The AOL Access team are busy building a new client named "Frontier". I installed build 2 this morning, which has much of the new UI framework in place, and the mail, browser applications seem to be working (I am using Frontier to make this journal post).
It is an interesting shift in the UI -- presenting a single UI, that focuses on "what you are doing"... so if you are in Mail, the Mail window gets larger and the others get smaller... If you are in media center, that gets larger. You've got to play with the app to really understand what this means. It reminds me a little of a Mac... (that ought to cause a few ears to perk up among the Mac crowd).
I must admit, I've been surprised by this UI.... I find the way it shifts focus to the browser and mail apps nicely done, and maybe this new way of working will fit with our members. I am not totally sure yet. You should try it.
You may wonder why "Will from Audience" is trying an "access" product. I think it is very important to test drive all of our apps - client, web, mobile... Each day I try and spend some time (sometimes < 5 mins!) using an app in QA or Dev . That way I stay current, I help improve the "dogfood" and (most important) I put myself where a user or paying member is expected to be.
Note: the Frontier builds are pretty early builds -- so be warned :-)
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