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Sony Swaps IE for AOL Explorer on VAIO

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

January 26, 2006, 3:45 PM

Scoring a big win for its alternative browser, AOL has inked a deal with Sony to distribute AOL Explorer as the default Web browser on all new VAIO desktop and notebook computers. The browser directs users to a Sony-branded AOL.com homepage, which includes links to technical support and accessories.

AOL Explorer is based on Internet Explorer, but adds advanced features such as 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.

IE's security has also been improved in AOL Explorer with pop-up blocking and privacy features to clear a user's footprints on exit. In beta testing since late 2004, the browser officially launched last July and began shipping with the latest version of AIM known as Triton.

The deal with Sony will put AOL Explorer front and center, and joins a growing list of agreements by OEMs to migrate away from Microsoft's Internet Explorer. HP has opted to offer Netscape to its users, and Dell UK has reportedly settled on Firefox.

Sony will additionally offer the Firefox-based Netscape 8 as a browser choice, and users can always switch back to IE if they so desire. The newest AOL Instant Messenger client, AOL Search and other AOL products will ship on the new VAIOs as well starting this spring.

"Our relationship with Sony reinforces AOL's ongoing strategy to make our products more freely available and to provide consumers with great online experiences and features in the most convenient ways possible," an AOL spokesperson told BetaNews. "Working with partners to distribute and syndicate AOL products and services enables us to extend the reach of our audience."

AOL has recently endeavored to shed its image as a dial-up ISP and establish itself as a leading Web destination. The company has continued to roll out new features such as RSS aggregation and video downloads on AOL.com since the portal's refresh, and purchased popular blog network Weblogs, Inc. in October.

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By kholdstare

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 3:19 PM

yeesh another day on betanews where nothing but pethetic people think of other ways to tell people they hate this company and that company. oh well i only have myself to blame for reading these crap comments.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 3:37 PM

And your service provider, for letting you access these pages.

Tha bas****s...

Score: 0

By Kramy

edited Feb 6, 2006 - 4:25 AM

Mmm...nevermind. :P

Score: 0

By ds0934

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 12:17 PM

Funny how much emotion this one stupid article incites from everyone. A browser was added to a bundle deal. So what? Did the stock market spike? No. Did it make you run out and buy something? No. Shut up. You all need to drink decaf.

The only thing we should wonder from all this is why is everyone else coming out with better IE-wrapper browsers BEFORE microsoft? Maxthon (formerly MyIE2) and now AOL. You can easily write your own as well. It's not that difficult. So why does it take MS a year (or three) to make a better one? So far IE7/b2 doesn't look like much of an improvement over Maxthon (and it's sure uglier as well).

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 2:53 PM

Maxathon and AOL only have to appeal to a segment of the market? THey only write the wrapper, while MS has to do all the under-the-hood dirty-work?

Just a few possible reaons....

Score: 0

By maniakmx3

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 9:53 AM

Wow, did most of you even read the article? here are a few reasons why flamers are idiots.

1. Sony isn't "pissed" at M$, Hello...They will still have IE AND Netscape 8 as an option for users, Plus...Windows...Duh..

2. If anything this could be good in a way because Sony is supporting third party Browsers such as AOL Explorer and Firefox/Netscape. Give the UNDERDOGs a chance!!!

3. Why would Sony be mad that the X360 was out first? The Dreamcast came out before the PS2 and look what happend to it lol.

4. Sony's computers loaded down full of usless software? This is new? Dell? HP/Compaq? eMachines? THey've been doing that for years! Why do you think Computers are getting so cheap!

5. ALso like others said, AOL Explorer is nothing but a beefed up IE Browser.

6. THe rootkit thing is old......We all know about it. The jokes were funny the first 5,000,000 Posts....

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 11:26 AM

This might make more sense if it didn't contain contradictions.

2 and 5 contradict. IE cannot be an underdog to itself.

AOL *is* IE...with ActivX turned off and a few bells and whistles.

If you want a wrapper around IE, use Maxathon(sp?). AOL explorer is crap. If they want IE as an option, they should have used a pre-existing, proven wrapper.

Score: 0

By Kramy

posted Jan 28, 2006 - 11:39 PM

Maxthon. It's actually a quality browser(shell), but I won't have IE on my system, so can't run it.

Score: 0

By johnathonm

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 9:19 AM

Jackasses, AOL Explorer is Internet explorer with active disabled. Bravo!

Score: 0

By Mark Gillespie

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 5:25 AM

Great that's all we need. I purchases a Vaio laptop last year, and was very disappointed by the software bundle (the hardware was great thou). The laptop was loaded full of useless rubbish, including Norton SystemSlug 2005, and other cr@p.

Surely what gets pre-installed on a laptop should be driven by CONSUMER requirements, NOT corporate tie-ins???

