Introducing NEW Beta Features
to Make AOL.com Your Own!
Posted Jun 18th 2007 10:43AM by Lisa Edwards
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 .
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About The Team
My Name is Lisa and I'm the Product Lead for AOL.COM. In short, I lead the team that designs, builds the new versions of AOL.com and make sure that current experience run smoothly. My mission (the team's mission) is to build the best home page for you and everyone that visits AOL.com. This is definitely NOT a one person operation. It takes a village! And I'll be introducing you to the team behind the scenes in the coming weeks.
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 6)
21. So far, so good! I always welcome AOL's improvements and thus far, I'm pleased with the new look. I am confident you will continue to make changes and adjustments in the future and I look forward to experiencing them. I'm a big AOL fan. My family still accesses mostly through traditional AOL (9.0 VR), but I usually access through IE7. Either way, AOL is tops for my money (even though AOL through IE7 is free to me. I still pay minimal amount for family to use traditional AOL so that I/we have access to customer service and support with questions/problems). Thanks for everything.
Posted at 9:22AM on Jun 28th 2007 by jawperk
22. I understand someone has to pay for this, however do we need this much advertisement on a home page. Also it looks like a carbon copy of Yahoo.
Explorer 7 does not work with this page it will lock up when opening multi tabs, had uninstall it and use old Explorer 6.
Posted at 9:53AM on Jun 28th 2007 by hlutz90382
23. I Love this aol its better then before and i love the e-mail its new to its awsome i really like it!
Posted at 11:22AM on Jun 28th 2007 by Rowzeecheeks
24. This version is alot better than the other "new" version. I didn't like that version because it was too cluttered and the email window was too small.
Posted at 1:33PM on Jun 28th 2007 by LPuryearl
25. Hate the new look of your homepage and email, sorry. Why fix something they ain't broken. Btw, you now are offering McAFee virus protection. I downloaded it from you offer and I think I have a virus now! I"m not kidding!!! My audio went to hell (is delayed and skips ever since the download) and my computer won't respond in a appropriate manner or a timely manner. When I try to click on a page It takes 5 mins to switch a page or it just freezes! I tried to delete the Mcafee program but everytime I sign onto the internet (using your service) it automatically gets downloaded again. DON'T LIKE OR WONT IT ANYMORE. How can I get rid of Mcafee virus program? Also, I want the old version of the homepage and email -the one without all the buzz(news, ads in my email,etc)... how do I get It back? Rather Frustrated in Connecticut...
Posted at 1:41PM on Jun 28th 2007 by jlg42400
26. I don't have the aol software nor do I want it but when I go to check my mail @ aol.com IT IS SO SLOW. Its rediculous!!!!!!!!
Posted at 4:12PM on Jun 28th 2007 by RachaelSav
27. I love it!
Posted at 4:43PM on Jun 28th 2007 by jdowdy
28. where the heck are the message boards?? this new format is terrible!!!!!!!!! I have deleted my aol programs and will just use my screen name to get my mail...AOL, I HAVE HAD IT..
Posted at 4:49PM on Jun 28th 2007 by potsiegb
29. i had aol but now i have embarq high speed.
so i have to log into aim through visiting aol.com since i no longer log into aol.
Now that the page has been changed in the last few days the aim service will not work.
it comes up but it doesnt load.
i download the aim 6 and it allows my buddy list to appear but i cant do anything.
i can send aim.
i cant view anybodys away messages.
and if i try to do anything it sends me to aol to log in,
but i no longer have the dial up connection to log on to aol.
Posted at 10:13PM on Jun 28th 2007 by IHaVeIsSuEs316
30. I love the new look. It is very clean and profesional look. It does have a Yahoo! type look to it but it does look nice and gives the information that we need.
Thanks,
Scott
Posted at 7:42PM on Jun 29th 2007 by scottulbrich2006
31. i think the changes are great (page color options, etc), but how do i make them permanent after i customize? they seem to go back to default settings each time i log off/log on.
Posted at 9:13AM on Jun 30th 2007 by watrbro
32. I think that the new AOL is cool and easy to use. It is always good for a change!
Posted at 6:18PM on Jun 30th 2007 by Kelly
33. This new welcome page looks awesome. I will enjoy visiting it much more than the old one. Good job AOL!
Posted at 6:30PM on Jun 30th 2007 by rbsmith48
34. When is it going to be up I think it's cool Let me know when I can start using it
Posted at 9:56PM on Jun 30th 2007 by ccat104
35. I just returned home after 1 1/2 week vacation and found the new email format. I HATE it. You can't read anything all at one time. It is too small. I liked the first format much much better. It is just too hard for me to navigate!
Posted at 10:01PM on Jun 30th 2007 by bettyjrb
36. You have to be kidding. Yahoo should sue your rear. This is junk, I will now use another for my home page. Why fix somehthing that is not broken?
Posted at 12:56AM on Jul 1st 2007 by Dan
37. Can we personalise this page to show what we want rather that what aol gives us?
Looks great
Posted at 10:04AM on Jul 1st 2007 by roliverio54
38. I have been using AOL for years.Lately it seems like there are more problems such as error codes, freezing, and being extremely slow. I do not like the new E-mail setup or the or the new homepage, it looks like Yahoo!
Thanks, Jeff
Posted at 10:47AM on Jul 1st 2007 by jeff
39. Well it looks great! but that may be because it looks exactly like the Yahoo site...
Posted at 3:36PM on Jul 1st 2007 by thycheesy1
40. I do like the look of the beta version homepage very much. Looks hauntingly familiar though..(yahoo's home page is the exact same layout., which I always liked anyway, so I was pleasantly surprised to see AOL do the same thing. could this possibly be the "merger" everyone is talking about?
Posted at 1:21PM on Jul 2nd 2007 by Kathy