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| '''Neowin.net''' is a technology news website that focuses primarily on ] and ], however Mac and Linux are also topics actively discussed. |
'''Neowin.net''' is a ] news ] that focuses primarily on ] and ], however Mac and Linux are also topics actively discussed. Neowin runs under the slogan, "''Where unprofessional journalism looks better.''" | ||
| ==Introduction== | |||
| Neowin was started as a hobby in ] ] by Marcel Klum and Steven Parker, known within the forums as "Redmak" and "Neobond" respectively. | |||
| Neowin was started as a hobby in ] ] by Marcel Klum and Steven Parker, known within the forums as "Redmak" and "Neobond" respectively. One of Neowin's claims to fame is being the subject of the story on ] ever. | |||
| ==Sections== | |||
| Neowin has broken several stories, such as the onto the internet. | |||
| Neowin contains three distinct news sections, each having it's own default color scheme: | |||
| * Main (Blue) - general news, featuring articles about various tech-related subjects; | |||
| ] | |||
| * Apple (Midnight) - news articles focusing on Apple hardware and software; | |||
| * Gamers (Gray) - news about both PC and console gaming; | |||
| * Software (Green) - features mostly Windows software, including updates and beta releases. | |||
| (Neowin members have the ability to change these color schemes ].) | |||
| ==Versions== | ==Versions== | ||
| The servers hosting Neowin were upgraded during December 2005 and Neowin 3.9s was launched. This upgrade, codename "Swift", is a progression from the version 3 theme and introduces subtle visual differences as well as a major overhaul of the content management system, focusing on semantic ] and ] technologies and replacing the out-dated nested table design. The forum system was also upgraded to ] 2.1.3 as part of this move. | The servers hosting Neowin were upgraded during December 2005 and Neowin 3.9s was launched. This upgrade, codename "Swift", is a progression from the version 3 theme and introduces subtle visual differences as well as a major overhaul of the content management system, focusing on semantic ] and ] technologies and replacing the out-dated nested table design. The forum system was also upgraded to ] 2.1.3 as part of this move. | ||
| Neowin 5 ("Finity") is due to launch in the near future with a brand new front page and forum theme designed by Neowin's Grafix team. | |||
| ==Audience== | ==Audience== | ||
| Neowin is considered to be one of the great representations of the growth and concentration of enthusiastic users in computing, and of the |
Neowin is considered to be one of the great representations of the growth and concentration of enthusiastic users in computing, and of the ominipresent ] Operating System in all its forms. A hot topic of discussion currently is Microsoft's eagerly awaited ]. The subject of this future ] is debated exhaustively on a daily basis, motivating many users to imitate the appearance of this beta OS's ]. | ||
| == |
==Neowin Forums== | ||
| Powered by ] forum software, Neowin has an active technology forum consisting of 124,292 registered users (December 6, 2005) and more than 5 million posts. At its peak (October 14, 2005 at 2:50 AM PDT), Neowin had as many as 3,048 users online simultaneously. | |||
| One area in which Neowin trancends the usual web forum orthodoxy is its large moderation team. As such, its forums are generally considered "safe" for all manner of topics. While the primary focus is generally percieved as being ] and Windows-centric, it has a large community in a number of sub-forums for other discussion, including, but not limited to: | |||
| The website is composed of several areas which all provide different services: | |||
| ====News==== | |||
| There are four news sections that involve different areas of technology. | |||
| * Main - general news, featuring articles about various tech-related subjects; | |||
| * Apple - news articles focusing on Apple hardware and software; | |||
| * Gamers - news about both PC and console gaming; | |||
| * Software - features mostly Windows software, including updates and beta releases. | |||
| ====Articles & Reviews==== | |||
| This part of the site contains content that is original to Neowin and not linked from other sites. | |||
| ====Forum & Blogs==== | |||
| These parts of the website provide users a area to talk about technology and other topics. | |||
| The Neowin forums are Powered by ] forum software. Neowin has an active technology forum consisting of 126,687 registered users (December 26, 2005) and over 5¼ million posts. At its peak (October 14, 2005 at 2:50 AM PDT), Neowin's forum had as many as 3,048 users online simultaneously. According to Big-boards.com it is the forum on the internet that is powered by InvisionBoard. | |||
| The Neowin forums transcend the normal web forum orthodoxy in that they provide an unusually friendly and "safe" environment | |||
| While the primary topics on Neowin are generally perceived as being ] and Windows-centric, the forums have a large community for other discussions, including, but not limited to: | |||
| * Latest electronic technology: devices, gadgets, and other hardware. | * Latest electronic technology: devices, gadgets, and other hardware. | ||
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| * Hardware related topics, such as ]. | * Hardware related topics, such as ]. | ||
| * Internet and Web Browser discussion, such as ] and ]. | * Internet and Web Browser discussion, such as ] and ]. | ||
| * ] and ] technology discussion (even though the website's name suggests a focus on ] related news) | |||
| * Sports and Automobile discussion. | |||
| * ] and ] technology discussion | |||
| The ] extension of the forum, which allows Neowin users to post things they find interesting in their own personal blog, was only recently introduced with the latest update to the website's forums (3.9). | |||
| ==Software Contribution== | |||
| Neowin has also been known for helping people to release new freeware programs to the public. Some examples of programs that started life on Neowin are ], , , and | |||
| ==Staff== | |||
| The staff on Neowin are: | |||
| '''Administrators'''; | |||
| Redmak, | |||
| Neobond, | |||
| Daniel. | |||
