AOL Explorer, previously known as AOL Browser, is a graphical web browser based on the Microsoft Trident layout engine and was released by AOL. In July 2005, AOL launched AOL Explorer as a free download and as an optional download with AIM version 5.9. AOL Explorer supports tabbed browsing. In November 2005, the next version, 1.1, was released.

Version 1.2 was very similar to version 1.1, but included two new features: Tab Explorer and RSS Widgets from Favorites. When the Tab Explorer button is pressed, a thumbnail preview of each tab is displayed in a full-screen window. The user can click on one of the previews to instantly access the page.

Microsoft has implemented a similar feature in their Internet Explorer 7 browser, called "Quick Tabs". Version 1.5 was launched in May 2006, and included many new features such as Desktop Widgets, Visual Themes, a Feeds Screensaver and various performance improvements. Desktop Widgets allow the user to "tear off" a side panel and use it independently from the browser.

The panel will remain open and functional, even after you close AOL Explorer. When your computer is idle, you can set the AOL Explorer Feeds Screensaver to display the RSS feeds stored in the feeds panel. Another new feature in 1.5 is the Show Page Preview feature, which allows the user to preview a webpage without leaving the current page by simply holding down Ctrl and right-clicking on a link.

This feature is especially useful when there are a large amount of links on a page, or when searching. In 2003, AOL signed a seven-year contract with Microsoft to use Internet Explorer code in their products and as such AOL Explorer is based on Internet Explorer Technology. Because of this, users can use AOL Explorer to download and install updates from Microsoft Update.

However, unlike Internet Explorer, AOL does not use the new Live Search as the default search engine. The future of further AOL-branded browsers once the contract expires is unsure. AOL is the owner of Netscape Communications Corporation which had previously published the now defunct Netscape series of browsers.

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