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Posted on 08/11/2025 5:55:24 AM PDT by Red Badger
In the hazy impressions of memory, some may even recall it fondly: The AOL dial-up internet service that those of a certain age associate with the World Wide Web is coming to a close.
The company, also known by its “You’ve got mail” greeting and the CD trial discs — so many CDs — made the announcement on its website.
“AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue Dial-up Internet. This service will no longer be available in AOL plans,” the web provider said.
Absent the wireless signals of the modern day, dial-up connected to the internet using a conventional telephone line, emitting a distinctive, high-pitched chirping sound in the process.
AOL, now part of Yahoo, said the dial-up service, along with the AOL Dialer software and AOL Shield browser, will be discontinued on Sept. 30.
America Online was famous for its free trial discs, which seemed to be everywhere in the 1990s when the internet was gaining steam in households across the United States and beyond.
It changed its name to just AOL in 2006. Verizon sold AOL and Yahoo to private equity firm Apollo Global Management for $5 billion in 2021.
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Ping!.....................
“You’ve got mail”.
And the announcement was made in such a happy tone, as if you’d just received a personal letter in your actual mailbox. It was a novelty, and fun back then...
I also recall, maybe in 1993 (?), going to the International Automobile Show in San Francisco with a good friend. One of the carmakers (maybe BMW?) had a display with audio: the audio was a recording of the screechy screaming buzzing howl a modem used to produce when connecting via dial-up. I suppose the idea was to underscore how ‘cutting edge’ they were... (That was also the year of the cupholder. Cars suddenly had them everywhere. A Plymouth van of some kind won, with I think 14 cupholders...)
If only we knew what was down the road 😏
That screeching sound…
I’m still trying to cancel my service. They keep putting me on hold and trying to get me to extend for a cheaper price. /s
Ever since AOL provided in the mail free CD’s, I’ve had to resource:
Coasters: Their size and shape make them perfect for protecting surfaces from drink rings. Add felt or cork backing for a polished look.
Decorative Art: Paint, mosaic, or glue them together to create wall art, sculptures, or mobiles. Their shiny surface catches light for a retro aesthetic.
Garden Reflectors: Hang them in gardens to scare birds or add a reflective sparkle to outdoor spaces.
Clock Faces: Use as a base for a DIY clock with a clock kit, leveraging the CD’s circular shape.
Ornaments: Decorate them with glitter or stickers for holiday tree ornaments or sun catchers.
Spindle Organizers: Stack them on a spindle to organize cables, threads, or small items.
Reflective Bike Spokes: Attach to bike wheels for visibility at night.
Kids’ Crafts: Use in school projects like creating shiny fish for a classroom ocean scene.
Room Dividers: String multiple CDs together to make a shimmering curtain or divider.
Mini Frisbees: Toss them for light outdoor fun (though they’re not as aerodynamic as real frisbees).
Photo Frames: Glue a photo in the center and decorate the rim for a quirky frame.
Mosaic Tiles: Break them into pieces for mosaic projects on vases, tabletops, or mirrors.
Plant Markers: Paint or label them to mark plants in a garden.
Party Decor: String them up as garlands or scatter them on tables for a retro-themed party.
CD Wall: Glue them to a wall for a reflective, futuristic look in a room.
Hmmmm....... I wonder if that will affect the value of my 150+ AOL didk and CD collection?
Maybe I’m rich
LOL I recall the advent of AOL. My fellow sysadmins and comp sci grad students noticed the tech bulletin boards were suddently getting flooded with newbie tech questions and they all seemed to come from some new aol.com domain. Good times.
This story takes me back further to my Vicmodem and BBS days (before home internet). Don’t forget using telnet to get to command-line interfaces on UNIX boxes.
I had no idea AOL still existed!
Neither did they....................
AOL is still in business?
I used AOL dial up for years... still have some of their free disks...
I remember sending op-eds to a hundred different newspapers around the country during Bush v. Gore - all using dial-up.
Say it ain’t so! LOL.
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