America Online Introduces First Major Beta of AOL 8.0.Business Editors & Technology Writers DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 31, 2002 Superior Features and Enhancements - Including Industry-Leading Parental Controls This article is about computer options. For the television show, see Parental Control (TV series). Parental controls are options, typically included in digital television services, computer and video games, or computer software used to access the Internet, that - Will Provide More Reasons Than Ever to Use AOL (A division of Time Warner, Inc., New York, NY, www.aol.com) The world's largest online information service with access to the Internet, e-mail, chat rooms and a variety of databases and services. America Online See AOL. , Inc., the world's leading interactive services company, today announced the first major Beta of AOL 8.0 is now available. AOL began Beta testing (programming) beta testing - Testing a pre-release (potentially unreliable) version of a piece of software by making it available to selected users. This term derives from early 1960s terminology for product cycle checkpoints, first used at IBM but later standard throughout the AOL 8.0 -- designed based on extensive member feedback -- in June. It is expected to launch later this Fall. AOL 8.0 will be the centerpiece of an all new AOL experience that offers a variety of superior features and enhancements that extend the service's hallmark hallmark, mark impressed on silverwork or goldwork to signify official approval of the standard of purity of the metal, also called plate mark. The hallmark was introduced by statute in England in 1300 and enforced by the Goldsmiths' Hall, London. convenience and ease-of-use, including enhancements to its industry-leading Parental Controls, already used by more than 16 million people. Other across-the-board enhancements, based on member feedback as top consumer priorities, include: communications and community features; online safety and reliability; and programming that is relevant to members' daily lives. 8.0's enhancements continue to build on AOL's unmatched ability to tap into the consumer pulse and habits online through a base of more than 35 million members. Total usage of AOL's network now averages over 1 billion hours per month, and daily usage per member in the U.S. is more than one hour per day. Every day, AOL members send up to 400 million e-mails and 1.4 billion instant messages, and stream songs or videos more than 1 million times. AOL members account for more than sixty-seven percent of all online shopping. AOL also announced today another element of the new experience with the launch today of the all new AOL Search, a comprehensive online search service already used by 80% of AOL members in the U.S. on a monthly basis. Available to AOL members worldwide, AOL Search now delivers faster and more relevant results across all of AOL and the Web with Google's best-of-breed search engine, in addition to new, localized Translated into the spoken language of the country. See localization. search results (see release). Listening to Consumers David Gang, Executive Vice President, Product Marketing, said: "With the new AOL experience we're making sure our 35 million members have the best service that matches the way they use the Internet today. We designed AOL 8.0 around what our members told us they care about most - how they communicate, how they manage their families' online experience, and the easiest ways to shop, share digital pictures, and enjoy music. Our suite of superior features will give more consumers more reasons than ever to use the world's number one Internet online service." Mr. Gang added, "The early feedback from our Beta testers has been overwhelmingly positive. Additionally, we've already seen usage on the Welcome Screen increase by 74% since we launched its new design in June. People love the benefits that members can enjoy only on AOL." Enhancements Offer More Reasons to Use AOL Among the most significant improvements to the service are enhancements to AOL's industry-leading Parental Controls. New features will make the protections easier for parents to use and customize for their children, who are doing more online from homework to e-mailing friends and family members. Parents will be able to use new features to see at a glance the level of control for each person on the AOL account and can adjust the restrictions with one click at any time. In addition, AOL will offer new family-security features including more support and information on how to stay smart about online safety and, later this year, a suite of new features including a Web site "Report Card" on sites a child has visited. In addition, when parents are at work or away from home, they will be able to set and modify Parental Controls from the Web at AOL.com. A top priority for members, new e-mail management features will let members filter their e-mail and view only messages from people they know. Customization and "self expression" are threaded throughout e-mail and instant messaging Exchanging text messages in real time between two or more people logged into a particular instant messaging (IM) service. Instant messaging is more interactive than e-mail because messages are sent immediately, whereas e-mail messages can be queued up in a mail server for seconds or and include an audible A protected MP3 file format from the Audible.com audio download service. See Audible.com. alert and on-screen on·screen or on-screen adj. & adv. 1. As shown on a movie, television, or display screen. 2. Within public view; in public. notification when new e-mail arrives; and greater personalization Custom tailoring information to the individual. On the Web, personalization means returning a page that has been customized for the user, taking into consideration that person's habits and preferences. of instant messages with new, animated Buddy Icons and a variety of sounds. AOL 8.0 also includes an exciting new way to send music to friends online by selecting an option to sample music programming highlights and then send links to friends on their Buddy List A list of colleagues, workgroup members, friends, etc., that you might wish to communicate with via instant messaging. See instant messaging. (r). And, an all-new You've Got Pictures service with a variety of ways to make sharing, organizing and enjoying photos easier and more convenient. Building on the popularity of the Internet's #1 music destination, AOL Music will be completely re-designed to offer more ways for fans to discover and listen to music, including enhancements to Radio@AOL. Finally, Shop@AOL -- AOL's Shopping destination -- will incorporate Amazon's industry-leading technology and easy new ways for members to search, browse and get product recommendations offering the best online experience anywhere. About America Online, Inc. America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of AOL Time Warner (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : AOL). Based in Dulles, Virginia Dulles, Virginia is an unincorporated census-designated place located in Loudoun County, Virginia, part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. The headquarters of AOL, Orbital Sciences Corporation and ODIN technologies and the former headquarters of MCI Inc. are located in Dulles. , America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services. |
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