New AOL software lets you access all your other accounts on one screen!

Written by guest blogger Laura Peterson, Sr. Product Manager, AOL Desktop Software

Hi everyone,

Hope you’ve been checking out the mail experience in the beta of Helix (update: now called AOL Desktop), our latest all-in-one desktop software. I’m here to check in and tell you about a couple of cool features in Helix mail, such as the ability to add and access multiple mail accounts.

Helix lets you read mail from numerous non-AOL mail accounts, like Yahoo Mail, Gmail, Hotmail, etc., all at the same time. In addition to supporting mail addresses from the AOL network (domains like AOL, AIM, eAddress and Affinity mail), Helix also lets you check and write mail from other POP3 accounts like GMail and Verizon. The Helix team implemented this in a really elegant way by using tabs. Tabs are one of the new innovations you’ll see in the mail experience and something we’ve done throughout Helix to improve windows management.

The first screenshot below shows the mailbox (in the background) with multiple mail accounts enabled: an AOL e-mail address tab and a Gmail tab. After you add multiple accounts, you will be able to easily tab between your inboxes from the top of the AOL Desktop mailbox.

To add an e-mail account, click the “add e-mail account” button near the top middle of the form. You’ll be taken to the mail account part of mail settings where you can add and edit accounts.




This next screenshot shows where you enter your additional account information. (The port numbers are just placeholder, by the way.) Make sure you have the password for your additional mail account ready. AOL Desktop will enter as much information as it can on its own, but it’s also helpful to have the server address, port numbers and security types ready just in case Helix doesn’t auto-populate these fields. You should be able to access this information, as well as enable any other POP-related functionality, from your additional mail account settings.



After you’ve added an account, the tabs will let you toggle between your mail account inboxes.

Here are a couple things to remember about multiple accounts in AOL Desktop:

* The number of unread mail will be displayed as a number in each inbox account tab. However, only your main AOL-domain (including AIM, eAddress etc.) mail count and mail list will appear in the Helix toolbar and toolbar hover state.

* When you compose a mail, you now have a choice of what account you can send it from. Just select the preferred account from the dropdown list. (However, your main AOL address will always be the default.)

* You only have one set of folders for Helix mail. Regardless of what account tab you’re in or how many accounts you add, the folders where you save your mail will not change. Similarly, you will still have one central Address Book store.

Well, have fun checking out multiple accounts in Helix mail!

Be sure to try out the Beta so you can also explore other new features like tabbed mail, built-in MapQuest, AIM, and App Map, which lets you view all your open windows as clickable thumbnails.

Download the Helix Beta here: http://beta.aol.com/projects.php?project=helix

Cheers,
Laura Peterson


Tags: Helix, new aol software, multiple accounts, AOL Desktop

Which version of web mail should I use?

Hi,

Some of you have emailed me asking which version of the two new Web Suites you should use, so I thought I'd shed some light on that subject here for everyone to read.

Since late August, a new Basic version of the Web Suite was added to the product line, which is mainly intended for users who are on older computers or slower internet connections. The Basic is a "lite" version, meaning that it's smaller, faster, and more streamlined for doing just the basics of email. See how we got that name? :-) What that means though is that there are some features intentionally left out, in order to focus on speed. As this new Basic version grows, we'll be adding more convenience features.

If features is more important to you than speed (yes we're working on making it so that you can "have your cake and eat it too"), then the Standard version is for you. As long as you have a modern computer with a fast internet connection.

Below is a table that summarizes the recommended Web Suite, for different situations.



Direct access methods to your mail account:

Web Suite Standard - http://mail.aol.com

Web Suite Basic - http://basic.mail.aol.com

Notes:

When logging in, the actual connection speed is checked. If the speed isn't fast enough, you will see an option to use Basic if you haven't been logged in within 30-seconds. But you'll still be taken to the Standard version if you simply wait. If the Basic version is desired after you've logged in, the "Basic Version" link at the bottom of the screen can be clicked.

(1) Users with modern computers with compatible browsers and fast connection speeds can also use the Basic version too. Click the Basic Version link at the bottom of the screen when logged in. Bookmark the above links for faster access.

