AOL browser -- What kind is it?

[Gene]

My website stats indicate a substantial number of AOL users. I was just wondering--what kind of browser are they surfing with?

Is it some kind of modified version of NN or IE?

And does it depend on whether they're using AOL 5, 6, 7...?

--Gene

[pageoneresults]

As quoted from upsdell.com and his Browser News [upsdell.com] section...

> AOL makes several independent browsers. This discusses its flagship browser — used by subscribers to AOL Online — which is currently a heavily modified version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Although based on Internet Explorer, there are some differences in how the AOL browser renders pages: for example, AOL normally degrades the quality of graphics; for details, see my AOL Note. Note: an AOL account is required to use its browser.

In recent years AOL has used Internet Explorer as its browser engine, but this may change; AOL is testing a version of AOL 7 with Gecko [news.com.com], and there are rumours that AOL 8 will use Gecko instead of IE.

[rcjordan]

America Online released on Wednesday a preview version of its upcoming AOL 8.0 [zdnet.com.com] service, slated for official release this fall.

As previously reported, the AOL 8.0 is not a dramatic shift from its current AOL 7.0. New features will include enhanced parental controls, new bells and whistles in its e-mail and instant messaging clients, a redesigned AOL Music channel and a new Shop@AOL area that incorporates product search technology from Amazon.com.

[copongcopong]

As of now AOL (and i think even with the coming 8.0) still uses MSIE as the default browser. Regarding the graphics viewed in AOL, they have their on technology in compressing the graphics (.ART format) from pages where in they are compress from their proxy server or something.

This would be helpful: [webmaster.info.aol.com ]

[rewboss]

AOL have a track record of using pre-release versions of MSIE. At least some of the "modifications" turn out to be pre-release bugs. One version of the AOL browser, for example, couldn't locate the headers in JPEGs created with one specific graphics editor. Microsoft had fixed that bug before they released the "real" MSIE, but AOL... didn't.

I don't think AOL members are required to use an AOL browser. I know one person who was having difficulty with her AOL browser, and AOL tech support recommended her to "click on the Internet Explorer icon on your desktop -- it looks like a big 'e' -- and use that instead". But I do think that a lot of AOL users just aren't aware that there are alternatives; they are the Average-Surfer family, and they just "fire up AOL and surf".

[dhdweb]

AOL users CAN use any browser they choose. But like it was said, most AOL users don't know this :-(

[Purple Martin]

most AOL users don't know this :-(

Can anyone think of a way to mass-educate them? We'd be doing them a huge favour :)

[txbakers]

a preview version of its upcoming AOL 8.0 service, slated for official release this fall.

With the current investigation and deflated stock value, and re-take over by Time Warner, maybe AOL won't be around by fall.

[dhdweb]

maybe AOL won't be around by fall.

We could NOT be that lucky!

But one CAN hope :-)

[Gene]

Just want to thank everyone for your very informative responses.

I also want to point out the link that Pageoneresults provided us with in his message...

[upsdell.com...]

It's densely packed with alot of info, all conveniently located on 1 page!
Definitely worth a look.

--Gene