AOLpress
| Company type | Software |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer software |
| Predecessor | NaviPress |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | NaviSoft |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Fate | Discontinued |
| Successor | None |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Steve Case (AOL CEO) |
| Products | HTML editor and web browser |
| Owner | America Online (AOL) |
| Parent | America Online (AOL) |
AOLpress was an HTML editing tool initially created under the name NaviPress by NaviSoft before being acquired by America Online (AOL). First introduced in 1994 and discontinued in 2000, its final release, version 2.0, can still be found for download on certain websites.
The software strictly adhered to HTML 3.2 specifications, often automatically correcting code that did not conform when saving externally generated pages. However, its HTML output has become obsolete and is incompatible with current web browsers, lacking support for modern elements such as PNG image formats.
History
NaviSoft debuted NaviPress in February 1994 as a combined Web browser and HTML editor, reminiscent of the original browser, WorldWideWeb, developed by Tim Berners-Lee. Berners-Lee commended NaviPress for being a genuine browser and editor that produced clean HTML code.
Following AOL’s acquisition of NaviSoft in late 1995, the software was rebranded first as "GNNPress" and subsequently as "AOLpress," distributed through AOL's Global Network Navigator service. Users were permitted to publish up to 2 MB of web content using this application.
According to Berners-Lee, AOLpress's decline was influenced by the 1996 launch of Netscape Navigator 2.0 and a strategic deal between AOL CEO Steve Case and Bill Gates to provide AOL subscribers with a customized version of Internet Explorer, which did not include HTML editing capabilities. This transition led to a reduction in AOLpress’s user base, despite it being among the few commercial browsers at the time that offered straightforward online editing functionality.
In 1998, PC Magazine recognized AOLpress in its "Best Products of the Year" list, highlighting it as the sole program that integrated WYSIWYG webpage editing, HTML source code editing, site management, and browsing within a single interface—emphasizing its unique role as both an editor and a browser.
System requirements
To operate AOLpress 2.0, a minimum of 8 MB RAM (with higher amounts preferred), a display capable of at least 256 colors, an Intel 80386 processor, 8 MB of available disk space, and either Windows NT or Windows 95 are needed.
While the 16-bit installer is incompatible with 64-bit versions of Windows, AOLpress can be launched on Windows 8, though it frequently crashes soon after starting. It is not officially supported on Windows 7, but it can run under compatibility mode on Windows 10.