| '''Supervisors'''; | |||
| AgEnTsMiTh, | |||
| BOOGSoftball, | |||
| fred666, | |||
| Joel, | |||
| Toxicfume, | |||
| WishX. | |||
| '''Coderators'''; | |||
| Gerry, | |||
| Marshalus, | |||
| pHaez, | |||
| Timdorr, | |||
| Toxikk. | |||
| '''Graphix'''; | |||
| FlishFun. | |||
| '''Global Moderators'''; | |||
| Aaron, | |||
| bangbang023, | |||
| blackice912, | |||
| Boffa Jones, | |||
| BroChaos, | |||
| Chad, | |||
| Dave, | |||
| dreamz, | |||
| Frank, | |||
| Radish™, | |||
| rezza, | |||
| sanctified, | |||
| shockz, | |||
| Simon, | |||
| Triliaeris, | |||
| Wickedkitten. | |||
| '''Forum Moderator'''; | |||
| Dazzla. | |||
| '''News Moderators'''; | |||
| matt74441, | |||
| SMeK, | |||
| Wave. | |||
| '''IRC Moderators'''; | |||
| Colin-UK, | |||
| Enigma-Penguin, | |||
| pimpshiznid. | |||
| ===Skinning Scene=== | |||
| ] | |||
| Neowin is known by concentrating a great number of adepts and authors of ] themes and skinning ] programs. Many discover the site when they want to go deeper in this subject. It's there also that projects have been born such as ], ] and ]. | |||
| == |
===Back Page News (BPN)=== | ||
| In that forum section, Neowin users can training in write ] to be a future site contributor. Some of the official contributors of Neowin initiated their activities in this section. | |||
| On Neowin's fifth anniversary, it's owners announced that a new look and backend would soon be coming to the site. | |||
| ==Criticism== | |||
| This new look -- Neowin 5 ("Finity") -- is due to launch in the near future with a brand new front page and forum theme designed by Jason Kelley (known within the forums as "FlishFun"). | |||
| Similar to such criticisms levied against ] methodology, Neowin is likened to a ]-based site with the news presented without proper opinion. Critics of Neowin claim there is an obvious bias towards pro-Microsoft sentiment, as well as equally negative bias against ] and ] adopters. In spite of this, Neowin browsers include a significant number of ] and ] users. | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 00:21, 2 January 2006
Neowin.net is a technology news website that focuses primarily on Windows and PCs, however Mac and Linux are also topics actively discussed. Neowin runs under the slogan, "Where unprofessional journalism looks better."
Introduction
Neowin was started as a hobby in October 1998 by Marcel Klum and Steven Parker, known within the forums as "Redmak" and "Neobond" respectively. One of Neowin's claims to fame is being the subject of the most viewed story on Slashdot ever.
Sections
Neowin contains three distinct news sections, each having it's own default color scheme:
- Main (Blue) - general news, featuring articles about various tech-related subjects;
- Apple (Midnight) - news articles focusing on Apple hardware and software;
- Gamers (Gray) - news about both PC and console gaming;
- Software (Green) - features mostly Windows software, including updates and beta releases.
(Neowin members have the ability to change these color schemes ad libitum.)
Versions
The servers hosting Neowin were upgraded during December 2005 and Neowin 3.9s was launched. This upgrade, codename "Swift", is a progression from the version 3 theme and introduces subtle visual differences as well as a major overhaul of the content management system, focusing on semantic XHTML and CSS technologies and replacing the out-dated nested table design. The forum system was also upgraded to IPB 2.1.3 as part of this move.
Neowin 5 ("Finity") is due to launch in the near future with a brand new front page and forum theme designed by Neowin's Grafix team.
Audience
Neowin is considered to be one of the great representations of the growth and concentration of enthusiastic users in computing, and of the ominipresent Microsoft Windows Operating System in all its forms. A hot topic of discussion currently is Microsoft's eagerly awaited Windows Vista. The subject of this future Operating System is debated exhaustively on a daily basis, motivating many users to imitate the appearance of this beta OS's GUI.
Neowin Forums
Powered by Invision Power Board forum software, Neowin has an active technology forum consisting of 124,292 registered users (December 6, 2005) and more than 5 million posts. At its peak (October 14, 2005 at 2:50 AM PDT), Neowin had as many as 3,048 users online simultaneously.
One area in which Neowin trancends the usual web forum orthodoxy is its large moderation team. As such, its forums are generally considered "safe" for all manner of topics. While the primary focus is generally percieved as being Microsoft and Windows-centric, it has a large community in a number of sub-forums for other discussion, including, but not limited to:
- Latest electronic technology: devices, gadgets, and other hardware.
- Customization and tweaking of Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.
- Console and PC gaming.
- Discussion of real world issues (politics, religion, philosophy).
- Hardware related topics, such as overclocking.
- Internet and Web Browser discussion, such as Opera and Mozilla Firefox.
- Linux and Mac technology discussion (even though the website's name suggests a focus on Microsoft related news)
Skinning Scene
Neowin is known by concentrating a great number of adepts and authors of Windows XP themes and skinning Windows programs. Many discover the site when they want to go deeper in this subject. It's there also that projects have been born such as LClock, Desktop Sidebar and Longhorn Transformation Pack.
Back Page News (BPN)
In that forum section, Neowin users can training in write news stories to be a future site contributor. Some of the official contributors of Neowin initiated their activities in this section.
Criticism
Similar to such criticisms levied against Slashdot methodology, Neowin is likened to a blog-based site with the news presented without proper opinion. Critics of Neowin claim there is an obvious bias towards pro-Microsoft sentiment, as well as equally negative bias against Sony and Linux adopters. In spite of this, Neowin browsers include a significant number of Firefox and Mac users.
External links
- Neowin.net main website
- Neowin.net forums
- Interview with founders of Neowin
- #neowin IRC channel
- Neowin graphics work request system