One piece of feedback that we often receive is that its hard to find a story that you saw previously or had read earlier in the day or week and that is now not running on the site. So to address that, there is a new AOL News page called The Rewind where you will be able to see all the stories that had been previously running. You are also able to search for any Headline article that has run on our AOL.com. You can even directly subscribe to The Rewind Feed so you'll never miss a story again.

To make things easier on AOL.com, we also provide links at the bottom of each panel to some of the more popular earlier stories that you will now be able to still access on The Rewind.

Hope you find it useful!

Sanjay

Product Manager

www.AOL.com

Hopefully everyone has had a chance to check out the new Preview Panels including eBay that was previously spotlighted in our earlier blog entry.

This week, I wanted to provide a little more information about one of the other new Preview Panels - Health!

We all need to take care of ourselves, and keeping up with the latest Health news is of course vitally important. The new Preview Panel really helps to quickly and easily keep up with what's new in the world of Health directly from the AOL.com homepage.

When you select the Health supertab (click here for more info on how to change your Preview Panel options), if you put your mouse over the Health icon, the Preview Panel will expand and you will see the 5 top Health stories of the day including a quick overview of the lead Health story. Clicking on any of these headlines will take you to the complete article for more information.

Also included in the Health Preview Panel are some really useful links that I wanted to alert you to.

• Better Body Blog – Links you to the AOL Body Blog where you can read and comment on diet and fitness

• AOL Body – Links you to directly to the AOL Body, your destination for in-depth information about health issues as well as research and learn about specific diets, health information, fitness, and current health news.

• Symptom Checker - Links you to the AOL automated symptom checker. This is a great tool with content provided by the faculty of Harvard Medical School that gives an easy, user friendly way to help you narrow down potential conditions based on the symptoms you are experiencing.

I hope you have a chance to try the new Health Preview Panel and as always, we are very interested in your feedback. So please let us know what you think!

Sanjay

Product Manager

AOL.com

Each week we will try and highlight one of the new Preview Panels to give a better understanding of the features.

Click here to read about how to customize your own Preview Panels.

We wanted to start with the Ebay Preview Panel which is one new option that we are REALLY excited about. We know that a lot of you in our AOL community are also eBay users and so we built a preview panel designed especially for you. When you add the eBay Preview Panel, you get an area right on the portal to be able to not only search for items in eBay, but also track specific items right from the AOL.com page! This gives you the ability to access eBay listings directly from the AOL.com site without having to navigate away or open multiple windows. I know news stories, ads, and other shopping items usually jog my memory of things I might want to search eBay for, so this gives a really easy way to do that right from the AOL.com page.

When you add the eBay Preview Panel, the default view when you put your mouse over the eBay icon will show a search view.

If you type in a search term ("Boston Red Socks" for example – sorry Yankee fans...) into the eBay search box, the results will show directly in the panel with the items whose auctions are finishing soonest listed at the top. If you hold your mouse pointer over any of the items in the search results, you will see a preview of the item including an image (where provided by the seller), number of bids, current price, and the buy-it-now price.

If you click on any specific item from the search results, you will see a more detailed description of the item including how much time is left, reserve info, and other details.

From here, you can do go back to your search results or start a new search over from the beginning. At this time, you aren't able to bid on items directly from the eBay Preview Panel, but if you click on the item from the detail page in the panel, it will take you directly to the eBay site to bid or do other eBay actions.

The really cool feature we added is the ability to track an eBay item on your AOL.com page. If you do a search within the eBay preview panel and then click on an individual item, you will see an option to "Track this item on AOL". When you click this, your computer will remember what you are tracking within the eBay Preview Panel. So you can go off and surf the net, check email, do some work, pay some bills, and when you come back to the AOL.com site and put your mouse over the eBay icon in the Preview Panels, you will see your tracked item updated with the most current info and also have the ability to search for other things.

It's really useful to keep an eye on something your bidding on without having to spend time to navigate all over the Internet!! If you decide you no longer want to track a specific item, just simply click "Clear item" and then you can search for and track something else.

