Slow! I can fix a sandwich in the time it takes to get a single video up, much less running! No freedom! causes trouble using anything not aol, which is a lot of the world out there! I hate it and am glad I am using it on a friend's machine instead of having to deal with it on mine. I will never get this. Never. No aol, no, no, no.

There is no change in the interface. It looks exactly the same as 1.2 (beta/final).
The same issues with Windows Large/Extra Large fonts still exist.

The only major changes are the ones noted in the OP.
The skins are basically like the Win95/98/ME/2000 skins. They dont change the interface at all. It just changes colors.
Yeah, it seems faster than 1.2. Memory usage seems to mimic Opera, as in dont be fooled by the large numbers as they seem to lead to better browser performance.
The page preview over link is pretty neat. You literally have to hold your mouse over the link for 5 seconds. It pops up a window like 200px by 200px in size which looks like a mini-IE window. You can't do anything in it as it closes once you move your mouse. Its meant to just show you a preview of the link. However I think its faster to just visit the link (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif). It works on all pages which is nice...not just google like all those IE addons do (IE Preview or Browster for example).

You MUST try out the MOSAIC feature in 1.2.3.7. Its AMAZING.

This browser is going places!!!!

Well... I did install it before updating it and the new interface didn't seem to have a lot of important changes... Maybe I'll find the time in the next days for some new screenshots :P

Excellent, excellent improvements in 1.2...highly suggest you guys try it out.


TOO BAD SOFTPEDIA DOESNT UPDATE THEIR SCREENSHOTS TO ACCURATELY REPRESENT SOFTWARE AS IT IS!
:) :) :)...
You guys need some new screenshots...the ones you have are from version 1.0.4234.122, which is version 1.0. There have been two monumental versions since then...1.1 and now 1.2...with 1.2 providing a much improved interface.

There is also build 1040, which includes AOL Desktop Search.

AOL Desktop Search integrates into the AOL Search side panel very nicely.

Journals side panel is now fully accessible.

I'll probably never use it...but its good that they added it.

I like that they are constantly updating AOL Explorer.

But only bugfixes this time???? :) :) :)

Its getting better and better.

The great thing is that along with the major releases on the AOL Explorer Beta site, you can get newer releases included with each new version of AIM.

I was using Build 94 for a while. I go and get the new AIM and it included Build 110. I get Build 122, and the new AIM after that includes Build 123. Now its up to 126. No sense in using 123.

They have included support for Windows screen fonts (in the window title bar), they have a new icon which looks a lot like firefox's icon, they have new panels, new this new that.
They are really pushing this browser to be the next best thing.
The great thing is that it uses an IE core and its very fast. Probably the reason its fast is because its always sitting in memory (which a lot of people complain about). But seeing as how it just sits there never using CPU and never stealing memory until a new window is opened, i dont think its a problem.
All AOL software is becoming this way...if not there already.
AOL 9.0
AOL Explorer
AOL Media Player
AOL Toolbar
AOL Instant Messenger (Triton Builds...not 5.x)
Basically you have two exe's running all the time...AOLHostManager.exe and AOL ServiceHost.exe. They are sitting at 3,168 KB, and 7,292 KB, respectively. Both are completely idle while AOL products are not open. So all these people who COMPLAIN about those stealing resources are a little childish.

Its a great browser, fueled by a lot of money (AOL money :)), and it has a bright future. It also has a lot of feature FireFox will never have.

This is the first review I've ever felt the need to submit here,but I've got to tell you..this browser rocks! Seriously if I could have built a browser this would have been it.It's fast,smooth and has alot of 'extras' such as the mouse over page preview.I like the neutral white skin, the large viewing area,the slim side bar and the close tab buttons ON the tabs.The only thing I didn't like was it trying to add itself to my startup menu on install,but my microsoft Antispyware(another great program) took care of that.I'm not an AOL fan by any means but this time they finally got something right.

well im not trying to make you use it, but people reading this mini-discussion we are having might make or break their own decisions to use it.

I didnt comment on this "update" thing, because Im not sure what you are talking about...which I why i was talking about AOL TopSpeed, because thats the only thing I have that keeps popping up (only when requested, though). I cant seem to find any kind of AOL Updater in AOL Browser.
Again, the only thing that I know in AOL Browser that only works with an AOL login is AOL TopSpeed, which is nothing more than AOL's proprietary service to help dial-up users get a better web experience by compressing images.

As far as the spyware thing. Just one of the users was complaining of adware coming with AOL Browser. There is no adware/spyware with this. Which im sure AA and SB will tell you as well.

Yeah AI Roboform...i know...it doesnt work. But i dont use it, so im not complaining. Again, why dont you bring this up on the Beta message boards? I highly suggest you do. one of the beta team members will reply in less than 1 day's time. They highly appreciate any comments on their product...whether positive or negative. They said their objective is to build the best possible browser...so anything that can help them improve is welcome.
Im not sure if you are willing to help them out, but im just saying you have the ability to get your voice heard.

Just go here:
http://beta.aol.com/aolbrowser/
and click on message boards on the left.
You need an AIM login to access the boards, so if you have one you are riding fine.

don't matter what they do to it tokar i wont use it cause my accelerator wont work right on it i have dial-up i realy need that im sure you got dsl or cable it so you would be all set. and there it still the update thing that keeps poping up you didn't say anything about that i can't get the update i don't have aol i use to but it cost more then its worth. far as the antispyware program that you said in one of your posts i got 2 good programs spybot - search & destroy and ad-aware se personal that works vey well. i use my roboform alot to i know that aol will never have anything on that browser that will come close to working that good thats it they even do put one on it i put in alot of passwords in every day to lazy to keep having to look them up and type them in all the time lol. they will never beat maxthon.

knightrider...

are you referring to the AOL TopSpeed? and it not working with your AIM account? This is a known issue. You should check out the beta message boards, and voice your opinion. The beta team replies on there daily...so you can get some help with the issues.

