Apple Archive

AOL 10.2 Preview Pretty Impressive

- 2002.08.09

America Online started in 1985 as Quantum Computer Services, offering Q-Link, an online service with a graphical user interface for Commodores; it expanded to include Apples (AppleLink) and Macs in 1989 and Tandys and other DOS PCs (PC-Link) in 1991. As desktop computers with Windows 3.1 starting becoming popular in 1993, AOL seemed to concentrate on PC users, often releasing Windows versions with version numbers higher than the Macintosh version.

Label from an AppleLink floppy.

It's more just the version number - it's the features. "Anywhere access" to favorites, calendar, and contacts is available only with 6.0 and later on the PC (some of these features are included with 5.0 for OS X, but not all). Radio@AOL is also only available on AOL 7.0 for Windows.

AOL also makes it hard to go back. Once you've used AOL for Windows for a while, you can't go back to the Macintosh version without reentering all of your new addresses and favorites from your PC to your Mac.

Just like AOL's use of Internet Explorer helped IE become dominant in the browser world, AOL's extended features that are available only on Windows are helping Windows stay dominant. Often AOL users won't buy a Mac because it doesn't offer the same features that they currently enjoy with AOL 6 or 7 for Windows.

Luckily for Apple, AOL is fixing this. With the release of AOL 5.0 for Mac OS X, AOL is at least demonstrating that they see the potential behind OS X - both in what it can do and what money it can help them make. AOL is currently working on another version, which is currently in beta and is freely downloadable to all members at keyword beta. This version, known as "AOL 10.2", includes almost everything that AOL 6 and 7 for the PC includes.

AOL 10.2 is designed with OS X in mind.

For the first time ever, AOL's interface seems to actually compliment the Mac OS X Aqua interface, and it should, since this is the first "real" new version since AOL 5.0 came out.

Interestingly enough, AOL no longer uses Internet Explorer as the browser within the AOL application. Now, it's Mozilla - and it's fast. Pages load faster inside of AOL then they ever used to, and they actually look nice - fonts are anti-aliased, and the graphics load almost instantly. Another interesting thing is the name change. Only in the about box does the new version of AOL actually say "America Online"; everywhere else it is labeled simply "AOL".

While I'm not saying that AOL is the best Internet provider out there (far from it), I am saying that I am pretty impressed by their latest Macintosh version. It may bring back a few of those AOL users who switched to the PC version for its extra features.

Join us on Facebook!

Links for the Day

Mac of the Day: Mac IIfx, introduced 1990.03.19. This 'wicked fast' 40 MHz Mac trumped the 33 MHz DOS world.
Support Low End Mac

Recent Deals

About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact

Low End Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Entire Low End Mac website copyright ©1997-2012 by Cobweb Publishing, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iPad iPhone, iMac, iPod, MacBook, MagSafe, Mac Pro, Apple TV, and AirPort are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.
Advice is presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work for all. Please report errors to .
LINKS: We allow and encourage links to any public page as long as the linked page does not appear within a frame that prevents bookmarking it.
Email may be published at our discretion unless marked "not for publication"; email addresses will not be published without permission, and we will encrypt them in hopes of avoiding spammers. Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
PRIVACY: We don't collect personal information unless you explicitly provide it. For more details, see our Terms of Use.

Custom Search

Follow Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac on Facebook

Low End Mac Reader Specials

TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct from Strider Software.

Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker and Mac Casino applications in minutes.

Affiliates

Amazon.com
The Apple Store
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
GainSaver
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay