Filed under: Software
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).
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
derek said 8:06PM on 9-28-2007
Why? Mail, Safari, and iChat or Adium is a much better combination.
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Mo said 8:24PM on 9-28-2007
You're lying, TUAW: AOL Cheshire came out a while back (about a year ago?), which I'm guessing this Beta is a direct descendant of.
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WiLLGT09 said 8:43PM on 9-28-2007
why the hell would any Mac user download AIM client for Mac, it's freakin built right in in iChat!
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Quine said 8:49PM on 9-28-2007
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."
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Scott McNulty said 10:40PM on 9-28-2007
Quine, I didn't actually recommend this software, I just pointed it out. :) Feel free not to download it.
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OC said 12:32AM on 9-29-2007
UH!!!...i HATE AOL!!!!!!!!!!!!....TUAW!!! i propose u declare yourself....emancepated!!!!
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Luigi193 said 12:41AM on 9-29-2007
Do whatever you need to to make the overlords happy!
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Squirrels said 2:31AM on 9-29-2007
Why on earth would you infect a perfectly good Mac with that filth?
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Francis said 4:17AM on 9-29-2007
Best not to bite the hand that feeds I suppose.
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Quine said 5:03AM on 9-29-2007
@Scott: Fair enough, but the article does read a bit like a pitch.
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Bootes said 3:46PM on 9-29-2007
If anyone of you actually looked at AOL anytime recently, you would see that they actually have some great sites and software.
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lfjasmine said 4:56PM on 9-30-2007
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.
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