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 3 of 6)
41. No offense but it is a cookie cut out of Yahoo's home page. Layout is virtually identical. If you are going to go through all the trouble of producing a new homepage, then at least make it somewhat unique and original.
Posted at 11:34PM on Jul 2nd 2007 by Chris Miller
42. i think the beta is a little to plain it should have accents in the colors like a blue that blurs to green when you scrrol down
Posted at 9:08PM on Jul 3rd 2007 by mattxcorexo
43. I dont like how the back button has been disabled and it opens a brand new window.
You can not switch from your mail to the home page with out it opening a brand new window.
Keep trying! It doesn't seem like your getting very good feedback from the changes. Change is good when there is a benefit. I do like how you can change your background color.
Posted at 12:37PM on Jul 5th 2007 by CCipoletti
44. I don't like the new one, it looks like yahoo. Could it be changed back?
Posted at 1:57PM on Jul 5th 2007 by hazdalyon
45. I think this new aol thing is really cool. it helps me get to where i need to go faster. helps me find things faster and it looks pretty awesome too.
Posted at 2:23PM on Jul 5th 2007 by paige
46. too much stuff and too much going on on the home page...no place to log in! and it does resemble Yahoo. please clean it up and make it more usable and less glitzy. looks like a People magazine cover in motion!
Posted at 3:51PM on Jul 5th 2007 by susan
47. When you changed the look, all the font on the Welcome page got too small. Can it be changed back?
Posted at 6:42PM on Jul 5th 2007 by katydid31496
48. I really don't like the new look....I liked the more softer, rounded look. The last look was alot easier on the eyes....
Posted at 8:59PM on Jul 5th 2007 by mya
49. I think that this new version isn't so great. i like the older version- sorry
Posted at 10:46PM on Jul 5th 2007 by pixiecandie626
50. its..uh..ok i guess. it has new features which is great! its a little crowded and it does kinda look a lot like Yahoo, but hey...its all good!
Posted at 10:15AM on Jul 6th 2007 by ekowlessar
51. Not very happy with the Beta, get an error message and bunmped off aol with every email I send. Have tried to get help getting off of Beta with no reply. I don't watn it until it works. Someone help me get back to the non-beta version, PLEASE> Thanks, RJ
Posted at 1:28PM on Jul 6th 2007 by RJ
52. The home page is too cluttered and the size of print in both the home page and the mail section is too SMALL. I find it most difficult to simplify and customize this mess and it is impossible to get any personal help. I have been with AOL for many years and have gone through many periods of frustration. Eventually AOL makes things work but it takes soooo long and then in a short time new problems develop. Surely there is a less complicated way to do this. I want to customize my mail and my home page without all of the extra things that are junk to me but I am sure treasure to others. I have found this to be true when I was a paying customer and now that I am a non-paying customer. But, I am willing to pay for a simple and useable system that I can customize without all of the junk.
Posted at 6:36PM on Jul 6th 2007 by wabeckham
53. some times it does and and doesnt let me sign into aim....it just shows loading buddy list and than a pop up saying we have encountered a problem...may you please fix that because its getting real annoyin..thank you and please fix that
Posted at 8:18PM on Jul 6th 2007 by portista90
54. Amazingly my last two posts never made it to suggestions, a liitle tired of COMPLAINTS and it is a cut-oof of yahoo. The new lokk is horrid and I would like it back to the old page. Thank GOD you are not messing with the software,as bad as it is with all the processes slowing down the pc. Take a look at all the complaints? Does it tell you something or are you just trying to pacify the AOL users by making them think their opinion counts, If it is not broke...DON'T FIX IT!!!!!
Posted at 12:37PM on Jul 7th 2007 by PERRY
55. I have NO problems with the new page... it's better than the current one
Posted at 12:31AM on Jul 8th 2007 by Cody
56. I agree with one of the above commentors, your home page is almost identical to Yahoo's home page. Not that I;m complaining, I like it, it's just a huge aoincidence or an outright copy.
Posted at 9:07PM on Jul 8th 2007 by admiraljim
57. After reading the comments. Every new aol customer has many problems. With new aol. I'll stick with the old aol. If it's not broke don't fix it!!
Posted at 10:31PM on Jul 10th 2007 by ij216
58. I don't think it is very professional with the "stick your tonque out" or "wink" while the wmail is being loaded
Thanks
Posted at 10:36PM on Jul 10th 2007 by Frank
59. This version of AOL SUX!!!! I have had AOL for over 8 years now and its always something!!! I havent had a problem since I began using it through internet explorer about 3 yrs ago.....until you guys changed it again! I havent been able to access my AOL Mail in over a week!!! Always get some kind of error message! Its only been since this "NEW" version came around! HATE IT!!!!!!!!
Posted at 2:08PM on Jul 11th 2007 by de35769
60. This new AOl is I feel not, NOT user friendly to the average American. You have to have computor degree. I would like to point out that everyone who uses your web site are not 40 and under. I choose Aol as it was user frendly e.g. easy to send as well as read members comments on a stoy. I truely miss the ease of just clicking Post. Now you have to go though many steps when you read an article. I know soft ware people love new stuff and are savy. But get back to ease of use e.g. Post at the end of an article. Otherwise I am sorry but I do not care whether I have AOL or Yahoo. The only reason I pick AOL was ease of use and reading what people post. Now it is more than confusing. You had a great sysem with post at the end of an article. As a user I found it efficient, effective and interesting. Now you have just made your service difficult, and frustrating as well as making none savy techies jump through hoops and language they don't understnad. I HATE THIS NEW FORMAT IT IS TO CONFUSING AND FAR FROM USER FRIENDLY.
Posted at 6:18PM on Jul 11th 2007 by Tellgmann