Try it out now at AOL.com and let us know what you think. We look forward to your feedback!!!

Sanjay
Sr Product Manager
AOL.com

Today we introduced 6 new Preview Panels that are now available to everyone and we are really excited about them. Added to the list are new Preview Panels for eBay, Finance, Health, Movies, Music, and TMZ.

To refresh everyone's memory, Preview Panels are the 4 large buttons at the top right of the page that expand when you mouse over them. What's great about Preview Panels is that they present a lot of information without taking up a lot of space and cluttering your homepage. Just rollover the Preview Panel to see the content you want without having to click off to another page. Plus, customization options allow you to choose the Preview Panels you want to appear on your homepage.

To select one of these new panels, simply click on the small triangle in the upper right of any of the Preview Panels (except Mail which is permanent – everyone wants to see their e-mail right?). Once you choose a new Preview Panel, your web browser will remember your choices and load these up for you every time you open the page.

We hope that you have a chance to try them all and see which ones you like best. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight each of the new Preview Panels on the blog to give you a better understanding of the new features and functionality.

So we really want to hear your feedback on the all of the new Preview Panels. Do you like them? Are they easy to use? Are there things you wish they could do to make it even better? Are there other Preview Panels that you don't see that you would find useful?

We look forward to hearing from you!!!

Sanjay

Sr Product Manager

AOL.com

Like the breaking stories, news headlines & cool content on AOL .com? If so, the Daily Scoop Gadget is for you - get the hottest news, sports, lifestyle and entertainment headlines delivered directly to your Vista desktop.

Find a headline, photo, or video that sparks your interest, and in just one click, you get the full article or related videos on AOL.com. This active little gadget delivers your headlines in a slide show format that rotates to keep you constantly updated.

The Daily Scoop gadget also has themes which allow you to pick from 12 different skins to match your desktop. Just click on the "beach ball" at the top right corner of the gadget then choose a skin from the color palette.

For more AOL Gadgets for the Vista desktop visit: http://daol.aol.com/vista/gadgets

Best,
Lisa

We received a lot of negative feedback from you about the color of the new Homepage. You told us that the new color options were too neutral, washed out and a radical (but not welcome) departure from the familiar "AOL Blue".
So we took your feedback to heart and went to work on a new set of color options that features a more familiar blue as the default color and a set of more saturated (some might say "juicy") color options for you to choose from.

But before we go ahead and make another change, we want to get your opinion on the new Homepage color options. Check out the new AOL Homepage color options and then let us know what you think. Do you love them? Do you hate them? Or do you not care that much? We want to know!

You can go back to the current the AOL Homepage color options at any time.

Another feature we introduced with the new AOL Homepage are Preview Panels. Preview Panels are the four big iconic buttons located in the top column of the page and combine navigation to popular features (on click of the icon) with a sneak peek of relevant information and functionality that expands down when you mouse over the icon.

We've given you a starter set of Preview Panels including Mail, Weather, Radio and Video. However, you can change 3 of the 4 panels (Mail is permanent) so you control what panels you want displayed on your homepage. Just click on the arrow in the upper right corner of each icon to display the list of options.


We are working on creating more Preview Panel options over the coming months so that we're giving you even more options to choose from. And we'd love to hear what panels you'd like to see on your homepage. So let us know.

Until next time!
Lisa

Based your feedback, it's clear that one size doesn't fit all. That's why we created two homepage layouts so you can choose the experience that works best for you; the three column layout (our new default view) or the two column layout that's similar to the previous version of the AOL.com Homepage.

To change your homepage layout, just click on the page icon at the top right corner (next to the color picker) and your homepage will refesh to display the appropriate layout.


We we hope you find the feature useful. Let us know what you think!

Best,
Lisa

After months of Beta testing, we are pleased announce that the new AOL.com Homepage has been released to all users! Today's release includes a mix of popular Beta features plus a few new ones that we're really excited about, and hope you feel the same.

