AOL Updates Standalone Web Browser

America Online has refreshed its AOL Browser beta with new navigation features, improved tabbed browsing and many other general improvements. AOL Browser fits into the company's emerging portal strategy, and serves as a strategic gateway to AOL Web properties for consumers outside of its subscriber base.

Unlike the forthcoming Netscape Browser that is based on Firefox, AOL Browser is built upon Microsoft's Internet Explorer engine. Since its overriding theme is simplicity, AOL has endeavored to form an interface that is more straightforward and convenient than other Web browsers.

The interface of AOL Browser borrows heavily from rivals with a pop-up blocker and tabbed browsing, but includes some characteristics of its own such as "tear-off tabs." Tear-off tabs are tabbed browsing windows that can be reordered or "torn" away from their original window.

AOL has also added thumbnail previews of Web pages that are enlarged when the cursor hovers over a tab or the Back and Forward buttons.

Simplicity aside, AOL has managed to work in "Power Browsing" features as well. These tools add privacy options that delete cookies and cached files left while browsing the Web, along with page zooming and high contrast viewing.

AOL is also using its new standalone browser to test its desktop search utility, which was built by Copernic. AOL Desktop Search scours local documents, and will eventually be expanded to include previously viewed Web pages and AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) chat logs.

AOL Browser, once a closed beta for AOL members, is now open to the public for download.

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