Sony really have lost the plot, what with the Walkman Connect fiasco (which I am suprised Betanews have not reported on), and the rootkit.

Score: 0

By fanboy

edited Jan 26, 2006 - 11:28 PM

Wow, a partnership between two of the most maligned companies in recent history! It's like crack for fanboys!

Obviously everyone else is completely wrong about these two cutting edge innovators. Please tell me that AOL Explorer will now come with a rootkit plugin!

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 9:46 AM

Nah...that'd be the next version...the AOL Sony/BMG Explorer.

Score: 0

By twosheds

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 9:33 PM

Sheesh, who cares, AOL Browser is just a shell for Explorer anyway.

Score: 0

By treworld

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 7:46 PM

Sony computers sucks anyway.

Score: 0

By rebradley

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 7:03 PM

Perfect platform for another Sony Rootkit Virus. Sony really doesn't think much of the people that buy their stuff do they.

Score: 0

By crashoverride

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 6:41 PM

Hmm, AOL Explorer instead of IE. Not much change there other than the prettier look of it. I gave it a chance when it first came out thinking wel maybe AOL actually did something worth while......boy was I wrong. It's just as bad as IE at letting spyware and popups through. It's marginally faster than IE but then that doesn't take a whole lot does it. I will give it a plus for the tab thumbnail feature. Overall Maxthon, a shell for IE of all things...not a standalone...a shell, is better than this piece of garbage.

Score: 0

By drumcat

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 6:20 PM

It does smack of sour grapes, does it not?

Score: 0

By roj

edited Jan 26, 2006 - 6:20 PM

Waaaahhhhhhhhhhh!

My name is SONY and I'm pissed that MS spoiled my rootkit by deleting it!!!

Waaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

I'm pissed that the XBox360 got there first and now owns the console online market before I could get my act together!!!

WWWWWaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

I'm pissed that MS backed HD-DVD instead of my typical proprietary overpriced anti-consumer fodder!

WWWWWWWaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

I'm not gonna their bwowsa enny mooore an' I'm gonna my ball an' go home!!!!

WWWAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Two words for you SONY and they're not "Happy Birthday".

Score: 0

By wjrandon

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 6:58 PM

Good points roj!

Score: 0

By Tokar

edited Jan 26, 2006 - 5:59 PM

my guess is that the people who are ripping Sony for this move have never even tried AOL Explorer.

Im sure you are the same people who still think AOL is the worst company on earth and include crap with their software.

If you people would get a clue and actually try AOL's most recent softwares you would see that isn't the case and you would see that products like AOL Explorer are infact excellent products and are worth using full time.

I applaud Sony's move because it means they care about the people buying their machines and would prefer it to keep them clean in the process.
No, AOL Explorer is NOT spyware/adware, so get a clue.
AOL Explorer is a much better browser than stand-alone IE...and more secure.

And for the guy who says what is my reasons for liking AOL Explorer?
It has an awesome interface. It is much faster than Internet Explorer. It uses preview images of everything that is anything.

Its fine...you dopes can all go back to your your wonderful FireFox...AOL doesn't need you using their awesome browser.

Score: 0

By farmdevil

edited Jan 28, 2006 - 8:00 PM

You can tell this guy is a n00b. I don't think I agree with one point he made.

AOL is in fact one of the worst companies on earth. They have no product. We don't need them to get on the internet anymore, yet people like Tokar still pay them monthly.

Score: 0

By roj

edited Jan 27, 2006 - 4:34 PM

"m sure you are the same people who still think AOL is the worst company on earth"

You mean they're not?

"Martha! I can see the stars going out one by one... "

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 9:48 AM

I've used Netscape...I've used AOL Explorer (Had the joy of recently downloading and installing AOL's safe n' secure BS for a customer recently and gave it a test drive).

IE in an AOL shell is nothing new. They've used IE in this way before. I was...unimpressed.

Score: 0

By ker7099

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 6:21 PM

"Its fine...you dopes can all go back to your your wonderful FireFox...AOL doesn't need you using their awesome browser."

You do know AOL uses Firefox also right? They own Netscape which is Firefox based. So in AOL's perspective it doesnt matter if you are using IE or Firefox as long as it is their branded version.

Score: 0

By Tokar

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 1:15 AM

Im aware of that.

They are two separate teams...

HOWEVER...

If you talk to the same people ripping AOL Explorer they will tell you they hate Netscape as well since its just a rebadged bloat of FireFox. So you can't win.

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 5:52 PM

Another reason to hate Sony...

Score: 0

By Draje

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 5:51 PM

Wonderful. A program that easily allows spyware into your computer replaces with a bloated program. Should have just used Firefox or Opera.

