AOL Desktop for Mac Launched
Posted May 6th 2008 10:15AM by Lee Givens
Filed under: AOL Desktop for Mac, Announcements
It's Official: AOL Launches New Desktop Software for the Mac
New Software for Mac is Latest in Series of Enhanced Mac-Compatible Applications and Products Released by AOL
The AOL for Mac team is pleased to announce today that we are officially launching the new AOL Desktop for Mac software (http://mac.aol.com). Built from the ground-up by Mac users and for Mac users, the new AOL Desktop for Mac marks the first all-new and thoroughly modern desktop software launched by AOL for the Mac in more than five years.
AOL Desktop for Mac offers an all-in-one mail, messaging and Web browsing experience that is light on the desktop, loads in record time, and offers a variety of new features and functionality -- many of which were recommended by our beta testers and AOL Mac users. Highlights of the new software include:
- New, Fast-Loading Web Browser: Built using the same technology that supports the Safari and iPhone Web browsers, the new AOL Desktop for Mac software is armed with one of the fastest-loading browsers available. And because it shares Web components with the Mac OS® X operating system, it will never become obsolete.
- Exclusive New Version of AIM: Developed exclusively for the Mac, the new AIM application in AOL Desktop for Mac works alongside the new AOL Browser and Mail, offering users an enhanced text-based instant messaging experience that now includes many of AIM's most-popular features, such as Buddy Info, AIM Expressions and Buddy Fly Out.
- Easy Transition Tools: New functionality allows for fast, easy transfer of AOL Favorites and AOL Mail (from AOL for Mac OS X personal filing cabinets), as well as icon "tooltips," and a new AOL Support Portal for Mac.
- Tabbed IM and Browsing: Tabs on the browser and IM offer easy access to an uncluttered and organized view of all open windows, helping users stay organized and save time while online.
AOL Desktop for Mac is the latest addition to AOL's recently-released library of Mac and iPhone compatible products, including AOL Mobile Search optimized for the iPhone, AIM for the iPhone and Xdrive Desktop Lite. AOL Mail is also accessible on the iPhone. AOL has a long history of developing and supporting software and services specifically for Mac products, and originally debuted its service on the Mac more than 20 years ago.
The video posted below highlights several of the new features included in the new AOL Desktop for Mac. I encourage you try it for yourself at http://mac.aol.com. It is compatible with Mac OS X, Leopard and Tiger (i.e. Mac OS X 10.4.8 or higher), and will co-exist on your desktop with AOL for Mac OS X.
Link to High Resolution Version (QuickTime .MOV 1440 x 900 - 24.3MB)
Download AOL Desktop for Mac Screenshots
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About The Team
Welcome to the Mac@AOL Blog. My name is Lee Givens and I'm the Product Lead for the Mac and iPhone products at AOL. You can find the latest information on AOL's software development on the Mac and any cool happenings at AOL. The purpose of the blog is to create a feedback loop so we can hear from our loyal AOL Mac users. Managing a blog is a lot of work, so I enlisted support from the whole team...the Mac team is made up of dedicated Macintosh developers, QA engineers and Product folks.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1. Speaking of new AIM client, when can we expect a stand-alone, updated version for Mac users. 2003 was a long time ago...
Posted at 10:14AM on May 7th 2008 by Tim
2. I have come to this blog out of desperation. I am trying to get some help and cannot any avenue to a live person. I have downloaded and installed AOL desktop on my PowerPC OS 10.4.11 and I have all the pretty pictures and zillion buttons but it will not accept my password to let me sign in. I have look at your website for over 4 hours and have found no help and no way to contact you people. I am frustrated out of my gourd!!@!
I have used AOL for years and it has become less useful with each passing year. Now it is impossible.
Steve
doxozo@aol.com
Posted at 3:26PM on May 7th 2008 by doxozo
3. Does this MAC AOL software have all the junk software and spyware built into it?
Posted at 5:00PM on May 7th 2008 by Tim
4. So AOL Desktop for Mac is built on Safari and not on Netscape? Does it have the same speed as the latest Safari 3.1?
Kevin
http://dailybbg.blogspot.com/
Posted at 1:56PM on May 8th 2008 by KevinBBG
5. I would like to apologize to the AOL Mac Team and all the readers of this blog. I finally found that my problems signing on were my own fault and not the fault of the new AOL desktop. I am now enjoying the fruit of your labor and it is working great. Again apologies to all.
Steve
doxozo@aol.com
Posted at 11:57AM on May 9th 2008 by doxozo
6. Congratulations, on AOL's new endeavors. I have been an AOL user for years while on my old Apple IIc and Apple IIGS.
I remember when it was a set price for an hour of getting online, but the best was the super Apple Support AOL had. There were hundreds of files you could download and were not easily available anywhere else.
Now AOL is looking forward to the next computer revolution. The iPhone is just the beginning and more to come. I can't imagine what it will be like ten years from now.
Wish AOL the best.
Posted at 10:25PM on May 8th 2008 by Mark
7. How can we set preferences for font style and size for reading/writing email, buddy list, AIM, etc.? How can we get a "Return Receipt" like we used to be able to do when sending to another AOL user? It is a hassle to have to go to MAIL>MESSAGE ACTIONS>STATUS and keep checking to see if the email has been read yet.
