AOL Desktop for Mac Beta 1

AOL, the parent company of Weblogs, Inc of which TUAW is a part (translation: AOL is our loving corporate overlord), has done something it hasn't done in 5 years: release some new Mac code. AOL Desktop for Mac Beta 1 is out and about, and ready for business.

What's new in this version, you ask? Well, it launches quickly, it uses tabs, you can check a number of different email accounts (in addition to your AOL account), AIM is built right in, and it is customizable. It has that unmistakable AOL look to it (which is either a good thing, or a bad thing depending on who you ask) and it was fairly snappy on my iMac. I wasn't able to test out all the features because I don't actually have an AOL account myself, but it is in beta and that means there are bugs to be encountered.

I'm sure a small number of Mac users are happy to see this release, but I'm more anxious for an updated version of AIM. Mac users are a full 2 versions behind our PC friends on that front (though I recommend you check out Adium for all your chatting needs).

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Source: http://beta.aol.com/projects.php?project=desktop_mac

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AOL, the parent company of Weblogs, Inc of which TUAW is a part (translation: AOL is our loving corporate overlord), has done something it...

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lfjasmine

You don't actually need to have an "AOL account" to use the software. All you actually need is an AIM screen name. The software is free and available for everyone.

September 30 2007 at 4:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bootes

If anyone of you actually looked at AOL anytime recently, you would see that they actually have some great sites and software.

September 29 2007 at 2:03 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Quine

@Scott: Fair enough, but the article does read a bit like a pitch.

September 29 2007 at 5:03 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

the1bigboy

Best not to bite the hand that feeds I suppose.

September 29 2007 at 4:16 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Squirrels

Why on earth would you infect a perfectly good Mac with that filth?

September 29 2007 at 2:31 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Luigi193

Do whatever you need to to make the overlords happy!

September 29 2007 at 12:41 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

UH!!!...i HATE AOL!!!!!!!!!!!!....TUAW!!! i propose u declare yourself....emancepated!!!!

September 29 2007 at 12:32 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Scott McNulty

Quine, I didn't actually recommend this software, I just pointed it out. :) Feel free not to download it.

September 28 2007 at 10:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Quine

An AOL owned site has to be the only place someone would actually recommend AOL software. I like how you tried to stay neutral on the issue because you weren't allowed to say "this is a piece of crud, we've recommended stuff that's a thousand times better already."

September 28 2007 at 8:49 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

William Brawley

why the hell would any Mac user download AIM client for Mac, it's freakin built right in in iChat!

September 28 2007 at 8:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply