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AOL Launches Alternative IE Browser

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

July 19, 2005, 2:42 PM

America Online has released the final version of AOL Explorer, an alternative Internet Explorer based Web browser that the company has been beta testing since last October.

The browser is a standalone application that features tabbed browsing, Web thumbnails and a built-in RSS feed aggregator. A customizable side panel enables users to load third-party add-ons into the browser, such as a calendar or panel that displays incoming mail. AOL has also included its desktop search product as an optional download.

When asked why the company opted to build its own browser, AOL product marketing director Kerry Parkins told BetaNews that "Firefox showed there was a market," but had "compatibility problems with sites."

AOL wanted to "pursue a course where people could download and the browser just works," Parkins said. "Once they got it installed, it just worked. All their favorites, everything."

Surprisingly, AOL has also revived its Netscape browser, which is being developed at the same time as AOL Explorer. Despite the products offering similar features, AOL says the browsers are not competing products. Netscape is built atop Firefox, but touts more advanced privacy features and the option to load Web sites using Internet Explorer's Trident engine for compatibility purposes.

"[Netscape's] portal is more business focused and more technical savvy, as is their browser. The AOL portal is more mainstream, with a multimedia mom and pop experience," explained Parkins. "[AOL Explorer] plays into that."

AOL plans to advertise AOL Explorer with the upcoming re-launch of AOL.com. The new browser will also be promoted on the AIM Today screen for AOL Instant Messenger users. Additional integration plans are in the works as well.

The company won't be directly telling its users to dump Internet Explorer, but AOL does think its homemade browser sports some compelling features that won't be available from Microsoft until IE7. AOL says it has also shored up security by fixing some IE flaws Microsoft has yet to patch.

Now that AOL Explorer has left beta, AOL will send a new version of AIM into testing that includes the browser as an optional bundle. The company tested this approach with an AIM 5.9 beta release, but dropped the feature for the final release following user complaints.

Parkins reiterated to BetaNews that consumers do not have to install AOL Explorer with AIM. But it's clear that AOL's 22 million instant messaging users are a good way for the company to gain market share for its new browser.

AOL Explorer is available for download via FileForum.

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By chjoe21

edited Aug 18, 2005 - 10:13 PM

The Best Browser Yet???


Microsoft to pay AOL $750M

Tech titans settle Netscape lawsuit, set seven-year licensing pact for AOL to use Internet Explorer.

The two companies also set a seven-year licensing agreement that allows AOL Time Warner to use Microsoft's Internet Explorer browsing technology in its flagship Internet service provider service without having to pay royalties. AOL Time Warner is the parent of CNN/Money.

The settlement is part of what appears to be a series of new collaborations between the two companies, which have been bitter rivals in recent years.

Microsoft and AOL said, for example, that they will work together to make their AOL and MSN instant messaging services work more smoothly together, and that they agreed to fight digital piracy and come up with ways for Internet users to legally download copyrighted content.

"While our companies will continue to compete, I'm pleased that we've been able to resolve our prior dispute, and I'm excited about the opportunity to work together collaboratively to make the digital decade a reality," Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said in a statement.

The world's largest media company and Microsoft, the biggest software maker, have squared off on several fronts in recent years. New York-based AOL Time Warner sued Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft in January 2002, alleging Microsoft had competed unfairly to cripple AOL's once-dominant Netscape browser.

"Our agreement to work together on digital media initiatives marks an important step forward in better serving consumers and protecting the interests of all content businesses," AOL Time Warner Chairman Richard Parsons said in the statement. "We look forward to others in the media and entertainment industries joining together with us to help to advance the digital distribution of content to consumers while maintaining copyright protection."

Score: 0

By queenkarimah

edited Aug 30, 2005 - 4:03 PM

I love AOL Explorer. It is the best browser I have used thus far, better than IE or Firefox.
Thanks AOL!

Score: 0

By Teeinter

edited Jul 24, 2005 - 11:27 AM

I really love AOL Explorer as much they have everything I need about to surf the web

Score: 0

By Drich

posted Jul 24, 2005 - 10:49 AM

AOL Explorer is actually a nice browser. Its the first good software launch they have had. AOL seems to have a lot of new stuff going on in beta and I have tried a few. Its looking pretty good. Look forward to future releases of it.

Score: 0

By Tokar

posted Jul 24, 2005 - 12:19 AM

They said they dont force it.

In the AIM installer they have checkboxes for both WeatherBug and AOL Explorer. I think thats more of an OPTION, not a FORCEFUL install.

Its a great browser and the development team is very active and available. They also have a nice set of messageboards which everyone with an AIM/AOL account has access to...no extra signup is required. You can talk to a few beta team members on those boards, its nice.

There are a lot of people who will say "AOL is AOL and i will never use their products." Well I think you people should lighten up. This isnt AOL 9.0. It doesnt come with all those junk-wares...like an included spyware cleaner, included computer check-up program, etc.