And while it's tempting to outline all of the features released today, we don't want to overwhelm you with information. We will, instead, introduce a new feature each week here on the Homepage Blog so we can go into greater detail about the feature and supporting functionality, as well as get more focused feedback and comments from you along the way.

So this week's Feature Spotlight is on one of the new homepage customization options; the Color Picker.

The new default homepage color was one of the commented topics during our Beta period. And while we went with a more neutral color (ecru, yes ecru), your opinions were far from "neutral". Some of you love the new default color, and some of you hate it. And while we appreciate your passion, color is a very personal and subjective thing. So we're getting out of your way and giving you a set of color options so you can decide what color makes the AOL.com Homepage more like your home.

And changing the color of your homepage couldn't be easier. Just go to the color picker in the top right corner of the page and click on the color "chicklet" you like best. It's that easy! So if you're feeling inspired, go back to AOL.com and change the color of your homepage now!


We will be introducing new colors in the near future, so let us know what color options you want to see on the homepage. And while you're at it, let us know what you think of the current set. We hope you visit us again for next week's Feature Spotlight.

Best,
Lisa
AOL.com Product Lead

P.S. We're still seeing a lot of comments regarding Mail issues. And while Mail is featured prominently on the AOL.com Homepage, my team does not support the Mail product and can't help resolve problems. The best and fastest way for you to get help with Mail related issues is to go to the Mail Technical Support Msg. Board for assistance.

We've received a lot of feedback and posts regarding problems you've encountered with AOL Mail. While my team doesn't support the AOL Mail product, we realize how important mail is to your daily life and how frustrating it can be when you encounter problems.

That said, we reached out to the AOL Mail team for guidance. So on behalf of the AOL Mail team, here are a few resources to help you get technical support and to provide you with a feedback outlet on the new AOL Mail product:

• Mail Tech Support Msg. Boards: Provides an easy way to get technical assistance and features solutions to commonly reported AOL Mail issues. You can also post your specific mail issues and members of the AOL Mail support team will respond. Check it out at: http://messageboards.aol.com/aol/en_us/articles.php?boardId=569193&func=3&channel=People
  
  

• Mail Product Blog: Let's you post your comments and feedback on the new product (features, design and functionality) so that the AOL Mail team can review. Check it out at: http://journals.aol.com/websuiteblog/productinsider/
  

Again, the above links are the best resources to find information about and comment on the AOL Mail product. Posting feedback and issues on the AOL Homepage blog will prevent you from getting direct and timely support from the Mail team.

So on behalf of the AOL Homepage and Mail teams, we apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced.

Best,
Lisa
AOL.com Product Lead

We are excited to introduce a new set of features that we released to Beta earlier this morning. Today's release addresses the majority of feedback that we received from you, our users, since our first Beta launch back in April, mainly the demand for greater customization of the homepage. The new set of features, now available for you to try, includes:

• Color Options. We know, based on your feedback, that the default homepage color does not appeal to everyone. And now you've got options! We designed new five color options, in addition to the default, for you to choose from including the familiar "AOL Blue". To change the color of your homepage, go to the color picker in the top right corner of the page and click on the color "chicklet" of choice. You're done!
  
  
  
• Wide / Narrow Page Layout. Think the wide body(default) layout is too cluttered? We created a narrow (two column) layout to provide an alternative homepage option for your viewing pleasure. To change your homepage layout, just click on the page icon at the top right corner (next to the color picker).
  
  
  
  
• Preview Panel Customization. Bored with the current set of Preview Panel options (Weather, Radio or Horoscopes)? Now you can choose the set of Preview Panels that you want displayed on your homepage. Just click on the arrow in the upper right corner of the Weather, Radio or Horoscopes buttons and make your selection from the dropdown menu of options. The new set of Preview Panel options include Games, Sports and AIM. And there are more to come in the near future.
  
  
  
  
  
• Navigation Enhancements. The AIM button is back by popular demand to provide one click access to AIM Express. We also grouped navigation to core products like Mail, myAOL and AIM with the Directory listings in the left column. Now you have one click access to the most popular and most used AOL features in one convenient location.
  
