AOL Explorer
| Company type | Software |
|---|---|
| Industry | Web browser |
| Founded | July 2005 |
| Founder | AOL |
| Products | Web browser |
AOL Explorer, initially known as AOL Browser, was a graphical web browser created by AOL and launched in July 2005. It was available either as a free independent download or included with AOL Instant Messenger. The browser supported tabbed browsing and operated using Microsoft's Trident browser engine. Its successors were AOL OpenRide in 2006 and later AOL Desktop in 2007.
History
In 2003, AOL obtained a seven-year licensing agreement with Microsoft for Internet Explorer, which allowed AOL Explorer to incorporate several features from Internet Explorer, such as integration with Windows updates and compatibility with IE plugins. Security measures embedded in the browser included a built-in pop-up blocker and spyware detection capabilities.
The release of Version 1.5 in May 2006 brought enhancements like Desktop Widgets that users could detach from the main browser window, Visual Themes for customization, an RSS Feeds Screensaver called Feeds Screensaver, and Show Page Preview, which enabled users to view link previews without navigating away from the current page. These additions aimed to improve both usability and overall performance.
Reception
PC Magazine commended AOL Explorer for its rich feature set and appealing visual design. Nonetheless, it encountered criticism regarding its "dubious anti-spyware tools" and the absence of support for third-party toolbars.
See also
- List of web browsers
- Comparison of web browsers
- List of feed aggregators
- Comparison of feed aggregators