AOL Explorer
Encyclopedia
AOL Explorer, previously known as AOL Browser, is a graphical web browser
based on the Microsoft
Trident
layout engine
and was released by AOL
. In July 2005, AOL launched AOL Explorer as a free download and as an optional download with AIM
version 5.9. AOL Explorer supports tabbed browsing.
Widgets from Favorites. When the Tab Explorer button is pressed, a thumbnail preview of each tab is displayed in a full-screen window. The user can click on one of the previews to instantly access the page. Microsoft has implemented a similar feature in their Internet Explorer 7
browser, called "Quick Tabs".
Version 1.5 was launched in May 2006, and included many new features such as Desktop Widgets, Visual Themes, a Feeds Screensaver and various performance improvements. Desktop Widgets allow the user to "tear off" a side panel and use it independently from the browser. The panel will remain open and functional, even after one closes AOL Explorer.
When ones computer is idle, one can set the AOL Explorer Feeds Screensaver to display the RSS feeds stored in the feeds panel. Another feature new to 1.5 is the Show Page Preview feature, which allows the user to preview a webpage without leaving the current page by simply holding down Ctrl and right-clicking on a link. This feature is especially useful when there are a large amount of links on a page, or when searching.
In 2003, AOL signed a seven-year contract with Microsoft to use Internet Explorer
layout engine in their products and as such AOL Explorer uses this engine. Because of this, users can use AOL Explorer to download and install updates from Microsoft Update. However, unlike Internet Explorer, AOL does not use Bing as the default search engine. The future of further AOL-branded browsers once the contract expires is uncertain. AOL is the owner of Netscape Communications Corporation
which had previously published the now defunct Netscape
series of browsers.
AOL Explorer 1.5 was the last recorded version of AOL Explorer. The browser, even though it can still be downloaded, is no longer in development in favor of AOL OpenRide
, which in turn was succeeded by AOL Desktop
.
or Opera
. Doesn't support Internet Explorer toolbars."
Web browser
A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
based on the Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
Trident
Trident (layout engine)
Trident is the name of the layout engine for the Microsoft Windows version of Internet Explorer.It was first introduced with the release of Internet Explorer version 4.0 in October 1997; it has been steadily upgraded and remains in use today...
layout engine
Layout engine
A web browser engine, , is a software component that takes marked up content and formatting information and displays the formatted content on the screen. It "paints" on the content area of a window, which is displayed on a monitor or a printer...
and was released by AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
. In July 2005, AOL launched AOL Explorer as a free download and as an optional download with AIM
AOL Instant Messenger
AOL Instant Messenger is an instant messaging and presence computer program which uses the proprietary OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communicate in real time. It was released by AOL in May 1997...
version 5.9. AOL Explorer supports tabbed browsing.
Release history
In November 2005, the next version, 1.1, was released. Version 1.2 was very similar to version 1.1, but included two new features: Tab Explorer and RSSRSS
-Mathematics:* Root-sum-square, the square root of the sum of the squares of the elements of a data set* Residual sum of squares in statistics-Technology:* RSS , "Really Simple Syndication" or "Rich Site Summary", a family of web feed formats...
Widgets from Favorites. When the Tab Explorer button is pressed, a thumbnail preview of each tab is displayed in a full-screen window. The user can click on one of the previews to instantly access the page. Microsoft has implemented a similar feature in their Internet Explorer 7
Internet Explorer 7
Windows Internet Explorer 7 is a web browser released by Microsoft in October 2006. Internet Explorer 7 is part of a long line of versions of Internet Explorer and was the first major update to the browser in more than 5 years...
browser, called "Quick Tabs".
Version 1.5 was launched in May 2006, and included many new features such as Desktop Widgets, Visual Themes, a Feeds Screensaver and various performance improvements. Desktop Widgets allow the user to "tear off" a side panel and use it independently from the browser. The panel will remain open and functional, even after one closes AOL Explorer.
When ones computer is idle, one can set the AOL Explorer Feeds Screensaver to display the RSS feeds stored in the feeds panel. Another feature new to 1.5 is the Show Page Preview feature, which allows the user to preview a webpage without leaving the current page by simply holding down Ctrl and right-clicking on a link. This feature is especially useful when there are a large amount of links on a page, or when searching.
In 2003, AOL signed a seven-year contract with Microsoft to use Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
layout engine in their products and as such AOL Explorer uses this engine. Because of this, users can use AOL Explorer to download and install updates from Microsoft Update. However, unlike Internet Explorer, AOL does not use Bing as the default search engine. The future of further AOL-branded browsers once the contract expires is uncertain. AOL is the owner of Netscape Communications Corporation
Netscape
Netscape Communications is a US computer services company, best known for Netscape Navigator, its web browser. When it was an independent company, its headquarters were in Mountain View, California...
which had previously published the now defunct Netscape
Netscape (web browser)
Netscape 7 was a series of proprietary cross-platform Internet suites created by Netscape Communications Corporation and then in-house by AOL to continue the Netscape series after Netscape 6. There were three main editions released from the Netscape 7 series; being Netscape 7.0, 7.1 and 7.2...
series of browsers.
Availability
Currently, AOL Explorer is available as an independent download or packaged with AIM Triton. When the browser starts up for the first time, it asks whether or not you would like to use it as the default browser and encourages users to display AIM Today content, if installed with AIM. Both of these are optional and can be denied.AOL Explorer 1.5 was the last recorded version of AOL Explorer. The browser, even though it can still be downloaded, is no longer in development in favor of AOL OpenRide
AOL OpenRide
AOL OpenRide was an Internet application suite made by AOL that combined e-mail, instant-messaging, a web browser and a media player in one window...
, which in turn was succeeded by AOL Desktop
AOL Desktop
AOL Desktop is an internet suite produced by AOL that integrates a web browser, a media player and an instant messenger client. It is a revised version of AOL OpenRide. The Mac OS X version is based on WebKit....
.
Reception
AOL Explorer received a 4 out of 5 from PC Magazine in 2005, saying: "Even Firefox devotees should consider taking AOL's spiffy, feature-packed browser for a spin." Although it was also criticized in the same article, with the following 'cons' given: "Questionable anti-spyware tools. Some features not yet working. Can't import favorites from Mozilla FirefoxMozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Mozilla Application Suite and managed by Mozilla Corporation. , Firefox is the second most widely used browser, with approximately 25% of worldwide usage share of web browsers...
or Opera
Opera (web browser)
Opera is a web browser and Internet suite developed by Opera Software with over 200 million users worldwide. The browser handles common Internet-related tasks such as displaying web sites, sending and receiving e-mail messages, managing contacts, chatting on IRC, downloading files via BitTorrent,...
. Doesn't support Internet Explorer toolbars."
See also
- List of web browsers
- Comparison of web browsersComparison of web browsersThe following tables compare general and technical information for a number of web browsers. Please see the individual products' articles for further information.-Historical web browsers:...
- List of feed aggregators
- Comparison of feed aggregatorsComparison of feed aggregatorsThe following is a comparison of notable RSS feed aggregators. Often e-mail programs and web browsers have the ability to display RSS feeds. They are listed here, too.Many BitTorrent clients support RSS feeds for broadcatching ....