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 4 of 6)
61. Whenever you use Safari to check your mail online through aol.com you get signed off when you try to open your mailbox. I've used Safari on three different Mac machines and I get signed off on all of them when my mail box is opening. My account is on a PC at home, but AOL should try to become more Mac friendly. However, I do know as a web developer myself that Safari and Firefox are a huge pain to design for because they don't recognize a lot of features that Explorer will.
Posted at 9:55AM on Jul 12th 2007 by JTLawrenceJr
62. I like the new look, but when I go to my e-mail, why does it have a news pop-up? I saw the news on the first page when I went to aol.com. Really don't need it again, and always have to close it to view a specific e-mail.
Also, the e-mail preview on the main page is not working.
Jeanne
Posted at 11:19AM on Jul 12th 2007 by jkoenig317
63. i like your new front for the home page.
Posted at 12:35PM on Jul 13th 2007 by rusty lawson
64. Wow! I had to double check and make sure I had not gone to Yahoo's home page. I guess I could tolerate the fact that you decided to look like twins with Yahoo, but please please please tell me you are not going to act like them too...
Posted at 3:57PM on Jul 14th 2007 by petitsecretsale
65. I keep on hearing that the new AOL is here. How do I download it. The one download that I triewd on your new windows screen was for the same version I currently have.
So, please tell me how to download the new AOL.
Posted at 4:14AM on Jul 15th 2007 by srolors
66. Don't really like it. Way too busy. Lots of information I have no interest in. It is too wide as well. I really don't need to see the news popup when reading mail. I can always go back to main page to do that.
Posted at 2:10AM on Jul 16th 2007 by MissyHeart6
67. Look! I'm at YAHOO! Oh no wait, this is AOL.
Guys...AOL is now YAHOO. How original!
Posted at 6:07PM on Jul 16th 2007 by claudia
68. I'm still waiting for the help I've written AOL about at least 5 times so far. Why can't you let my address book come up with all the names and address that you have in the system? I keep getting a blank page. I'm genually ticked!!!!
Posted at 9:20PM on Jul 17th 2007 by tts505
69. AOL's new features mean nothing when I can't even get a web page to open! So far I've tried updating AOL and then completely removing it from my computer and reloading the program, to no avail. What a load of manure. I've been an AOL subscriber for nearly 10 years, but I've finally had it. Get it fixed, or I'm out of here.
Posted at 4:07PM on Jul 22nd 2007 by wrldcitces
70. I like the new email better than the old one. Everything seems to be working fine for me. I suggest to anyone if you have Internet Explorer installed on your computer download the AOL Explorer browser. With regular Internet explorer I was having problems with almost everything then I downloaded the AOL Explorer Browser and since then I haven't had a single problem. Also for those who like the old style better go download the AOL application for AOL 9.0 VR its still there.
Posted at 5:44PM on Jul 22nd 2007 by kandrewtna81
71. I really wish you folks @ AOL would stop screwing around with the service. It is becoming less and less user friendly. If you want to improve service...stop the excessive advertisement that we must put up with, and leave the screens alone!
Posted at 5:56PM on Jul 22nd 2007 by Jim Karns
72. Wow!!! Is all I can say about the new AOL Homepage. I love it. For those of you who keep saying that it looks like Yahoo! yeah I agree it does but there is a solution to this problem. If you notice at the top right of the page there is a place where you can change the color of the page. Also there is a button that looks like a little square with little dots inside it. Click on that I did and it makes the page look similar to what the old one used to look like but with a better and fresher new look. Hopefully this helps out some of you who don't like the Yahoo look of the new page.
Posted at 5:57PM on Jul 22nd 2007 by kandrewtna81
73. Since you updated your web site I have been unable to access my E-mail from my home which I had been able to do before. I hardly find this an improvement and it is a terrible inconvenience. I keep getting a page that tells me my hours are finished. ?????? I would so like to see this arrangement fixed. I reside at 1320 Northern Blvd Manhasset NY 11030.
Sincerely, Teresa Raftery
Posted at 1:24PM on Jul 24th 2007 by TERASTPAT
74. I have been with AOL for a number of years, which means I have gotten older and guess what, the font has gotten smaller and bifocals do not help. It is just too small. That is just great, I always have to squint my eyes so tight to read it, I almost have to close my eyes-while squinting and wearing bifocals to read it and still cannot figure out what the heck it is. Most of the time it does not print in a normal font-10-12 pt font-- it prints just the same way it is viewed, -60 pt font.
Posted at 9:39AM on Jul 26th 2007 by YLBarton
75. I like your old version much better. I like your old Post Your Thoughts better too. Your new site does not get other responses to your thoughts.
Bring the old AOL back.
Posted at 6:22PM on Jul 26th 2007 by joan
76. I HATE YOUR NEW LOOK. FIND IT CONFUSING AND TO HARD TO ACCESS LIKE YOUR OLD FORM. MISS THE POST YOUR THOUGHTS AND THE FEEDBACK FROM IT. SIMPLER WAS BETTER.
Posted at 11:50AM on Jul 27th 2007 by joan
77. Yall need to just change the whole welcome screen back to how it was around December or early january!.
That would be a nice change!!
Posted at 10:39PM on Jul 27th 2007 by azureblue2004
78. I'm having problems with E-mail and with my account please help!The attachment that sent to my email is not coming up for as spread sheet info. from my church it's a duty roster of all thing that don't in our church.it tell me it's not encode or damage that not true everything els work but that attachment also it will not open file saying to large never as many problem from aol. now it's sadding me that you're slow down and tell me sorry for the problem or we will started you again been with aol along time.
Posted at 12:49AM on Jul 28th 2007 by sarahburton5
79. I want the new aol. page. I love it. When can we get it?
Please let me know?
Why can't I try it out like I can at work.
Lisa
Posted at 9:01PM on Jul 29th 2007 by Lisa
80. Lisa,
We're glad you like the new Homepage! We are making the new page available to everyone next week, hopefully Tuesday. Stay tuned!
Best,
Lisa
AOL.com Product Lead
Posted at 9:03PM on Jul 29th 2007 by Lisa Edwards