AOL Updates: Standalone Browser, Search, VoIP

Eric writes "In the face of increasing pressure from the likes of Google and MSN, America Online has opened beta testing for its standalone AOL Browser and Desktop Search to anyone with an AOL or AIM screen name. The AOL Browser beta utilizes Microsoft's Internet Explorer engine (not Firefox's, like Netscape) and integrates the company's Desktop Search client. Unlike Netscape it looks decent from the screenshots and also includes some nifty features like tear-off tabs and zooming." And prostoalex writes "In what could be the biggest VOIP push into US households, AOL will start offering VOIP services, as reported by Light Reading. 28% of online Americans subscribe to dial-up or broadband version of AOL, AOL has 4 million broadband users, and beta testers in the Light Reading article seemed to be pretty happy with the service."

Comments

Ob:AOL

[Anonymous Coward]

Me too!

Blecchhh!

[Stanistani]

The unholy combination of IE and AOL made pretty? ...it always puzzled me why they bought Netscape and never made it their browser...

Re:Blecchhh!

[KiltedKnight]

It's a simple answer: Primary desktop placement of the "Get AOL Now" icon. That was the whole reason Microsoft pre-placed that stuff within their installations. AOL and Microsoft had the agreement that AOL uses IE as the basis for its browser, and MS would put the AOL icon right on the desktop.

Of course, why AOL hasn't converted now is beyond me. MS has long since terminated that icon placement in favor of its own MSN one.

Re:Blecchhh!

[Eberlin]

It was primarily used as a pawn to negotiate with MS. You know, that whole monopoly thing, a neat little settlement, and probably a nice bargaining chip to keep those "Subscribe to AOL" icons on default windows desktop installations.

When all that was done, they chopped off the Mozilla people and spun them off with their own mozilla foundation with a mil or two (?) to get started.

Then they bastardized the Netscape brand to sell cheaper Internet access under the guise of a different name, hoping to capitalize on name recognition.

It would've been great, though -- a giant chunk of "Netizens" (granted, most AOLers deserve their label) switching to Firefox all at once because AOL defaults to it would have been nice.

Oh well.

the AOL service....

[Anonymous Coward]

is just the same as the time-warner VoIP product that's been on the market for several months, under a different brand. Nothing new, really.

And Vonage works with Time-Warner as well. So there aren't as many VoIP vendors as you assume there are.

Based on Internet Explorer

[JWW]

Every time I see how AOL's browser is based on Internet Explorer, I can't help but imagine the meeting in a few years where AOL will have to license the technonogy again.

The meeting ends with a line from Microsoft sounding somthing like "One Trilllion Dollars," then maniaical super villan laugh.

Re:Based on Internet Explorer

[Greenisus]

I don't think that's the case. It sounds to me like AOL can just dangle Netscape in front of Microsoft's eyes to get them to play nice.

I love Google

[Jesus IS the Devil]

Notice how there's an ad for Vonage right underneath the article? Priceless.

Any news on...

[GillBates0]

when they'll be done testing and start mailing out the new CDs?

I'm building a roof for my cubicle.

More Info Regarding Its Features

[Alien Venom]

From: http://beta.aol.com/aolbrowser/index.html?

Desktop Search: Now you can find files, photos, songs, pictures and other files on your computer's hard drive just as easily as you search the Web. And you don't even have to leave your Web browser to do it.

Tabbed Browsing: Keep tabs on your Internet experience! The new AOL Browser uses convenient tabs to help organize all your open browser windows, so you can quickly switch back and forth among multiple Web sites, easily finding--and getting to--the one you want.

Clear My Footprints: Whether you like it or not, your computer keeps track of everywhere you go online. But the new AOL Browser helps protect your privacy and stop snoops with just one click. Quickly and easily clear your Internet history, cookies, caches and more. You can even choose exactly which footprints you want to clear--making sure you erase what you want, when you want.

Thumbnail Previews: Now you can save time by viewing actual mini-previews of Web pages, instead of trying to decipher misleading URLs. Simply hold the mouse over any item in your history or favorites, or over any open browser tabs, and you'll be able to see where you're going--before you even get there.

Re:More Info Regarding Its Features

[EvilAlien]

Do all those features sound like they are designed to make management and enjoyment of porn easier?