Can't STATUS be a button on the mail window like it used to be? Also, you have already said you are working on a SAVE button. Thanks!
Posted at 2:43AM on May 9th 2008 by Susan
8. I've been an AOl user from the dark ages. And this new version is almost as slow as the very first version. I just installed AOL Desktop for Mac yesterday. Besides the fact that it is awful, burdened with ads and useless info on every page it at least corrected the connectivity problem. I can now stay on longer then 5 minutes before being logged off. Finally, it only took 3 months to correct. But a new problem popped up: I cannot connect to "gmail" through FIREFOX anymore. Firefox works fine if surfing the web but will not load the GMAIl page. I have no problem with the old AOL and Firefox on my laptop because I didn't install the new AOL. Does any know if there is a conflict problem with Firefox?
Posted at 5:50PM on May 9th 2008 by strolts
9. How do I import my old AOL Mac OS X filing cabinet?
Posted at 9:17AM on May 10th 2008 by bbronsteen
10. Congratulations Lee Givens and the AOL for Mac team! I love
the new AOL Desktop. Great job - I can't wait to explore all
the wonderful new options. Way to go!
Posted at 10:41AM on May 10th 2008 by rlicursi
11. Response time for everything is really slow on my PowerPC. I know its an old computer but nothing else, including Apple Mail, works this slowly. What a pain. Definitely like the new e-mail client over that old piece of crap. However still can't just double click on an attachment to open it, have to save it first. How do I import favorites from Safari?
Posted at 11:59PM on May 10th 2008 by Scott
12. My mail window has an exclamation point next to "Newl". When i hover over it, it says "offline" even though i have signed on. I tried reinstalling the software but still cannot get my e-mail on aol desktop for mac. any help?
Thanks, Daniel
Posted at 9:14AM on May 11th 2008 by Daniel
13. It's supposed to say "new". Also, yes i have clicked on the "get mail" and it doesn't work
Daniel
Posted at 9:17AM on May 11th 2008 by Daniel
14. Hello everyone.....I just bought my MacBook 3 weeks ago. I am also an aoler. To my surprise, my aol experience has been altered in a negative way. I want my normal aol experience back. I would love for someone to let me know what version of aol is best to d/l? looking for my normal aol experience! Thanks!
Posted at 12:39PM on May 11th 2008 by Monika
15. Folders created in "My folders" don't go in alphabetical order! Unbelievable! How the heck do you move them without becoming a subfolder of another? Just try renaming one too. Pathetic.
Posted at 12:42AM on May 12th 2008 by Scott
16. One word: Frustrating. I've had an AOL account almost since day one (about 15 years?) and have never been impressed with the software nor the service. And while it's good that an updated version of Desktop for Mac is finally available, it took me all of 10 minutes to discover a bug in the Import Favorites functionality. But that really isn't the issue, bugs happen. What is unforgivable in my mind is the appallingly unclear, convoluted mess that is the AOL Help system. Maybe there's a fix or an explanation of error code 800 somewhere, but I'll be d*mned if I can find a clear link to the support forums for Mac. Round and round we go! Free is about all the AOL service is worth anymore. Disgusting!
Posted at 11:47AM on May 12th 2008 by David Johnson
17. I have been an AOL user since 1998 and AOL has never given any considerable attention to the Mac platform. I was initially excited to learn of the new AOL Desktop, but that excitement dwindled fast to disappointment as I began to use the program and began discovering countless bugs and omissions. AOL is quick to congratulate themselves and the AOL Mac team for a job well done, but much like Microsoft, they have rushed an inferior product out to the public. I am a media specialist and beta tester and I would be embarrassed to have my name and professional reputation associated with this fiasco!
Some may wonder why I haven't stated my list of bugs and omissions. I have submitted them via the feedback form, as this is not the proper forum for such. I will continue to hold faith in AOL, that they will diligently work to turn this product into the great application is should be!
In the meantime, I find the current version of AOL Desktop unusable and will continue using my former AOL program (OSX 10.3.7).
Posted at 8:27PM on May 12th 2008 by siys
18. I have a MacBook Pro with 2.4mhz processor, an incredibly fast and powerful machine.
This software is painfully slow loading mail messages and moving on to the next message after deleting a message.
Using webmail through Firefox is much faster, almost instantaneous in getting to messages.
Major performance improvements need to be made to this new Desktop software.
Tim
Posted at 7:47AM on May 13th 2008 by TimGolobic
19. I have been using AOL forever, but on a pc, until recently. I don't get it. It's been great on the pc. Anyway, this new desktop one is OK, but I've just realized that my mail is all jumbled up. It will say that it came from someone and then the body of the email is actually from a different one, so I don't know what to do. I'm going to trash it and start over. Any other thoughts?
Posted at 5:00PM on May 13th 2008 by Lisa
20. 頑張って下さい。
http://www.xn--luqp2hrdr56aux2f.biz
Posted at 9:57PM on May 13th 2008 by 岡崎市 不動産