(2) Users can also use the Standard version if features are more important than speed. Click the Standard Version link at the bottom of the screen when logged in (compatible OS and browser are required otherwise link will not be displayed).


PS: I know there have been some reports of the Basic version being slower for some of you than the Standard version. If you're experiencing this consistently, please email me details about your system so that we can help you with that probably-resolvable issue.

Enjoy and thanks for choosing AOL,

Tae Kang

"The AOL Mail Blog Guy"
http://mailblog.aol.com
Keyword: Mail Blog

Introducing AOL Mail Gadget for iGoogle

Written by guest blogger Rohit Kinra, Sr. Product Manager, AOL Mail

We’ve been hard at work for the past couple of months on developing web-based gadgets for all AOL mail users (AOL, AIM, or My eAddress). A gadget is a "light-weight single-purpose program" on a web site, designed to perform a specific function.

We're now releasing another web-based gadget for all of you who use iGoogle for your homepage (yes, we do play nicely with our competitors :-) ). And we are busy working on more gadgets for more of your favorite websites, so keep checking back with us.
All the gadgets will show you new mail in your AOL, AIM, or My eAddress mailboxes. So, now you can find out about the new mail in your mailbox even while your surfing on Google (and other sites in the future). The gadgets allow you to:

• See new mail with their subject lines, whom they are from, and when you got them.
• See the number of new mail messages in your mailbox.
• Compose a new mail message… We will link you right into our Web Suite and you can begin writing your new mail.
• Set how many new mail messages you want to see (5, 10, or 15).
• Set the background color when displaying your new mail.



Our first version is US English only, but we are working hard to make a global version with the following languages:

French (France)
German (Germany)
English (US)
English (United Kingdom)
English (Canada)
English (India)
Spanish (US)
Spanish (Spain)
Italian (Italy)
Swedish (Sweden)
Chinese (China)
Dutch (Netherlands)

If you want to try the AOL mail gadget for Google, you can load it into your iGoogle page. Click here to try it now.

Thanks and we hope you enjoy the new gadgets. Please let us know what you think of them.

Enjoy,
Rohit Kinra

Sending text messages from the Web Suite (and AOL 9.0VR too)

You may have heard that Yahoo is offering a new service starting today that lets you send an SMS or text message from email. Well, that’s another feature that AOL has had for years now. Simply open the Web Suite's AIM Panel or AOL 9.0VR (works with the AIM installed program too), click the IM button, and type “+1 and the 10-digit cell phone number” into the To: Screen Name box. Your IM will be received on their cell phone, usually within seconds, and they can reply back via IM too. It's kind of fun, so give it a try! Note: recipient's phone must have the feature to receive text messages and some cell phone companies charge for text messages.

So that you don't have to type in all the digits the next time, it’s real easy to add that number to your buddy list. I’ve had my wife’s cell number in my buddy list for those last minute “pick up more milk please” text messages. :-)

Enjoy the new AIM Panel in the Web Suite and thanks for choosing AOL.

‘Til next time,

Tae Kang
“The AOL Mail Blog Guy”
http://mailblog.aol.com
Keyword: mail blog

More capabilities with some new, great features

Hi,

The Web Suite has been updated with new features today. Unrelated to the update was an unfortunate and coincidental mail service interruption that occurred a few hours after the update and prevented logins. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused some of you. We have found the cause and have put in new measures to prevent it from happening again.

The summary of the new Web Suite features can be found below in a previous blog entry. You can now see all these new, great features at the same web address you've been using before: http://mail.aol.com. Of course you can always go to www.aol.com and click on the Mail icon there too (latter method takes a little longer than book marking http://mail.aol.com).

To try the all new Basic version of the Web Suite, remember to click the Basic Version link at the bottom of the screen. It's lite, fast, and a great option for anyone on a slower internet connection or older system/browser.

Again, we apologize for the service interruption earlier today and hope you enjoy all the new capabilities of the Web Suite and Web Suite Basic.

Tae Kang

“The AOL Mail Blog Guy”
http://mailblog.aol.com
Keyword: mail blog

AOL Mail on Facebook

Are you a Facebook user? If so, check out the new, fast-growing “You’ve Got Mail” Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17403920336.

You can join the Facebook group and connect with other AOL Mail users with similar interests. Have some fun with it.

