Hotmail
AOL to drop direct access to Usenet
Tech Holiday Gift Guide |
 Give the gift of gaming accessories These gadgets help gamers play longer, better, more efficiently and more comfortably. Here are a few game-enhancing peripherals that the gamer on your list is sure to enjoy. |
 | Tech and gadgets videos |
 Police patrolling Facebook Nov. 13: The Medina, Ohio, police department is posting pictures of wanted criminals on Facebook in an effort to get the public's help in tracking them down. WKYC's Mike O'Mara reports. |
 | Video |
 |
Auto Tech |
A better economy may lure buyers, but these trends could seal the deal. |
NEW YORK - America Online will stop providing direct access to Usenet newsgroups, one of the earliest forums on the Internet for people to discuss a large variety of topics from television shows to software to sex.
The move to drop AOL next month comes as usage of the service has shrunk to fewer than 1,000 users a month. AOL has some 23 million subscribers in the United States alone.
Dropping Usenet will let AOL focus more on more popular community features such as message boards, chat rooms and online journals, said AOL spokeswoman Jay Esmele.
AOL users still would be able to access Usenet groups from other providers, including Google Inc., which packages the newsgroups for free as "Google Groups."
Thousands of Usenet groups exist, covering a range of topics. They go by such names as "alt.tv.amazing-race," a discussion forum for the reality series "The Amazing Race." Though Usenet groups are generally text-based, some exist for exchanging photographs and music files.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
-
Rate Story:
View popularLowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM TECH AND GADGETS |
 Tech and gadgets Section Front |
| Add Tech and gadgets headlines to your news reader: |
Resource guide