forum, 2channel. The United States does not have any one large forum, but instead several hundred thousand smaller forums, the largest of which are GameFAQs, Gaia Online, and IGN. Other countries such as China, the Netherlands, and France are also home to hundreds of independent forums. Some countries such as Finland and Sweden do not have many prevalent forums despite having open and easily available Internet access. As of yet no study has been done on the prevalence of forums in countries around the world. It is also dubious as to whether any country has its own fora, as - especially in the English language - contributors to a forum often come from outside the country in which the forum is hosted. There is often not a 1-1 relationship between languages and countries: for example, English language fora are contributed to by people all over the world, whilst Japanese language fora are likely to be contributed to only by Japanese people, but Japanese people also contribute to English language fora, so there is no 1-1 relationship between Japanese language fora and Japanese people contributing to fora.

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eWeek - RSS Feeds

Wetpaint Gives Web Sites Social Publishing Injection
Mon, 19 May 2008 22:05:55 -0400
Wetpaint's embeddable social publishing platform looks to improve search engine optimization and ad sales.... TAKE CONTROL OF REMOTE COMPUTERS Support, configure and install applications and updates remotely for greater efficiency.
Microsoft Proposes to Buy Yahoo Search: Source
Mon, 19 May 2008 22:02:28 -0400
Microsoft wants to buy Yahoo's search busines and a minority stake in the company.... Attend WINDOWS EMBEDDED ACCELERATION WORKSHOPS Are you ready to learn how you can bring your next-generation embedded device to market faster?
EMC, Netezza to Team in OEM Deal
Mon, 19 May 2008 20:42:31 -0400
Exclusive: A partnership will combine EMC's Clariion storage with Netezza's data warehouse appliance.... SOLVE SUPPORT ISSUES on the First Call! REMOTELY CONTROL AND CONFIGURE SYSTEMS. Easily install applications, updates. All from your Desktop!
Cisco Veterans Unveil Network Security Startup
Mon, 19 May 2008 19:35:58 -0400
Rohati Systems is stepping out of stealth mode with a network access control appliance.... RESOLVE SUPPORT ISSUES from your Desktop! Minimize downtime with a remote support solution that lets you resolve issues right from the desktop
Strong Prospects in Software to Spy on Bank Staff
Mon, 19 May 2008 17:19:10 -0400
There may be computers reading bank workers' e-mails, listening to their phone calls and analyzing chats.... SpamTitan - Virtual Email Appliance 99% Spam Detection, Kaspersky AV, Anti phishing, $550 for 100 users. Free Download 30 Day Trial Now!

The Seattle Times: Business & Technology

Microsoft pushes for ad deal with Yahoo
Mon, 19 May 2008 10:13:40 -0700
Microsoft said Sunday it has restarted its pursuit of Yahoo, a move likely to set off yet another round of high-profile negotiations and...
Wetpaint poised to make splash
Sun, 18 May 2008 20:59:54 -0700
It's been a while since a Seattle Web startup had a major breakout, so long that I was starting to wonder if the boom was over. But that magic moment...
Microsoft hosting ad executives
Sun, 18 May 2008 21:00:39 -0700
In March 2006, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told a conference of advertisers they were the new bedrock of his company. Since then, Microsoft has...

NYT > Technology

Former AOL Executives Sued in Ad-Revenue Case
Tue, 20 May 2008 03:57:47 -0000
The S.E.C. filed fraud charges against eight former AOL executives over an accounting procedure that caused the company to overstate its advertising revenue by more than $1 billion.
Dealbook: A Gamble, but What if He Wins?
Tue, 20 May 2008 03:51:36 -0000
Carl Icahn, the corporate raider turned activist investor, is gambling to bring Microsoft back to the bargaining table and buy Yahoo.
Google Offers Personal Health Records on the Web
Tue, 20 May 2008 04:06:48 -0000
The Internet search giant joins other companies, all hoping to capitalize on the potential of Internet tools to help consumers manage their own health care.

