The New AOL.com Homepage Is Here!
Posted Jul 31st 2007 7:04PM by Lisa Edwards
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.
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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 5 of 21)
81. I don't like it you change it way to often.
Posted at 11:44PM on Aug 1st 2007 by Karen
82. You guys really need to quiet changing it. I get to know where things are and all of a sudden you go and change it.
Posted at 11:45PM on Aug 1st 2007 by kltj220
83. Loath it. change it back or I am switching to Yahoo. It is tooo busy & unorganized, not NOT at all user friendly. What is the purpose of it anyway, just change? Forget it!
Posted at 11:48PM on Aug 1st 2007 by PABLO
84. I love the new homepage and i'm glad that you updated it.
thank you,
Mckenzie
Posted at 11:50PM on Aug 1st 2007 by soccermac1996
85. I hate it. I can't find my favorites. I can't find my boards. I can't find the little hearts that used to allow me to customize my toolbar.
I have hung in through thick and thin with AOL but this just about does it. I actually pay money for this but I guess I will just go to AIM.
I have had a frustrating week, and I saw down at the computer tonight thinking I would have a wonderful relaxing evening with my mail and my online board friends, and this happened. I am thinking about just sitting down and crying.
It's not as user friendly as Yahoo, and there is way too much white for my tired old eyes. What a crock!
Posted at 11:53PM on Aug 1st 2007 by WoozerMom
86. The page is too busy and I cannot figure out how to comment on stories. That was one of my favorite things to do on AOL.
Posted at 1:11AM on Aug 2nd 2007 by Marie
87. This new AOL is HORRIBLE!!!!!! It runs slow....I can't stay in my email....I HATE it how do I switch back?
Posted at 1:32AM on Aug 2nd 2007 by jalexandria06
88. I hate it. Where is my favorite places link? Lost all my websites. Can't get to games. I am switching servers.
Posted at 2:19AM on Aug 2nd 2007 by ginny
89. I truly detest what you have done with the new webpage. I continually get blank pages when I call up a site or when I try to read posted comments. Pages could not be refreshed, and the system had to be rebooted. I had some email that couldn't be opened and when it could, I couldn't retrieve downloaded attachments. I spent an enormous amount of time trying to figure out why my computer wasn't working when I called up aol. I see from all these posted comments that the problem is your system. Please undo the changes...I LOATHE the changes.
Posted at 3:55AM on Aug 2nd 2007 by JBO
90. It boggles my mind when governments or corporations introduce "new programs" or something better for their citizens or clients when they haven't been able to manage, operate or excute the program(s) already in existence. And so it is with AOL. Before making any further changes or 'improvements', why don't you just keep what you have and FIX those problems, challenges before adding another layer of FUBAR! I spent 17 minutes today just trying to get to a human voice for technical assistance. When I finally got through, it took another 32 minutes of questions that in no way related to my simple request and with all of this, the 'tech representative' immediately referred to my by my first name. I don't believe we had been introduced so I advised since I didn't know him nor he me, he should not address my in the familiar form but rather as "Ms. Allen". This may sound snobbish but when I am forced to speak to a person in a call center in India who didn't know what a 'header' is in correspondence AND when that same person is performing a job which could and should be handled by a US citizen from a call center in the United States, I at least want some professional courtesy extended to me as the client an paying customer. I would, in fact, PAY MORE if AOL would move their call centers and tech support back to the UNITED STATES where it belongs. Trust me, you can match the wages you're paying to the folks in India, just go to an area of the US which is not a major metro area and there is a problem with unemployment. There're out there...........yes, and you could also recieve US government grants for training the employees in such an area and also gain receive incentives for bringing the jobs back home! Your service from these centers along with the stupid and time wasting "voice mail push 3 for this, seven for that," system which answers calls to your tech support are akin to have surgery without anesthetic. Yes, I could change email companies but that would be expensive for me and I'm not certain I would be able to adequately notify all of my clients; relatives, business associates, etc. of such a change. Yes, I put up with AOL's horrendous customer service so I don't inconvenience my clients, family; and business associates. Novel concept isn't it........CUSTOMER SERVICE for a QUALITY PRODUCT!
