AOL 6.0 - In Depth

After hearing that AOL 6.0 was popping up around the net, we thought we'd take a look at it, snap some screenshots, and find out some of the new exciting features the battleship AOL was working on. It seems only fitting that the new version was leaked and reported on the news just as Microsoft launched its next-generation Internet service in MSN, also aimed at capturing the computer newbie.

When I double-clicked that menacing AOL icon on my desktop, which I had sworn off due to
reports from friends about removing the software and the hassles therein, I leaned back and thought to myself that this is it, AOL was going to take my computer over and make me feel helpless. So the installer launched, and roughly five minutes and one reboot later I was delving into the setup process.

How easy it turned out to be. After distinguishing between the "expert setup" and the "easy setup", the destination directory and choosing the latter as the AOL newbie, a few clicks on that forward-pointing arrow later and it was done. Of course, I was using an existing account, thus skipping the credit card and the rest of the horror that comes with an Internet service provider.

I then proceeded to close the program and relaunch it, just because the "Double-Click to
Start" underneath the AOL icon on my desktop drew me in. But then I noticed the feared flood of excess and miscellaneous software that would be installed riding on the heels of the AOL behemoth. There they were, RealPlayer 7, the household-known AOL icon, and one called Take5,
which turned out to be just another addition to the RealPlayer bloatware add-on series that I had not known about previously. A quick mouse movement later, that scenario was over and I was staring at the AOL 6.0 interface.

After denying AOL the ability to be my default setting for each and all things I use my computer for, I began clicking around and exploring the soft-colored and ever so inviting feature tabs those glowing mouseovers attracted me to.

Quickly I moved into the typical mail interface and then on to the next section. People, IM, and chat, the vice of all computer newbies. Wanting to avoid that mess of AOL chat rooms and things of that nature, I swiftly moved to the light purple shopping tab.

Seeing that it was now "easier than ever," I so curiously perused the shopping. Realizing it was nothing more than the usual stores that I had been to the day before, I quickly lost interest. As I exited, I was so graciously reminded, "AOL prefers Visa."

I moved on to the usual drop-downs seen in all programs and of course went to the help to find out what exactly was new in AOL 6.0. Much to my distress, AOL was sorry but "this feature is not yet available" and was reminded to try again soon.

Then I spot the Print drop-down box, and simply adding to my frustration those features,
which include the AOL Print Center and Printer Supplies are not currently available either!
So I chose Printing services, which swallowed my desktop and relocated me to a Web page. Then my curiosity struck and I wondered why the other two features were not available, when more than likely they would also be Web pages secretly controlled by AOL or one of its partners.

For some reason AOL has suddenly lost its ability to connect to the outside Internet world.
Problems in this version? or is it my computer. Either way, the channel list to the left is working and I can always view AOL's content non-stop. (By the way, I was able to use my regular browser to surf the net).

That brings us to the Edit Tab as we work from right to left through this exciting new program. There you find a Capture Picture feature, which I have yet to figure out exactly what it does. From what I can tell, and considering its alpha state (meaning more functionality is soon to come), it opens images in their own window. What this will be used for is left to the AOL think tank who designed this program.

That leaves me with the File Tab, where you find the usual Download Manager, Log manager,
Newsgroup stuff and a couple of interesting new features. "You've Got Pictures" was the first to fall to my inklings and I quickly discovered options to share images with friends, create online photo albums for friends and family, e-mail images, and the option to purchase prints and other assorted items such as t-shirts with hairy Uncle Bob's great "beach fun" image brazen on them. But then I realized this is just moved from the My Files section of AOL 5.0.

Next was the music player, telling me that AOL music has gone Latin and I can go "Pimpin' at the Beach With Jay-Z. Of course the link to Britney Spears caught my eye as the tooltip once again reminded me that "Big Brother is Watching" or I meant to say "On AOL Only." I clicked the link and was quickly escorted to a tiny window with many, many words in it. Where are the pictures I ask? Next...

Lastly, at the very bottom of the menu I spotted the "AOL Voice Recognition" feature, and soon found myself hearing AOL, or someone for that matter, telling me to see what it was all about. Again, to my dismay, and adding to my anger of the whole situation (albeit I know it is an alpha version but don't tease us like that), I was kindly escorted to yet another window telling me that this feature is not installed and to insert my AOL 6.0 CD into the drive and install it from the extras there. What CD? This is a problem...I guess we'll have to wait till it officially comes out to hear about that.

So we're left with this massive download wondering what those new features will bring to
life on AOL, and how much more of this, "I am better than you I have more features" software
battle we as consumers are dealing with, is left. The new AOL is very intuitive and keeps in the long-standing tradition of AOL or nothing mentality, which makes it easy on computer newbies to get used to the electronic monster they overpaid thousands of dollars for.

Of course, with any alpha release (or a sneak release in this case) there are going to be
problems and issues and features that are not functional yet. So unless you are dying to get
your hands on AOL 6.0, its not worth the bandwidth and CPU usage to get it. How it compares to MSN Mars, which was released as a "Preview" last Monday, who knows. In my personal opinion and judging from the screenshots, go with MSN for pretty and suave interface features. Use AOL if you are the traditional type.

For me, I'll stick with good 'ol AOL Instant Messenger and my trusty Internet Explorer. Computer experts out there, I suggest you do the same, but maybe use Netscape instead of
Internet Explorer, whatever fits your fancy. If you are still interested, you can get it at TechPages.com.