CNN.com - Technology

Nintendo shows us how Wii can get 'Fit'
Mon, 19 May 2008 15:25:36 -0400
If Nintendo has their way your living room could be the new big thing in exercise. With its new game "Wii Fit" hitting stores Monday, the company is looking to make exercise fun by bringing it into the home.
Justices: Child porn is not protected speech
Mon, 19 May 2008 12:35:53 -0400
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld a law aimed at preventing child pornography, ruling a provision dealing with "pandering" illicit material does not violate constitutional protections on free speech.
Phishing ring busted
Mon, 19 May 2008 14:41:13 -0400
Read full story for latest details.

NPR Topics: Technology

No Tech U: College Without Technology
Mon, 19 May 2008 07:00:00 -0400
The first freshman class of Wyoming Catholic College finishes up exams this week. In what's been called "an audacious experiment," the college bans cell phones, TVs, and allows only limited access to the internet.
British Girl Upset by Wii Fit's 'Fat' Message
Mon, 19 May 2008 08:20:00 -0400
Wii Fit has been out for a few weeks already in Britain, where newspapers report a 10-year-old girl was devastated after the game told her she's "fat." British obesity experts say the measurement the game uses isn't suitable for kids and warn it could hurt their body image.
Nintendo's Wii Fit Pumps Up 'Active Gaming' Trend
Mon, 19 May 2008 08:17:00 -0400
Nintendo's hotly anticipated Wii Fit goes on sale Monday. Other companies are already trying to jump on the "active gaming" bandwagon by coming out with devices of their own that plug into the Wii.

BBC News | Technology | UK Edition

Google mulls Microsoft response
Mon, 19 May 2008 17:44:26 -0000
Google says it is considering its response to Microsoft's fresh attempts at doing a deal with Yahoo.
Facebook set for major facelift
Mon, 19 May 2008 11:03:57 -0000
Social networking site Facebook is getting its first major makeover since the site was launched in 2004.
Laser heats up the fusion future
Mon, 19 May 2008 13:35:42 -0000
The world's most powerful laser is used to heat matter to 10 million Celsius.

Reuters Video: Technology

Interactive toilet makes a splash
Mon, 19 May 2008 14:57:36 -0400
May 19 - A mobile men's toilet which combines the usual facilities with video game interactivity is proving a winning novelty in Belgium.
The audiophiles' download service
Mon, 19 May 2008 14:09:20 -0400
May 19 - The high-end UK speaker company Bowers and Wilkins is launching an online community for audiophiles with the help of Real World Studios.
More money for Euro tech talent
Mon, 19 May 2008 09:21:16 -0400
May 19 - Index Ventures partner Saul Klein is hoping to help create a longterm eco-system for European tech startups with global aspirations.

AP Top Technology News At 12:37 a.m. EDT

Napster rolls out all-MP3 download store
By ALEX VEIGA Tue, 20 May 2008 04:35:02 -0000
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Napster Inc. begins selling MP3s Tuesday, a move the online music service hopes will lure iPod users and turn around Napster's sliding fortunes....
TV boxes let Netflix users bypass mail delivery
By MICHAEL LIEDTKE Tue, 20 May 2008 04:37:13 -0000
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Preparing for the eventual extinction of its DVD-by-mail rental service, Netflix Inc. on Tuesday is introducing its first solution for subscribers who want entertainment delivered directly to their television sets with just a few clicks on a remote control....
Microsoft-Yahoo talks driven by specter of Icahn, Google
By MICHAEL LIEDTKE Tue, 20 May 2008 02:47:05 -0000
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Just two weeks after breaking off merger talks, Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc. have been pulled back to the bargaining table by their fears about what might happen if they don't work out a deal....

CNET News.com

6 million DRM-free MP3s now at Napster
Mon, 19 May 2008 21:01:00 -0700
Napster to offer its complete catalog of more than 6 million songs in the MP3 format.
Look out, Apple TV: The $100 Netflix Player has arrived
Mon, 19 May 2008 21:00:00 -0700
The long-awaited "Netflix box" has finally arrived, but is this barebones product worth the $100 asking price?
U.K. tech agency: Microsoft's no friend to schools
Mon, 19 May 2008 18:41:00 -0700
A British government agency says that Microsoft isn't doing enough to support interoperability standards for tech in schools.

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