  
  
  
• Snaggable Top Stories Content ('SNAG'). The 'Snag' feature let's you add AOL Top Stories content to a personalized homepage or Feed Reader. Just click on the 'SNAG' button located in the top right corner of the rotating Top Stories module to display the following options:
  
  
  
  
• 'Add this Module to:...' Let's you add the AOL Top Stories module to a personalized homepage. Just click on the appropriate button and the Top Stories module will be added to our personalized homepage of choice (myAOL, iGoogle, Netvibes, Pageflakes) so you can stay in tune with what's happening even when you're not on the AOL Homepage.
  
• 'Subscribe to Feed:' Let's you subscribe to an RSS or XHTML Feed of the Top Stories module. Just copy and paste the appropriate URL into your Feed Reader of choice .
  
  
  

You've provided us with a lot of feedback on the new AOL.com homepage design since we launched the first beta test back in April. We want you to know that we've reviewed it all: the good, the bad and the ugly. Now that our blog is up and running, we wanted to highlight the major feedback themes and issues you told us about in the Feedback Survey and let you know what we're doing about them.

So without further delay, here are the major feedback themes:

1. I can't customize the page. The majority of comments in this bucket focused on the ability to add/remove modules, the ability to move modules around on the page and a few comments on wanting the ability to increase/decrease the amount of content within modules.
   We couldn't agree more! AOL.com is your homepage and you should have the ability to make it your own. We will provide several customization options in the next round of beta updates to be rolled out the week of June 18th. Features include the ability to add and remove modules in the Preview Panel area that currently features Mail, Weather, Radio and Horoscopes. You'll be able to change the color of your homepage and will even be able to choose a narrow version of AOL.com to be your home page.
2. I can't change the color of my home page. This could have grouped this with "I can't customize the page" but due to the sheer volume of feedback on this topic, we chose to break it out separately.
   Again, we couldn't agree more! As mentioned above, we will provide you with the ability to change the color of your home page in our next round of updates (week of June 18th). Our design team has cooked up five color options, in addition to the standard color, that we think you'll really like. And we hope to introduce even more over time.
3. I don't like the color of the new home page.
   It's hard to please everyone when it comes to color. But we are providing the ability to change the color of your home page in our next home page update, including the option of a more "traditional AOL Blue" if you prefer that. So we think we'll be in a good place in addressing this one, but if you're not satisfied with any of the new color options, let us know.
4. The new page is too wide / too crowded.
   We are introducing a narrow (two column) version of the homepage in our next update. The standard view of the new page is definitely wider than the current version of AOL.com. But the majority of you, AOL.com users, have higher screen resolutions, and we decided to go wide to take advantage of the extra screen real estate. The wider page lets us get more content above the fold line (less scrolling for you). A lot of Web sites have migrated to wide body page layouts. But bigger clearly is not better for everyone. So, you will be able to choose the the narrow version to be displayed on subsequent visits to AOL.com.
5. What happened to the AIM button?
   We're sorry! Please forgive us. We are bringing back the AIM button in our next update. So you will once again have direct access to AIM Express from AOL.com.
6. The New Page Looks Exactly Like Yahoo!
   We received more feedback on this topic than any other since we launched the Beta test. So we're glad to have an opportunity to address the issue, and to share the history and thought process that led us to the first Beta design. When we're done, you may still not agree with the approach, and that's OK. But most importantly, you will understand how we got here.
   
   So how did we arrive at the new Beta design? We started designing the new AOL.com over a year ago. We spent months in the concept phase, conducting focus group and lab tests to create the next generation AOL.com homepage design. We looked at data, studied our competition and talked to users. We produced numerous home page concepts, at least three or four of which were radically different, both from a design and feature perspective, from other home pages (ours, Yahoo!, MSN etc.).
   