Score: 0

By tenebrusmke79

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 6:14 PM

Sorry, but you're wrong here.. AOL Explorer has NEVER allowed spyware on my computer, and I have a spyware detector, and it's never shown up on it.. I am sticking with AOL Explorer and Netscape for the time being.

Score: 0

By Clockworks

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 12:14 AM

I think he meant switching from IE (spyware problems) to AOL Explorer (bloated).

Score: 0

By cooldude7273

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 5:51 PM

Ok, the Sony VAIO just got a whole lot less appealing.

Score: 0

By roj

edited Jan 26, 2006 - 6:22 PM

That piece of crap was never appealing in the first place - unless you happen to like large overpriced doorstoppers.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 9:50 AM

lmao...

My father in-law bought one. Hate the guy, so I didn't mind in the least.

Apparently he's had to send it back twice already and he's had it less than 6 months.

And he's been told not to use his restore CD that came with it...they sent him an 'updated' one. FTP (in any way, shape, or form) was apparently seriously broke on the restore image.

Wierd...

Score: 0

By roj

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 4:37 PM

Typical.

It's a Sony.

Score: 0

By 1uk3

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 5:19 PM

I've not used the AOL browser so I don't want to be too hard on it. I just can’t help thinking, what the hell is wrong with Sony lately? They seem to be on a self destruct mission!

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 5:25 PM

Yay?

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 10:19 PM

Weeee?

Score: 0

By fanboy

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 11:13 PM

Waaaaaaaahooooooo???

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 9:52 AM

Do you...

Yaaaaaahoooooo???

(yeah, I did it. I'm not proud of it.)

Score: 0

By 1uk3

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 7:27 PM

Lol

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 5:53 PM

ROFL

Score: 0

By DJInsomniac

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 5:50 PM

Hahahaha.

Beautiful.

Score: 0

By tenebrusmke79

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 5:09 PM

Just because some people may think AOL Explorer is bad, doesn't mean it is. I love the AOL Explorer. I think it's great that Sony and AOL did this deal.

Score: 0

By Das mod

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 5:46 PM

see, the people that think AOL explorer is bad, usually have reazons to back their opinion up....
where are yours, for stating than AOL explorer is good ???

Score: 0

By crashoverride

edited Jan 27, 2006 - 12:01 AM

It's fast, doesn't let spyware through, no popups

Oh wait, I just described Firefox, oops

Come to think of it, I really can't find anythign good about AOL Explorer. What can I say

Firefox Fanboy well maybe not a fanboy but I have no love for IE. I mean I don't try to cram my opinion down everyone elses throat if you know what I mean.

Score: 0

By Kramy

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 5:51 PM

And where's yours?

I have no opinion on it, [fanboy]except that firefox is better[/fanboy].

Score: 0

By fanboy

edited Jan 27, 2006 - 2:47 PM

Hey...hey....hey....let's stop abusin' the whole fanboy thing. Ok? Thanks.

Score: 0

By Kramy

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 12:14 AM

Lol!

No no, that would be [name="fanboy"]except that firefox is better[/name]

Score: 0

By drumcat

edited Jan 26, 2006 - 6:20 PM

Wow, now it's a totally overpriced paperweight.

This from the company that says spyware can slow you 500%. It might be able to slow you 100%, but then what; reverse 4x as fast? Can you go back in time then with AOL?

Drop $$ on a VAIO, and you didn't shop well.

Score: 0

By Clockworks

posted Jan 27, 2006 - 12:17 AM

THANK GOD somebody noticed that problem. I am tired of explaining to people that you cannot go back in time by not using and at the same time using bandwidth.

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 4:22 PM

So what'll it be: MS DRM, Sony DRM, or AOL DRM? Pick your poison.

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 4:18 PM

I think Microsoft needs to sue Sony for this--what's the difference between sueing MS for including IE as default browser on Windows 98 vs. including AOL browser as default browser on all Sony systems?

Score: 0

By ker7099

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 6:30 PM

Why would MS sue? AOL Explorer is based off IE so their browser is still getting used. Now about Sony bundling Netscape, which is Firefox based, as the primary browser your question has more merit. As for that Microsoft was sued because they were bundling IE with their OS, which was and still is the dominant OS on the market, to become the #1 used browser. Sony is bundling AOL software with their computer and does not dominate the market.

Score: 0

By Kramy

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 5:50 PM

Difference: The average person can probably remove AOL Explorer without fubar'ing their system.

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 4:52 PM

I am about to post this. I think we should go buy a Sony computer, and sue the hell out of them. Sue them for gazillion (is this word exist) dollars.

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 4:39 PM

Exactly.

Score: 0

By orizng

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 4:21 PM

sony does not have all the pc market.

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 4:40 PM

So that makes it ok for anybody with really no reason to sue Microsoft?

Score: 0

By Mike162005

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 11:50 PM

Yay!!!

Score: 0

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