AIM 2GB mail integrates very nicely into this program. You have it sign in for you, and when you open the side panel for AIM mail it shows you all your new messages, as if its an RSS feed. Its really cool. Its too bad i have 5 other email accounts i use regularly.

You can also make a side-panel. Its really neat. You just have to provide the HTML code, and then use the make-a-panel side panel. Provide a name and a link to the HTML file and you are as good as gold.

Score: 0

By jackamus

posted Jul 23, 2005 - 5:18 PM

I used it once! I hated it. Then again I don't like IE either. Rather use Firefox. Just my personal preference. So you'll just have to get over it. What annoys with me AOL and these other companies. Is that the force most of their junk during the install. They need to stop including everything. Just give is an option for what we want and waht we dont want. Uggg.

Score: 0

By seal_fk

edited Jul 22, 2005 - 3:11 PM

I'm now happy user of AOL Explorer. I was first sceptical about all spyware that comes with it and all that AOL stuff. But when i read that he is clean i download it see what is all about.
So GUI is nice and clean. And all pages show like in IE. Double +. Pages load fast and tabs are better than in IE + MSN Toolbar and maybe better in Firefox. I didint test Opera.
So in conslusion AOL Explorer become my default browser.

And looks better than beta of IE 7!

Score: 0

By pkillur

edited Jul 22, 2005 - 1:13 PM

I tried this thing and kind of like it, Kind of hate it. I have a ton of information in my unofficial review (linked below). In what was totally shocking to me though, I didn't uninstall it 5 minutes after I downloaded it. It is at least noteworthy (unlike a lot of AOL software tends to be). Check out my review here on Uglyorangetruck.com

Score: 0

By agdartt

posted Jul 22, 2005 - 11:17 AM

The work around to having a link in a page come up in a new tab seems to be open a new tab with the same address and click in the link there.
Awkward, but works.

Score: 0

By mancub

edited Jul 21, 2005 - 7:01 PM

yes i too tried it thought at first it was good but now find the mail slot dose not understand english ,so that was tha,t unstalled of ones computer

Score: 0

By agdartt

edited Jul 22, 2005 - 11:10 AM

Seems OK, but unlike other IE browser shells right clicking on an internal link, on a page, does not offer "open in a new tab".

Score: 0

By dak0622

edited Jul 20, 2005 - 1:33 PM

I tried a couple of betas and actually liked the look of the browser. I also like the fact that they didn't ram other AOL products down your throat...it's just a browser. Having said that however, I came back to Firefox both times because I like the extensions (like AdBlock) and because it doesn't identify itself as IE and therefore add-ins like Yahoo toolbar don't work with it. It's pretty and an improvement over IE6, but it's too limited.

Score: 0

By edlowry

posted Jul 20, 2005 - 1:49 PM

I am uninterested in AOL's current efforts to "improve" its browser and other services for Windows users, or even MAC users. AOL is ignoring Linux users. AOL should ideally offer complete ISP services for Linux comparable to those available in Windows and Mac. At the least AOL should provide an official AOL dialer program for Linux comparable to the unofficial dialer available in the Linspire version of Linux.

Score: 0

By crashoverride

posted Jul 20, 2005 - 1:41 AM

hmm, I can't say the same thing about this that I do Maxthon (crutch for IE). This is more like AOL blatantly ripping the cripple leg off and beating IE to death. Lets see you take the cripple IE and add AOL bloat, more bloat,a little more, and guess what some more bloat. All this bloat will probly eventually make a computer sluggish and slow down IE. Actually almost makes me feel sorry to see IE treated in this manner.......almost.

Score: 0

By TheRecklessWanderer

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 10:54 PM

bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

That's like Dr. Evil making first aid kits. There has to be an ulterior motive, and trust me, it isn't good.

Score: 0

By riceboy

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 6:10 PM

Bloated, bloated bloated...enuff said. There are other alternative browsers that are better than this.

Score: 0

By ArabianNight

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 5:09 PM

AOL sucked back in the days...whether or not its good now does not change my opinion.

Score: 0

By Tenoq

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 9:37 PM

So did Windows first incarnation - but we're all using it now. :P

Score: 0

By capandjudy

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 4:48 PM

Nice in many way as far as layout and cosmetics but the user is once again locked into AOL services and content such and AOL search? and AOL mail. You can't blame them as they want to sell their content and the stand alone browser is much better than the AOL desktop. I would definitely recommend to those persons who feel more comfortable in the AOL Internet environment. It is definitely slick looking.

Score: 0

By richwise

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 3:53 PM

Not really an IE alternative - the user agent string causes websites to not recognize it as IE. I sent a message on their forum a few betas ago but it was never addressed.

Score: 0

By davidtb

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 3:53 PM

Why doesn't AOL use the browser they already own?

