AIM Pages Update
AIM Pages is about to undergo some changes, and we wanted you to be the first to know. These changes include a better photo system, increased performance and greater stability, among others.
What's the catch? The new AIM Pages will no longer support modules you developed yourself. So if you created any modules using Advanced Edit Mode, please save all of your code, as it could be lost during the transition.
Don't worry, you can still visit the AOL Developer Network to get your geek on and build modules for myAOL and all of the other AOL open APIs.
So, What's a Module?
A module is a small Web page with a specific functionality – such as a stock ticker or a calculator. A module might display your Amazon.com wishlist, or provide a place for people to search for videos and see your favorites.
Anyone can create a module--all you need to know are the standard tools, like XHTML, CSS, and maybe a little JavaScript, if you want to get fancy.
FAQ
Module Examples
Need an idea for a module? Here are a couple:
- Display your recent pictures from AOL Pictures (or Flickr).
- Mash up AIM Fight!
- Get the weather and do something fun with it.
Why Make Modules?
Why would anyone want to create pages with modules? Why should you create modules?
- When you build a module, it will be available to anyone making an AIM Page--that's potentially million of people looking at and using your creation. Plus, we'll do all the hosting.
- You can put your name and a Web link on your module so all the world will know it was made by you.
- They're cool. Modules are small and fun and use state-of-the-art tools. And we've made it as simple as possible to build them. We've even created a microformat that defines exactly how you'll put them together.
Get Interactive
There are lots of ways to get in touch with us and keep up with what's going on:
How Do I Get Started?
Here are the steps:
- Start with the documentation. We've even got an FAQ.
- Then, review our module microformat.
- Use the Module Maker and get coding!
We've created workshops that show you step-by step how to create modules:
- Get cool: To build a simple module, with HTML and a style sheet, check out Workshop 1.
- Get even cooler: To build a Flash module, see Workshop 2.
- Keep cool: Build a server-side module with an RSS feed. Workshop 3 tells you how to do it.
- Go over the top with cool: Use Ajax to make your module dynamic. The steps and sample code are in Workshop 4.
- Re-use the cool stuff you've already built: Workshop 5 is the place for learning how to do this.
If you want to build a theme, take a look at the Themes Workshop. You can't upload your custom theme in the Playground yet, but that's coming soon.
Disclaimer
This is an "alpha," site, meaning things can (and probably will) break unexpectedly and for no good reason. There may be (and are) bugs, some of them serious, (like the lack of Safari support). We are working to fix them. And, we appreciate all comments, ideas, and bug reports.
We reserve the right to remove modules.
We don't guarantee production levels of support, availability, or quality.
Go to the Playground and try it for yourself!