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AOL Plans A Standalone Browser

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the tabulation-nation dept.

Patik writes "America Online is creating its own standalone browser, aimed at employees who cannot install AOL software at their workstations. The browser will be based on Internet Explorer but will include other features such as tabbed browsing that displays a thumbnail of the page as you pass your cursor over it. The browser will also integrate AOL's media player and will be able to access AOL-only content."

11 of 292 comments (clear)

  1. I don't get it... by LostCluster · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Would somebody please explain how AOL thinks users who can't install the full AOL client on their workstations thanks to sysadmin-imposed policies will be able to get the AOL Browser installed? Whatever policy stands against the AOL client will most likely shoot down this AOL Browser too. PHBs don't want people playing on the Internet during company time, and people are going to be hard pressed to show a business-reason to be accessing the AOL-exclusive entertainment content on company time and resources.

    This seems like at face value a project that won't reach its target audience and therefore is doomed to failure.

    1. Re:I don't get it... by tepples · · Score: 5, Informative

      Would somebody please explain how AOL thinks users who can't install the full AOL client on their workstations thanks to sysadmin-imposed policies will be able to get the AOL Browser installed?

      Unzip and run, like the Firefox zip builds, unless policies prohibit running executables not signed by IT.

    2. Re:I don't get it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Would somebody please explain how AOL thinks users who can't install the full AOL client on their workstations thanks to sysadmin-imposed policies will be able to get the AOL Browser installed?

      That's easy. The reason they picked IE as the base is obviously so they can exploit the IFRAME vulnerability to install their software. Brilliant!

    3. Re:I don't get it... by JPriest · · Score: 5, Insightful
      I bet they will still place something in startup. This seems to be the theme with almost any popular windows sofrware. Windows seems to be a constant battle of everyone vs Microsoft for as much user attention as possibe.

      PS. To set this post as your homepage click here (j/k)

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    4. Re:I don't get it... by Curtman · · Score: 5, Insightful

      after all, the standard client isn't engineered for that sort of environment, is it?

      But Netscape is, and they already own that. So now they're building a browser based on IE, and a media player independent of Winamp. What is wrong with these people?

  2. In further news by blowdart · · Score: 5, Funny
    The browser will disabled the caps lock key.

    KEWL DUDE

  3. Redundant by Kipsaysso · · Score: 5, Funny

    The concept seems to be taking a bad Internet Provider and intergrating it with a bad Internet browser. Will probably be successful.

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  4. Some observations. by ISEENOEVIL · · Score: 5, Interesting

    After reading the article, I still don't understand how this is going to help people install the AOL branded special version of IE onto a companies machine. Instead of the AOL software, they still have to install the browser? I doubt that many of the corporate IT guys are going to be willing to install something with AOL in its title on a company machine.

    On sticking with an IE based browser, Pearce-Parkins said, "The company stuck with IE so users won't have to make "a leap of faith." Good idea in concept, but honestly I don't believe the users would ever notice there would be a difference between browsers, so why not go with something that would probably be easier to work with?

    Guess I better hold out my judgment until the browser gets on the scene, but AOL's massive content library would do well for its subscribers if it wasn't solely tied to their Client.

    Stormy
    http://www.stormyshippy.com/

  5. Black eye for Microsoft by britneys+9th+husband · · Score: 5, Funny

    will include other features such as tabbed browsing

    Now even AOL will have a better browser than Microsoft.

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  6. After all these years... by kataflok · · Score: 5, Funny

    we finally have identified which company Dilbert was modeled upon... :-)

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  7. It's actuallly pretty damn cool by mollusk · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Ok, so I admit I didn't read the article, but I have an excuse; I've actually seen the browser. We've had copies at work for several months through AOL's beta program. We've been comparing it IE and Firefox for the sites we develop.

    First impressions:
    • it is a lot more reponsive than straight IE. The interface could best be described as "crisp"
    • The thumbnails are extremely useful. Previews for tabs are a godsend when you have 15+ tabs open
    • The zoom feature is amazing. Smooth scaling and fine detail.
    • AOL seems to have done something to fix the broken caching in IE.
    Having said that, there are still some problems
    • Form elements aren't fully useable when zoomed. Selects are a real bitch: completely unuseable at any zoom.
    • It seems to share a namespace with other instances of IE. Named popups on the same site will cross post between the AOL browser and Explorer.
    I find it rather funny that everyone here is slamming AOL for what appears to be well designed and implemented piece of software. The choice of the rendering component might be questionable, but for many people, Internet Exporer is a necessary evil. It's possible the interface is designed to be modular enough to swap Gecko in easily. My hope is that the Mozilla/Firefox devel teams take a good look at this browser without thier AOL prejudices getting in the way. There are a lot of good features to "steal" for Firefox 1.2.
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