   What we realized going through this exercise, however, was that there are a number of standards and "best practices" that have emerged in how good home pages are designed. Looking back at what we had done in previous home page designs and what Yahoo!, MSN and other leading sites had done over the last several years, it became clear that we had been borrowing good ideas from each other for many years. In fact, many of the elements of our new home page that might remind you of Yahoo!, like the "channel strip" with its colorful icons, are in fact elements that we have used successfully on our homepages for years.
   
   That said, Yahoo! is a Web site that a vast number of people use on a regular basis, and they built a great site. Of course we've looked at what they've done and tried to learn from it to make our product better. In some ways you can look at the AOL.com Beta design that you see today as a competitive benchmarking exercise against Yahoo! (all good companies do this). We've been testing it out with a small group of our users (you), and we've learned which elements work and which don't. The important takeaway, however, is that this design was and is a starting point for us. We are making changes to the experience and introducing new features based on your feedback. And you will see these changes roll out in the coming weeks.
   
   So, will there still be similarities with Yahoo! after the beta test is over? Absolutely! There will also be similarities with MSN. All home pages must deliver a basic set of features and functionality (e-mail, search, news, Weather, navigation) to meet users' needs and expectations, and we all learn from each other in how we best deliver these. As the home page space continues to mature, design standards have and will continue to emerge that we will all adopt: left hand navigation, ad banner sizes, search treatment and placement etc. So standardization of fundamental page elements is not a bad thing (much like you have certain basic expectations of how a Web e-mail or instant messaging application will be laid out).
   
   But having said this, we do spend our days in the office working on ways to truly differentiate the new AOL.com in areas that matter the most to you:
   
   
   1. Making the home page faster: We know you don't like to wait (neither do we).
   2. Ease of use
   3. Highlighting the great content you care about
   4. Useful functionality: We want to make AOL.com a place where you can get things done and not just find things.
   5. Personalization
   6. Local functionality like Events, Traffic, Gas Prices and more

   
   We will continue to work on ways we can make the AOL.com home page better in all of these areas, and we look to you for feedback and ideas on how we can do that.
   
   

So if you're still reading this, thanks for your patience. We hope this sheds some light on our process. Let us know what you think.

Lisa

We've made some big changes to the AOL.com homepage recently that represent the start of an evolution of the home page design. In the coming weeks, we will be introducing new features and making changes to address the feedback that we've received from you, our users, since we rolled out the beta test of our new home page back in April.

We are also happy to introduce AOL Homepage Blog as a forum to help us keep you updated on what's new and what's coming soon, and to let you tell us what you think. More importantly, unlike a survey or a "feedback form," this blog helps us establish an ongoing conversation with you. You provide us feedback and we look to respond. Having this dialogue with you is a critical element to help us build the best possible products, and we recognize that not having had one until now was a missed opportunity that we are excited to address.

So the obvious question, why are we changing AOL.com now?
The new AOL.com represents the first major change to the home page design since 2005, when we first began transitioning of all of our products from the traditional AOL "walled garden" to the open Web (Basically, when we stopped charging for subscriptions and made our content free to everyone). Admittedly, the current AOL.com design has some flaws. It represents some outdated design standards, features and thinking. We've learned a lot over the last two years and we're putting that knowledge to use to make our product better.

One of the most important things we've learned over the years is that you have choices. You make the choice to visit AOL.com and we need to work hard to keep you here. And we've spent the last year working to design a new version of AOL.com that's faster, easier to use, more relevant and more customizable to make your online experience better. We hope you think the new AOL.com hits the mark. But if you don't, that's OK too. Please let us know by using this blog. Let us know what you like, what you don't like and what you think we're missing. While we may not be able to respond to every request, we will be reading all of your feedback. And hopefully, we will shed some light on our thought process, and why we do the things we do. All we ask is that you keep your comments constructive and focused on the homepage.

So we're just getting started! We hope that you will check in with us often. We'll be here ...

Cheers,
Lisa
AOL.com Product Lead

P.S. I keep using the word "we" because running AOL.com isn't a one-person operation. There's a small team of talented and passionate people who support the home page. And I'll be introducing you to the team (my friends and colleagues) that works behind the scenes in the coming weeks.