AOL previews new e-mail software
America Online has begun testing enhancements to its Internet service, including a beefed-up version of its AOL Communicator e-mail software that plays multimedia files. The product, called "Fanfare," is essentially an updated version of Communicator with new features such as media playback, a calendar and spyware protection. Fanfare is similar to Communicator but with more options on the navigation screen. For instance, a user can pull down a panel with Radio@AOL and its video player next to e-mail messages and instant-messaging "buddy" lists. While Fanfare pulls more features from the AOL proprietary client onto Communicator, the company said the enhancements do not signify any changes in priorities for AOL. "We're adapting to how customers are using our services," AOL spokeswoman Anne Bentley said Friday. "This is not instead of (the AOL proprietary client). This is another benefit for the AOL for Broadband subscriber." Like Communicator, Fanfare will come bundled with AOL's "classic" online service for broadband users. AOL for Broadband costs $14.95 a month and represents the company's attempt to sell its service to the growing number subscribers leaving AOL for high-speed Internet providers.
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4 Comments
Look like AOL Communicator is essentially Mozilla Mail with some AOL stuffs. But what about this "Fanfare"? Can't find any information about it...
Comment by minghong at May 22, 2004 10:17 AM | Permalink
minghong: AOL Communicator uses Gecko for HTML display, but it's not Mozilla Mail. The GUI looks similar, but it uses WXWidgets instead of Mozilla's XUL. I don't know anything about Fanfare, though.
Comment by marcoos at May 22, 2004 11:50 AM | PermalinkFanfare is probably based on MSHTML; they dropped Gecko during the summer 2003 and switched to MSHTML, but that was too late for the first beta of AOL Communicator. So that one shipped with Gecko.
I'm a bit confused on the role of Communicator/Fanfare: Does the fact that you are quoting this mean that Communicator/Fanfare is Gecko-based? Or is it only due to Seth's work on Communicator (CMIIW)?
Comment by daniel. at May 21, 2004 11:47 PM | Permalink