+== acb-l Message from "Christopher McMillan" <[log in to unmask]> ==+
Good Morning:
AOL 7.0 leaked to the Web
Craig Newell, Special to eWEEK
May 31, 2001 3:11 PM ET
Some Web surfers got a sneak peek at an internal alpha edition of Version
7.0 of America Online Inc.'s client software Wednesday when it was made
available for download from several Web sites devoted to AOL software and
insider information.
AOL quickly blocked the software from signing on to the service, but not
before a significant number of people were able to log in and take screen
shots of the software.
What these users saw were changes to the ubiquitous "Welcome Screen" and
Buddy List features. Other than those areas, most of the interface appeared
to be identical to AOL 6.0.
One feature not in the alpha is the much-hyped Komodo browser module, which
would allow AOL members to use third-party Internet browsers, such as one
from Netscape, instead of Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer.
As with all alpha editions of software, there may be many more additional
features and changes to the software before it is released to the public.
Coming this summer
AOL 7.0, code named Taz, has been the source of rumors and speculation for
several months. Internal AOL documents have indicated that Taz will be
released in August barring any unforeseen technical issues. Taz is also
expected to feature the Komodo browser engine by the time it reaches beta
testing.
At the same time, AOL, of Vienna, Va., is working on several other
initiatives, including a client code-named Steppenwolf designed for use with
Windows XP, the next version of Microsoft's client operating system due this
fall. (Steppenwolf is currently in beta testing, available for AOL members
at Keyword: Beta.)
AOL is reportedly in negotiations with Microsoft to have the Steppenwolf
client bundled with Windows XP.
This isn't the first time alpha versions of AOL clients have escaped the
company's control. In April, an alpha version of CompuServe 2000 with
Netscape as the internal browser was discovered. Before AOL 6.0 was sent to
beta testers, alpha versions of that software were available on the Web for
a period of time before AOL sued the sites for copyright infringement.
AOL did not return several requests for comment by press time.
Thanks!!
Sincerely,
Christopher McMillan
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
203 934 5432 Telephone
708 585 6130 Fax
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