The big portals redesign their home pages every year or so, and AOL is no exception - a little over a year ago they were roundly criticized for copying much of the look and feel of Yahoo.com .
But the new trend is to retain user loyalty by adding third party content to these sites, which previously only linked off network for advertisements. Yahoo did this with the launch of Buzz earlier this year.
If these screen shots are real and AOL intends to push them live, this is an even more radical departure from the home-grown-content-only days. The top image clearly shows user-created bookmark links on the top left, links to third party email services Yahoo Mail, GMail and Hotmail, and links to outside social networks Facebook and MySpace.
And the bottom image looks to have a RSS reader, allowing users to pull in content from virtually and third party news site.
Cue “AOL still exists?” in 3, 2, 1…
I think they do…. Lots of cash, still evolving and still growing.
–
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is this relevant here?
that would be a “no” … but this is TC baby! Shameless, irrelevant plugs RULE these comment boards.
sounds like garbage, what startup spams comment boards?
super cool, (I didn’t visit it) when do you guys think you are going to IPO? After all the spamming is done? The emoticon is rockin’ too. Doofus.
Sincerely apologize for the “Spammy” comments… but hey, I really had something to say apart from the “launch shoutout”..
Like Raskin said… I am guilty has charged.. Shameless marketing is bad.. But really hope for the support. There are more than just 52 startups “born” in TC50 today…Take a look at the DemoPit too. So let’s celebrate all the startups which took the opportunity to launch “in conjunction” of the TC50 event!
Nevertheless, will tone down the “notices” here…
Wishing the best for TC50 and all the startups around! Really GREAT work!
Continue to work hard, persevere and go beyond expectations!
gee….seems like that exact layout is already in use on a much better service called Yahoo!
What does AOL stand for again??
notice the missing myAOL links?
The screenshot is noticeably altered as there is a big white line in the middle of the screen. The navigation after Movies is cut off as is the photo to the right of it, etc.
Therefore I would not read too much into what is not on the screen but rather I am impressed with what they have added — RSS, Lifestreaming, Personalized Navigation, Video on the Main page, etc.
Can’t be the new aol.com — it is way too cool
no one cares.
too little too late.. AOL is a sinking ship.
Ze question is what is AOL sinking about?
Does anyone actually go to AOL.com for any information (other than elderly AOL users that still think AOL ‘is the Interweb’)?
Might as well stop wasting their time already…
seeing as there alexa is 20
i guess folks do
Will I be able to sign in with my OpenID?
The screenshots are not only “leaked”, but they’re amazing and exclusive too
Way to spice up a boring post!
But where is the story about Google bringing down TechCrunch? Got tons of Google server errors this afternoon wheh I came here? No word on that?
I like it. Much better than the current page (which has been linking to non-AOL branded sites the last 30 days).
They’re getting on track with their rebuild IMO. Remember, the majority of people don’t have the time or knowledge to surf the net like a geek. Seriously.
And for the haters…
60 million + unique visitors every month to AOL.COM (alone)
Thats on the small side…until you factor in Mapquest, AIM, Moviefone, Winamp, TMZ, Engadget, Asylum, FanHouse, Bebo, StyleList, CitysBest, Pixcetera, Joystiq, TheBoot, TheBoombox, Spinner, PopEater, WalletPop, BloggingStocks, and all of the other Weblogs sites…then you’ve got 115 million + uniques.
And Platform-A (Advertising.com & Co.) to tie it all together for better profit margins from display.
Only time will tell, but it’s definitely moving.
What’s AOL?
This is clearly a move by AOL to stay relevant. Not a bad thing for AOL.com users, but it’s hardly going to draw new visitors to the site. Probably the most usable AOL page I’ve seen though, if still a little bland.
It’s so strange…
Yahoo,Live,Gmail?
太奇怪了啊。光看图就觉得怪，难道合作了/？、
wow — I really like it.
First the design is much improved and blows away the other portals
Second - it may be a “radical departure” as Arrington points out, but for the better. I can quickly get my yahoo mail, myspace status, RSS feeds. and add my own navigation.
Amazing if this is really the new aol. It will change perception of blogosphere and consumers in my view
well done!
Anyone notice the inclusion of Sphere in the RSS reader area. This is a company they recently acquired which I am a big fan of (and was covered here on TC). It powers related content — looks to be powered off the RSS headlines in this implementation. Great to see the company leverage the acquisition so quickly into their portal experience.
AOL Nailed It.
I think it is an amazing start page.
AOL.com with Lifestreaming and RSS - who would have ever guessed it
This just shows you once again that you can never count someone out
It’s all one big happy ecosystem.
Wow, that was quick. AOL.COM changed today and has Yahoo! and Gmail on the homepage now. Check it out.
Maybe it is a phased approach to the new home page launch? Wonder which feature will be next.
God bless AOL! Only God can help this loser company!
What do you mean? is aol in trouble and if so please explain that to me.
Thanks
Just admit it aol is the past and will always be the past.. Google is taking over..
Bring back the mass mailing chat rooms and I’m in
(Record overhead acct holder Rainman style
Don’t make me PUNT YOU Fewl