The first big improvement is speed; the software, especially on a high-speed connection, simply zips from log-on to welcome screen. Though not even touted by AOL as a new feature, the speedy loading will be a relief for heavy users and, to us, makes the over busy graphics (which previously took an eternity to appear) somewhat less annoying.
Radio@AOL is another addition that makes upgrading worth the effort. Click on the radio button from the main menu, and you’ll be offered a selection of music channels in a variety of genres. (We’re hooked on “Awesome80s” at the moment.) As long as you remain logged on, the new service will stream music to your PC speakers. The sound quality is on par with AM radio and, when running in the background, only occasionally stutters as you work in other applications.
The rest is mostly minor tweaking, some of it useful, such as a new feature in e-mail that lets you know if the sender happens to be online via AOL’s Instant Messenger network. Other new applications will find niche appreciators, like being able to send “smileys” while in chat rooms. Best of all, the software is still free.