Im sure you also disliked the Desktop Search as well. There is a hidden uninstaller located at C:\Program Files\AOL\Desktop Search\uninst.exe...an exe with such a name...but it uninstalls it perfectly.


Unfortunately AOL Browser doesnt work with any IE 3rd party programs at the moment...though i have voiced my opinions on the mesage boards about Google Toolbar and Ad-Muncher...so we shall see. Im not surprise RoboForm doesnt work. My guess is that instead of making such programs work, AOL will provide their own software built into the browser to do the functions of 3rd party programs...but that is just a guess...

This is only the 3rd public release of AOL Browser (Beta 86,89 and 94). So give it time and it will improve. The beta team is open to all suggestions and such...so i recommend you head on over there. The message boards are accessible with your AIM account via the screen name service, and are easily access with the Beta slideout panel in AOL Browser.

If you dont have AOL Browser installed anymore, the Beta homepage is available on the Softpedia download information page for AOL Browser.

i think anything to do with aol sucks this browser does one thing i realy hate that stupid thing that keeps coming up about a update but you can't get it unless you have aol stupid morons should give you a chouce if you want to be reminded or not be able to turn it off. another thing i don't like is that my roboform wont work on it that works on alot of browsers. my accelerator wont work right on it eather i'll stick to the real browsers like maxthon that my roboform and accelerator work on and that has alot of good things on it.

AOL Browser just keeps getting better than faster.

Beta 94 seems much faster than Beta 89.

It now includes an antispyware program...and not that junky one that comes with AOL 9.0. Its called SpyZapper...well...its nothing special. It only has support for blocking and removing three spywares...Gator, TVMedia and eZula...all of which are removed by every other AntiSpy program on the planet, even the scam ones...heh.

The options menu seems faster.
The menus seem faster...

And I sure as hell know this, as my computer is very sluggish with everything...so i can definitely see the difference.

5/5...cant wait for the final version.

Im not sure what you are smoking.
But AOL Browser is rally good.

Ive installed both the 0.86 beta, and the 0.89 beta (this version on softpedia)...
1) they both have run great
2) i havent once gotten any adware/spyware
3) never seen a single hijack attempt.

Im sure something else messed up your internet and you are putting the blame on AOL Browser, because hell its AOL software, thats what its supposed to do? or thats what you generally think, right?
Well this AOL product is unlike your normal AOL 9.0 software....it has no intrusive extra softwares. Its just AOL browser with included Desktop search...and thats it.

It makes Internet Explorer more fun...i highly recommend it, contrary to whatever anyone says.
And ive hated AOL software since the beginning...

First off, if any of you are thinking that AOL Browser seems like a good idea to download and install, think again. This AOL Browser was working great in the beginning, then my internet would not go to any web page, it messed up my Internet Explorer and I had to repair and reinstall. Then when I reinstalled my Internet Explorer I had to do a adaware scan for spyware and it said that AOL Browser was a hijack attempt. Please Please whatever you do, don't download this crap, it sucks!

First thing you will notice is that its another variant of IE...which Im all for (Im an antiFirefox person...so im all positive on this one).

it has tabbed browsing...thumbs up.
it seems to run faster than IE, a lot faster...thumbs up.
it imports IE favorites...thumbs up.
it includes a popup blocker similar to IE's, i think a little better in fact, since you have the option to block richmedia...thumbs up.
it has a lot of cool things in integrated website icons, showing a mini-image of the page in the mouse-over popup box...thumbs up.
It comes with some REALLY neat power browsing features (remove backgroung images, zoom in/out, high contrast colors, to name a few)...thumbs up here.
Has some stupid but really coolr power browsing things...like show everything backwards (like elgooG is to Google)...or upside down...nothing I really need to use, but they are there for fun...thumbs up here.
All the right click menus are the same as IE...as well as have the ones built in from installing programs such as download managers like FlashGet or such, plus the Power Browsing menu...thumbs up here...
It comes with the AOL Desktop Search...I'll probably never use it, but its there for you Desktop Search junkies...

A few things I dont like so far...
I cant seem to get any toolbars set up...
I have my google toolbar (sure I wouldnt expect it to work in the first place), which doesnt show up in the browser.
I cant seem to find anything that would allow me to add toolbars the way IE allows me...allowing me to show my Links toolbar.
The TopSpeed tool (which is some kind of web speed up thing) seems to only be available to AOL users...I tried my AIM SN, but it doesnt seem to work.
The Installer is kinda dumb. its like all AOL downloaders...itll open some flash created crap thing that has to download some temp files which then installs. I would prefer installs to be one big MSI file or something similar, especially by today's standards.
The Settings window is a little slow. It opens fast, but switching between options menus is slow since it blends into the next menu, which on my computer is slow at least.
The settings is quite lackluster as well, having only five lackluster menus:
TopSpeed menu, which only shows if you have TopSpeed on
PopUp blocker Menu, which is the same as Internet Explorer's in terms of look and feel
Desktop Search, which I will never use
Tabbed Browsing, which is pretty lackluster, but standard options are there
And General, which has homepage setting, default browser check, and a link to the Windows Internet Explorer Settings.

But because of all the nicities and the clean, very clean, look i give it 5/5.

Works with IE FavIcons...and has a really neat feature of showing thumbed pictures of the webpage you are on!!!