Image

[Leroy_Brown242]

I fear that the average user will think that the way AOL impliments VoIP and Desktop serching, is as good as it gets.

I fear AOL won't do a great job (suprise!) and people will think "VoIP sucks! I tried it with AOL and it never worked right!"

Then, they might shy away from other VoIP services that are great.

Internet Explorer... because we don't own it ... ?

[popo]

Someone please remind me why AOL bought Netscape again?

Does it strike anyone else as odd that AOL does almost everything they possibly can to *not* add market value to one of their best known brands?

You'd think with the amount of cash AOL has on hand, and with the entire marketplace suddenly beginning to question whether or not IE is worth the trouble... they'd slap some of the dust of Netscape and breathe some life into it. No?

Standalone?

[Living WTF]

How could it be standalone when it uses the (already installed, I guess) Internet Explorer rendering engine?

VoIP and dial-up?

[SaDan]

I wonder how many people AOL will get to subscribe to VoIP services using their 56K dial-up connection?

free coasters

[mottie]

I haven't gotten any of those funky multicolored coasters in the mail for a while, I hope this means that AOL will start sending them out again!

Who paid?

[Elektroschock]

As far as I know AOL owned Netscape and funded Mozilla development. Then MS paid them large amounts of money that they continue to support their IE Engine. It was a multimillion deal. A real payoff for open source investment that secures independence. As some economists told us monopolies are not that bad as long as there is the option of antoher player to enter the market and take it over. It is really funny to see MS paying for IE usage.

Re:Internet Explorer... because we don't own it ..

[bill_mcgonigle]

Someone please remind me why AOL bought Netscape again?

For leverage against Microsoft.

They don't want to fight the IE-only sites with either development resources or educational resources.

Re:Internet Explorer... because we don't own it ..

[EnronHaliburton2004]

Someone please remind me why AOL bought Netscape again?

They bought it for the Netscape brand and the netscape.com portal to aquire more customers for their advertising business. The Netscape Browser wasn't on the top of their wishlist at all. Maybe Netscape allowed AOL to hedge their bets in the grand MSN vs AOL battle, and they probably used the browser while negotiating with Microsoft. But really, in 1998, Netscape 4.x was really starting to suck in comparison to IE.

Here was Steve Case's case for the purchase. Notice how he doesn't mention 'browser':

"Netscape's brand, portal, and people will help turn the promise of electronic commerce into reality," said AOL chief executive Steve Case in a conference call.

They're also icing non-AIM clients...

[Evro]

I've had 3 screennames banned from AIM in the past 2 weeks due to using a non-AOL client (I've been using naim, a command-line aim client). One of the banned screennames had been mine since 1997. The page they direct you to - www.aim.com/suspended_accout - results in a 404 for me.

Received: by 10.54.59.6 with SMTP id h6mr97856wra;
Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:03:03 -0800 (PST)
Return-Path: <newman@newman.newman-grt.oscar.aol.com>
From: AOL Instant Messenger <newman@newman.newman-grt.oscar.aol.com>
To:
Sub ject: AIM Account suspended!
Mime-Version: 1.0
Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:03:03 -0800 (PST)

AIM User

We have detected that the AIM Screen Name sixtyfourcubits associated with
this email address has been used in a way that violates the terms and
conditions of the AOL Instant Messenger service. Because of these
violations, AOL has suspended the use of this screen name. If you
believe that this suspension has occurred in error, please fill out the
form located at www.aim.com/suspended_accout. By providing accurate
information, you will enable us to properly investigate the situation.

Sincerely,
The AOL Instant Messenger Team*

* Please note this e-mail is not a commercial e-mail and is intended
only to provide official notice about an AOL Instant Messenger account
identified with this e-mail address.

Re:They're also icing non-AIM clients...

[Derek Pomery]

I've had the same problem.
Although I'm being generous and ascribing it to:
12/10/2004 If you recently began receiving an error message indicating that your sign on has been blocked because your account has been suspended, please be patient as we restore the accounts over the next several days. We apologize for the inconvenience.

In the bug list.
I hope this is the case, since my login is just as old.

Licensing or Fighting Adobe Patent?

[bill_mcgonigle]

We've lacked tear-off tabs in all kinds of applications for a decade because USPTO gave Adobe a patent on it and they've gone after companies who infringe on it.