Tae Kang
“The AOL Mail Blog Guy”
http://mailblog.aol.com
Keyword: mail blog

Web Suite Basic Beta is here and new features too

Reminder: There is nothing to install onto your computer to try a beta version of the Web Suite—you simply access the new beta version by accessing a different web site using your browser, and you can switch back to the web mail you’ve been using, at any time, by going to a different web page to access your emails. In other words, the same email account content can be accessed via the following new web sites (web mail services).

Hi,

On behalf of the entire AOL Mail team, I’m happy to announce the all-new Web Suite Basic Beta and an upcoming update to the Web Suite Standard web mail products. Both were released a few hours ago into Beta, and are accessible for everyone to try out. I think you’ll find the Beta Basic version fast and streamlined for those of you who want mail, and mail only,—fast. And for those of you who want a more full experience, with calendar, Panels, Pictures, etc, and have a fast internet connection with a fast computer, then the Web Suite Standard may be more to your liking. Either way, AOL gives you the choice.

There are two big announcements:

1) The new Web Suite Basic is now available in beta (once there, you can switch to the Standard version via a link at the bottom of the screen). Basic is designed for those of you who want only emails, and as fast as they can be served up. It’s optimized for those of you who:

- Are on a slower internet connection (ie: 56k dialup modems),

- Are using an older operating system such as Windows 98, Windows 2000, and older versions of the Mac OS,

- Are using an older web browser (ie: Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x, Firefox 1.x, Safari 2.0.3 and below, etc.),

- Use screen readers or other accessibility software, or

- Just want a faster Web Mail experience without needing access to your Calendar, AIM, or Pictures. Faster systems can also use the Basic version if you prefer.


The AOL Beta team will begin a more formal test of the Basic version starting next week, but it is available as a sneak peek. You can subscribe to the Web Suite Beta Alert if you'd like to be notified of that and other Web Suite beta events.

2) The Web Suite Standard in beta, which will be the new version of what most of you have been using to date, has new features that you’ve been asking for. Once there, you can switch to the Basic version via a link at the bottom of the screen. The new Standard version has many new features, some of which are:

- Six different screen colors (“skins”) to choose from.


- Twelve different Panels with a wide variety of topics, such as:

o News — Headlines from AOL Top News, CNN, USA Today, New York Times, and Strange But True

o Business — News from the marketplace from AOL Business News, BusinessWeek, Forbes, Fortune, and The Motley Fool

o Sports — Scores and game highlights from AOL Top Sports, USA Today Sports, New York Times Sports, and ESPN

o Technology — Feed your inner-propeller-head with tech information from Techcrunch, CNET, Engadget, Digg, and Gizmodo

o Entertainment — News from Hollywood to Bollywood via MovieFone, TMZ.com, People.com, and the AOL Music Top 11 Show

o Directory — The AOL Channel lineup: quick links to close to twenty major portals for the information and content you've come to expect.

o Daily Quote — Random quotes from great (and some not so great) minds throughout theages

- New link at the bottom of the screen to toggle between the Basic and Standard versions of the Web Suite (with compatible browser).


- Many more AIM Panel features, such as separate sign in/out capability, “invisible” mode, multiple conversations within a single window, Buddy sounds, offline IM capability, expressions, additional preference settings, auto-sign-in capability, and much more.

Below is a screen shot highlighting some of Web Suite Standard’s new features.



With the various versions available to you, it can get a bit confusing until you get familiar with the differences between each one. I recommend you create a browser bookmark for your favorite Web Suite version (or all of them so that you have them at your fingertips). Bookmarks can be created easily in Windows XP by following these steps (see your operating system’s documentation for steps in other OS’):

1) Log into the version of web mailthat you prefer.
2) Resize the browser window so that you can see a part of the Windows desktop behind it.
3) Drag-n-drop the IE icon from the browser window to the desktop. See screen shot below--drag the part that’s highlighted in red. A shortcut will be created on the desktop. Double-clicking it will take you straight to your login page. No more remembering web site addresses.




Tell us what you think of both the beta of Web Suite Basic and the new features in the Web Suite Standard. And thanks for choosing AOL.

Tae Kang

“The AOL Mail Blog Guy”
http://mailblog.aol.com
Keyword: mail blog