RSSAOL Explorer Gets Widgets, Themes
By Nate Mook | Published March 17, 2006, 12:56 PM
AOL is continuing development of its alternative Internet Explorer based Web browser, tacking on a number of new features for version 1.5. The new release, currently in beta testing, will be the first major update since AOL Explorer debuted last July.
Atop the list of improvements is a Desktop Widgets feature that enables users to "tear off" a Side Panel and place it on the Windows desktop. The panel can then be used independently of AOL Explorer. Opera Software is adding widgets to the new 9.0 release of its browser as well.
AOL has also extended its thumbnail preview feature, which pops up a small image of a Web site when the mouse cursor is hovering over a tab. With version 1.5, the thumbnails will appear over hyperlinks on Web sites in order to give users an idea of the page content before they click.
RSS functionality has additionally been bolstered with a standalone screensaver. From the Feeds Side Panel, users can choose to install the screensaver, which scrolls the latest news from selected RSS feeds.
Finally, themes are now available to enable users to customize their AOL Explorer experience. AOL is making available five themes for the beta release, but plans to expand this selection upon release. The company did not say whether users themselves can create or submit their own themes.
AOL Explorer 1.5 is expected to leave beta in the coming weeks, and the company is promising to continue delivering new features over time.
"As part of our ongoing development cycle, we'll be making continuous enhancements and improvements to AOL Explorer on a regular basis," a company spokesperson told BetaNews. "We're expecting to test and introduce some all-new features soon."
The AOL Explorer 1.5 beta is available for download via FileForum.
hey does anyone know wat is wrong with me tryin to download Firefox? i try to download it and when i install it and turn it on it says like server to busy i have retried installing it but nothing happens if anyone sees this help me! (If you can.) Or just tell me a cure. haha (cure)!
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|Mistake it is aol explorer sorry!
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|I like aim explorer. I got when i downloaded Aim triton. I really like and i think everyone should use it as a default browser. The best feature i would have to say is the anti-spam check. Everytime you go on a new website it checks for spyware and other things. It is great and safe.
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P.S.- wat are widgets
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|People shouldn't knock AOL, until they've rocked AOL...
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|...
"AOL Explorer Gets Widgets, Themes"
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Now, all AOL needs is compentent and ethical management ...the filthy scum bags !
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The Computer Rodent
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|Widgets strike me as what IE4.0's Channels were supposed to be... and I predict a higher fad attraction to them at first, followed by a nice fizzle when they are abused for advertising and spyware.
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|horrible logo!!
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|Too bad it doesn't have buit in adblocking like Maxthon......the same could be said of the IE7 beta.
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|Too bad the ad blocking in maxthon, firefox, and opera all pale in comparison to 3rd party products that are available. The only reason these freeware solutions get so much press is just that, they are free. Free does not always mean better
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|good , but not as smooth as FF/opera.
very good eye candy but after some time it started hurting my eyes. the whole idea of widget provides closed source browser to have an alternative to extensions,i will disagree with those people who thinks that widget cannot be as good as the extensions. both extensions and widget can do same job, only difference is that most extensions are integrated into the shell, unlike widget(in opera), with increased flexibility widget can get better.
I'm playing chess in opera right now
10 tabs are open and opera is using just 40 mb ram, with this i have found a widget implementation that is more than just eye-candy,
i think ff's priority should be innovation but they(mozilla) have got themselves busy in security that is why ff has got some catching up to do.
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|The best IE browser shell I have tried. Has some really nice features. The widgets are pretty lame right now. Only as good as the web panels you have.
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|We all know how the AOL kiddies like their toys.
I bet they're all jumping for joy right this very moment.
Damn shame those 6th Grade teachers gotta put up with all that jumping in class.
Gonna be a sorry sight too, when they get home, and their Mommys tell 'em they gotta do their homework before going online, too.
I'll be sure to cry in my green beer for them tonight. :P
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|Stop telling us what happened to yourself today, don't knock it until you have tried it.
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|Gonna be a sorry sight too, when they get home, and their Mommys tell 'em they gotta do their homework before going online, too.
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It's a pity, Tool,that you didn't realize that Parental Controls in AOL take care of such situations. Really, drop your "contempt prior to investigation" and check out AOL again and don't just take the word of others who are just a prejudiced as you are against it.
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|lmao...
Leave it to you, Tom...
Thanks man, that was fun.
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|Sorry, man.
But they asked for it. Begged, really....for years.
You could say I'm simply being polite. It would be rude of me, otherwise.
Of course, I simply cannot do what would be just and right...laws not allowing me to transport that much explosive material and all, but I do what I can.
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|yahoo does a much better job at the whole widgets thing
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|Finally....Firefox leads the way in extensions but at least Opera and AOL have widgets now.
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|Too bad widgets dont offer anything remotely similar to extensions and the functionality they provide. If they did, I guarantee alot of firefox users would jump ship and it wouldnt be able to be touted as the "best browser".
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|I've already jumped ship. Yesterday Firefox lost all my extensions and themes for the 2nd time in the past week and has done it several times before that. Extensions aren't any good if the dran thing can't keep up with them.
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