Posted at 8:35AM on Aug 2nd 2007 by b allen
91. I cannot for days get into my personal finance information which has played havoc with my investment club. This new system is terrible. Please do not make changes that cannot be supported!!!!
Posted at 8:41AM on Aug 2nd 2007 by jcknbrn
92. The new format is good but so many features do not work I have to change back to Yahoo. Clicking on the Featured items where there is link to a page just brings up a blank page with done at the bottom most of the time.
Back buttons do not always work and if you click on home it might bring up a another sign on page.
I tried using Additional Tab verion and that was worse.
Posted at 9:28AM on Aug 2nd 2007 by sasselassie2
93. Don't particularly care for it. Once I signed in, it used to tell me how many incoming email I had...not any more. And what's with this "default page" or "screen reader-friendly page?" Unless I'm doing something wrong, I can't tell the difference. Unless you're going to do something really spectacular..LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE! And for the person who made the comment about having to scroll around to see the whole page...well, I was able to take care of that by decreasing the size. Only problem is, now it's so damned small, it's hard to read. I'm not 20 or 30 or even 40 anymore!
Posted at 9:34AM on Aug 2nd 2007 by Nancy Allen
94. the new aol sucks, the font is too big and you can't see the whole page unless you scroll to the left and right, thats dumb. also the icons dont look eye pleaseing and the colors suck. also my aol email is always giving error messages ever since the new aol came out. i dont understand why you guys keep changng it. the last layout was much better than this one. im about to stop using aol. i dont know why i pay a separate fee for aol anyway when i have time warner cable internet access through earthlink. this sucks big time, im very unsattisfied with the new aol!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted at 9:34AM on Aug 2nd 2007 by babygirl83011
95. This "new AOL" shares a terribly similarity with the "old Yahoo!".... I think AOL should've stayed as it was. This is just confusing. Sometimes, I forget which e-mail I'm checking. O_o
Posted at 10:01AM on Aug 2nd 2007 by simdanimal
96. I have had more problems with accessing information, finding sites, speed since this last change. I do not know if there is a connection but it is very frustrating. Leave things alone.
Posted at 10:06AM on Aug 2nd 2007 by Connie
97. what can be done to get your aol addresss book on the home page?
Posted at 10:46AM on Aug 2nd 2007 by djordan325
98. I have now created my account, which I have had for years three times in one day with this NEW aol. The new AOL is bad, just like all the changes before it, and why? Because NO ONE makes sure it works BEFORE you shove it down the publics throat.
Posted at 10:51AM on Aug 2nd 2007 by zeinerld
99. I was trying to rate a video on aol.com and was told I needed to log in to rate the video. problem is, i didn't get prompted to do so. and i don't see a 'sign in' link anymore. i only found a way to log in by going to the mail and logging into that. then that took me to my mail. when i clicked on the aol.com home page link from my mail, it now opens it in a new window. super annoying, i dont' want a new window. and i don't want to have to go to my mail to log in, if it's something unrelated
speaking of logging in.... i just logged in to aol mail and haven't closed my browser, yet to add a comment here i'm being asked for my e-mail and password. it can't use the same authentication??
Posted at 11:25AM on Aug 2nd 2007 by Dan K
100. Looks like you are going to lose alot of users to your site/homepage. Your email even stinks. I have been with AOL for 6yrs and this is the worst I have ever seen AOL TRY to improve. One comment said Quality over quantity...but not for AOL it more ads..more crap..moremoremoremoremore...more people leaving..maybe that is the plan..insult web users to the point where they leave. What else could be the reason for AOL messing around with a site, which at one time was not bad at all..AOL 9.0 optimized..then LE, SE, Open Ride, Go for a ride...right down the gutter with the rest of the crap!
Posted at 11:25AM on Aug 2nd 2007 by PERRY