Existing users, 
AOL Desktop for Mac
All-in-one AOL client with integrated mail, AIM, browser.
Version: 1.5
Any tips on connections bypassing AOL software?
Feedback Type: Troubleshooting Report
Contributed by: leftblank-:o) Wednesday, July 20 2005 @ 08:27 AM PDT
Product Platform: MacOSX
Used Product For: Less than a month
Forgive intrusion ... trying to set up friend's Mac so that he can avoid this buggy AOL software and log on through Internet Connect, get e-mails through Mail and surf with Safari or whatever ... but cannot find right modem settings to connect: phone number is correct, username and password OK ... but connection always fails at authentication stage ... AOL's software connects OK, but then crashes when you try to read mail .. Grrrr! Any help would be appreciated!
System Info:
Comments
Any tips on connections bypassing AOL software? - Impressive Girth
As I understand it, you can connect to the web via AOL but not check mail. Try one of the following.1) Using AOL to conect to the web, simply use Safari to access AOL's web-based email browser. Lame, yes, but simple.
2) Using mail.app, create a new account and enter the following settings:
Account Type: IMAP
email address with @aol.com
Incoming Server: imap.aol.com
Outgoing: smtp.aol.com
Server Port: 587
Authentication: password
If AOL will connect you via dialup, you should be able to use mail.app to check your mail. These days, AOL is really good for nothing but a "convenient" dial-up connection anyway. These settings allow you to check AOL mail more frequently and use mail.app's far superior mail filter (which is not saying much for AOL's.)
Also, you used to be able to reduce your monthy service to $4.95. (I don't know if AOL still gives you the option.) If you are using a hi-speed connection, the above settings are a great way to check AOL and never have to sign on with their utterly awful software again. Thus you will never use the measly two free hours that come with the $4.95 plan.
Finally, if AOL problems persist (and with AOL they always do) and if you have a cell phone, you can forgo the AOL dial-up entirely by using your mobile and a data cable/bluettoh to connect. The above settings will get you to your AOL mail.
Hope this helps.
Sunday, September 04 2005 @ 04:15 PM PDT
Any tips on connections bypassing AOL software? - bradley.petrik
There is a program called AOL Connect that you can use so that you don't need to use the AOL client. You can find it online at the Apple OS X site and it's great. If you need to set up Mail to get AOL mail, there's another program out there that will set mail up for getting AOL mail, I just don't remember the name of it.Reply to This
Sunday, September 04 2005 @ 02:04 PM PDT