Comments on: AOL prepares its own browser

America Online is planning to release a stand-alone browser based on IE technology, according to sources familiar with the company's plans.

[Earl Benser]

It Figures.....

AOL always has been an internet garbage site, so using the
internet's garbage collector as a base for it's 'new' browser is
consistant. One of these years, I might even go to the AOL web
site to see what this 'new' browser is all about.

How can AOL talk about a 'new ' browser when AOL says that it's
a very stripped down version of IE.

Why bother?

[BrandonR]

Just what I was looking for...

A less-functional IE browser with AOL logos all over it. How have I been surviving without it? Oh that's right, I use Firefox.

[vvrrmandiga]

Doesn't solve the problem

There are already few browsers that are sitting on top of IE like Maxthon. Though they bring some good features, it doesn't solve the problems that IE is facing. Morever, these IE clone browsers don't bring the right kind of feeling that one get from Firefox.

[Steven N]

Even less functional?

How can they do that? They removed the buttons or what?

Also, how can M$ license IE technology seperately when everything is only available as an integrated part of the OS?

AOL will be releasing software for M$: need a standalone IE? Download if from AOL...

Anyway, don't see why I would be downloading the stuff. If you want IE, just pick your regular M$ os...

[a62dave]

AOL logos? Where? It wasn't even released when you wrote this, and I haven't seen an AOL logo on it yet. I've been using it since 2006... v1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, and now 2.1.
Granted, since IE7 came out, it is not really needed, but on top of IE6, it was was very good.
I find the interface on v2.1 more appealing than even Firefox v3.

[jegrant]

I'm confused!

AOL has access to one of the best browser engines available, Gecko (as used in Mozilla/Firefox/Camino/etc) and would rather use ratty old IE?

I wonder if they'll ship it for any other platforms besides Windows; it would be a decent way for Mac users to get free access to the MacIE 6 Core that was developed but never released standalone, rather only as part of MSN:mac and Office:mac.

Granted I can't say I'd be that excited about having an "AOL Browser" - but OTOH, it might also be a good way to test websites to see how they'll function in the "real" AOL.

[dmines]

Semantics and logic my dear chaps

First of all what AOL means by a stripped down version of IE is in fact not that at all. What they are (in fact have now) creating is a new browser using the IE objects now available as an open collection through the .net framework. That's why it will be less functional than IE - it won't be as complete.
So why use IE? Basically it is the browser with the biggest footprint; whether you accept it or not - there are now many (particularily MS) technologies deployed on the net that need IE 6 (most other browsers only have ms compatibility to 4 or 5). The reason that this is important to AOL is because they try to encourage (nay force) you to use their connectivity and browser technolgies and no other (for reasons of targeting advertising) - so if they used the mozilla source they would have many users (particulrily in the corporate world) that can't access ubiquitous technologies such as SharePoint services - no good!
The fact is that MS will always hold the cutting edge in browser technolgies while ever they offer the cutting edge in technolgies integrated with such. Whether you like it or not it is a fact that IE is the most functional browser out there and you do nothing but delude yourself to think otherwise.
As a developer let me address another point raised. The reason for using the mozilla source against .net source (aside from reasons above) is because, despite common misconception, the .net framework is open but not the source. This means you can use all of the objects in your own code. So when you hear mozilla waxing on about open source just realise that this means nothing but being able to see the code inside inferiour objects. Lets face it - the guys at mozilla (smart as they are and far better devs than me for sure) are just a bunch of people that were'nt good enough to get jobs as MS.