The new AOL.com gets all social and stuff

A look at the 'My Networks' widget.

(Credit: AOL)

Social networks are front and center in the latest redesign of AOL's AOL.com homepage, which the company announced Thursday and says it will start to gradually roll out to users over the next few weeks (unless they choose to opt in earlier).

A widget (or module, or gadget, or whatever you want to call it) on the new AOL.com features a tabbed interface with updates from five different social-networking and messaging services: AOL's own AIM and Bebo, MySpace, Twitter, and Facebook. Called "My Networks," the tabs invite members to log into their social profiles and see a limited amount of information--feed and in-box updates from Facebook and MySpace, new Twitter messages, AIM status messages, etc.--as well as links to access the full versions of the apps.

The Facebook credentials, for example, come from the social network's new Facebook Connect service, an extension of its developer API.

These are just the launch partners, AOL executive James Clark told CNET News last week, and more social-networking and messaging services will be added to the lineup over time. "(It's) part of a consistent evolution of opening up," Clark explained, pointing to AOL's addition last month of outside e-mail service alerts to AOL.com. The more dynamic homepage, which also includes an embedded RSS reader, is indicative of a new direction for AOL, he said.

"Traditional portals have gone about as far as they can go," Clark added.

AOL acquired social aggregator Socialthing this year, but has not specifically integrated its technology into the new AOL.com--yet. Clark said that the separate teams have been "comparing notes," though.

[rajeshkumar.p]

Its good to see how company like AOL is transforming itself. I think being open is the only way of the future. Dying to see what Yahoo will do next.

[3rdalbum]

Will it stick around in your browser even when you navigate away from aol.com?

I honestly think I'll just stick with Flock, which does all this and more. And has done for years.

[jharrisofkansas]

AOL used to be the leader when it came to being social on the web and lost sight of that. Many people left because half the time so called new features would not work or would work once in awhile.Yahoo jumped all over that but now they seem to have lost sight of what made them popular in the first place....Why is it so many companies forget the basics? NEVER forget and always take care of the people that made you.Maybe AOL is trying to get that back and with Yahoo sucking it is a good time to try.

[Apolune]

AOL has become useless, and Yahoo! is on the fast track to join it. Too little, too late. Who cares anymore?

It should be noted that the Twitter tool is not yet functional.

[Harrison912]

Thanks, Caroline, for this great information. I'm an AOL user and I'm also on FaceBook, MySpace, Twitter and other social networks to socially market my safety and security web site as well as raise awareness for it's products. It's good to know my brower of preference will be helping me with my marketing too!

[sanenazok]

Is it just me or should adults not use "stuff" especially in writing? C'mon this is supposed to be a news outlet.