AOL Desktop for Mac, new browser, AIM client
updated 07:10 pm EDT, Tue May 6, 2008
AOL Desktop for Mac
AOL on Tuesday unveiled AOL Desktop for Mac, a brand new portal software for the company's internet services, representing the first such major release in five years. The client offers email, messaging, and web browsing services, as well as access to the company's various content channels. AOL includes easy transition tools, which allow users to quickly import AOL favourites and mail from the former Mac OS X client. AOL Desktop for Mac is available from the company's website.
The new application brings with it a new web browser, based off the same open source project as Safari, which shares its web components with the Mac OS X.
AOL Desktop for Mac also includes an exclusive new version of AOL Instant Messenger that integrates closely with the new applications suite, offering access to Buddy Info, AIM Expressions, and Buddy Fly Out.
Both the web browser and AIM client also support tabs, allowing users to easily organize their conversations and web pages without cluttering the interface.
AOL...
05/06, 09:15pm reply
... has always been garbage. AOL is like crapposoft.... they suck, always sucked, and now I have no reason to consider it. Am I alone?? I think not.
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
AOl Desktop for Mac
05/06, 10:22pm reply
I think AOL has done it right this time. This is a big improvement over the previous software. The web browser is ever quicker then Safari.
If you use AOL or AIM then you'll love this software.
scotte75ky
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Joined: Jan 2008
Totally pathetic
05/06, 10:57pm reply
It's pathetic how AOL has taken so long to release new versions of their software for the Mac. This is one reason (among many) why I stopped using them 10 years ago. The software was c***. The support was c*** and the quality of their connection was c***. AOL is c***.
howiethemacguy
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Joined: Sep 2007
howiethemacguy...
05/06, 11:09pm reply
I agree with you completely! But I still come across people using AOL! I try to talk some sense into them, but then I get that deer-in-headlights look from them.
gskibum3
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Joined: Nov 2006
AOL != c***
05/07, 05:36am (1 reply) reply
All of this AOL bashing and not one useful comment on the software. I know many people who use AOL for email, news, entertainment, etc.
The software is fast, and a decent good attempt at a renewed commitment to Mac. I hope AOL follows on with a more robust AIM experience to compete with iChat though.
AOL is providing free unlimited email for your own domain now, which I use for my small business, and those logins work in this client too.
Guest
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Joined: Nov 1999
AOL
05/07, 09:23am reply
my parents aren't particularly tech savvy, so AOL's good for them because everything's contained in one, easy to use program for them.
stovelkor
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Joined: Mar 2007
re: AOL != c***
05/07, 09:59am (1 reply) reply
Guest wrote: All of this AOL bashing and not one useful comment on the software. ...
I cannot agree more. The AOL bashing is reflexive rather than based on any negative experience. I have been using the betas. I just upgraded to the release version. AOL's new Mac client works and works well. AOL Desktop for Mac is based on the same MacOS X frameworks as Apple's own Internet applications.
MacScientist
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Joined: Feb 2000
Once sucked-always sucked
05/07, 10:22am reply
Association
Of
Losers
Mr. Strat
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2002
AOL
05/07, 11:09am reply
I will agree that it used to be that AOL was for the not so tech savvy person, but times have changed. Most people that I know do not use AOL dialup service anymore.
People in general are much more tech savvy then they were 10-20 years ago.
AOL offers a free email service, and good web programming to boot. It's not just for the little person anymore.
I've always used AOL services in one form or another, and I test software for a living. Their news and entertainment has always been a notch above the others.
scotte75ky
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2008
chat
05/07, 01:27pm reply
please, please, please can AOL fix their crappy bloatware chat client for PCs.
All my PC using family (they know no better) refuse to use AOL chat, since it is the worst piece of software out there. It can't even seem to do multimedia links with iChat, and forces me to have to revert to MSN or Yahoo messenger to talk to them (Yuck!)
As for the rest of AOL desktop - well at least they did manage to keep a few of their mac programmers - better slow than none.
chucker
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Joined: Mar 2007