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AOL Updates: Standalone Browser, Search, VoIP

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the still-building-time-machine-for-stock-purchase dept.

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."

6 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. Blecchhh! by Stanistani · · Score: 5, Interesting

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

    --
    You can't talk about Wikipedia's flaws on Wikipedia
  2. Based on Internet Explorer by JWW · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

  3. Any news on... by GillBates0 · · Score: 5, Funny
    when they'll be done testing and start mailing out the new CDs?

    I'm building a roof for my cubicle.

    --
    An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
  4. More Info Regarding Its Features by Alien+Venom · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

    1. Re:More Info Regarding Its Features by EvilAlien · · Score: 5, Funny

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

      --
      perl -e 'print $i=pack(c5, (41*2), sqrt(7056), (unpack(c,H)-2), oct(115), 10)'
  5. Standalone? by Living+WTF · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

    --
    I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.