Score: 0

By SrLnclt

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 6:26 PM

Because as the article says, some guy at AOL says the browsers are not competing products. AOL for the mainstream, Netscape for the more technical people.

Personally I believe this idea is flawed. the more techie people likely use firefox/mozilla, since its the same core but updated faster. And there are studies showing there are "Mom and Pops" type users picking up firefox too - which I would think would be one of the markets for the new browser.

But this type of thing didn't stop AOL before. They own ICQ in addition to AIM. Both well known IM clients, but working on features for one never stopped them from developing the other.

Score: 0

By RobertM

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 4:47 PM

Well, they spun off the Mozilla Foundation into its own entity, and they don't even develop their own Netscape anymore (though they still own it in name)...

Score: 0

By RickNY

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 3:50 PM

AOL really has to work on making their installer packages have the ability to connect through a proxy.. This is yet another AOL product that uses a small downloadable stub to download the main application - yet does not have any support for configuring a proxy - hence, the download fails.

Score: 0

By jbaltz69

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 3:47 PM

A nice skin, but that doesn't change the fact that AOL sucks and it always will suck no matter what they put out.

Score: 0

By switchstance

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 3:55 PM

Um. Ok? Have you ever used anything AOL produces. AIM, ICQ, WinAmp? The core AOL service might not be for you, but that doesn't mean it sucks. AOL has the largest subscriber base of ANY INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER IN THE WORLD. I'd imagine the 30 million or so AOL members aren't *all* delusional. Try not to be so short-sighted, it makes you sound ignorant.

Score: 1

By wincement

posted Jul 20, 2005 - 4:38 PM

You have a good point. I hate AOL's Internet service too, yet I use a lot of their free services. They're a lot like Norton. The product they're most famous for stinks, but Norton Ghost is the best in the business.

Score: 0

By R and R

edited Jul 20, 2005 - 2:20 PM

AOL's membership is down to 22 million where did you hear 30 million? It is shrinking every week in addition because of their gestapo actions and will continue to do so until they realize they are not the god of the internet.
I stay here because I have many members of my mailing list on AOL.

Score: 0

By WelkerDP

edited Jul 20, 2005 - 8:51 AM

I used to have an AOL account, and to this day I strongly discourage anyone from doing business with that company. Their 30 million subscribers are mostly ignorant suckers that fell for their marketing and don't realize how they're being abused (including by some of their fellow subscribers and "AOL business partners".)

Score: 0

By drbillbailey

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 4:26 PM

Actually, I would contend that 30 million folks doing the same thing don't have to be right. They could all be wrong, or misled, or simply ignorant of the facts and following a "herd mentality." AOL's interface is bloated, full of un-necessary "fluff" and tend's to cause a system to drag over time. I tell clients interested in a quick, clean Internet experience to drop AOL and go with a straight, standard broadband (non-AOL) connection that doesn't get in the way of actually using the Internet. Just my humble opinion, though.

Score: 0

By switchstance

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 4:58 PM

That was my point. The core AOL service might not be for everyone. But that is only a fraction of the services overall provided by AOL. Mapquest, Moviefone, and AIM are perfect examples of GOOD services provided by AOL.

Score: 0

By Kamika007z

edited Jul 19, 2005 - 3:17 PM

To be honest, the skin looks simply beautiful. Compact, stylish, efficient, and to the point.

Score: 0

By DJGM

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 8:25 PM

Ho-hum . . . yet another pointless wraparound browser shell for IE, that adds
a few Mozilla style features, yet still retains most of IE's security holes.

Eitherway, you can put lipstick on the pig . . . but it's still a pig!

Score: 0

By Metshrine

posted Jul 20, 2005 - 4:01 PM

You seem to forget that these "mozilla style" features were, for the most part, not of their own creation either. Many of the features mozilla had were borrowed from other browsers. So please, stop with this "Mozilla style" feature comment, its old, and it holds no water. Just because mozilla got a lot of press, doesnt mean they innovated these features

Score: 0

By scotte75

posted Jul 24, 2005 - 7:26 PM

AOL has pretty much been the same since the Q-Link days. Q-Link on the Commodore 64 had many of the same features as seen on AOL today. Those were the good 'ole days thats for sure. I like AOL's broadband content today. It's what keeps me with them.

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Jul 20, 2005 - 4:36 PM

true

Score: 0

By rob1479

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 8:40 PM

Whats wrong with pigs :(

Score: 0

By shadowdawgy

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 3:08 PM

Ive been using it too, and like it as well, cant wait for the next beta release.. :)

Score: 0

By Mike162005

posted Jul 19, 2005 - 3:04 PM

Been using it since October, and liking it ever since. :)

Score: 0

By ranjkar

edited Jul 27, 2005 - 9:40 AM

I Download and Install AOL Explorer But Cant Run This Application ?

I Download 2X ! And test In Two Computer Pc&PPC
But Both ......... Plz Mail Me The Problem Solve

Score: 0

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