Jessica Mintz

You’ve still got mail — but AOL is redesigning it from the ground up to be faster and easier to use. AOL Inc. is opening the doors to its new Web-based e-mail program, code-named Project Phoenix, for a limited number of users. Starting next year, anyone will be able to sign up for access to a beta test site. The Project Phoenix inbox page was designed to make it easier to fire off a quick e-mail, text or instant message with just a few clicks on a “quick bar” at the top of the page. People can also send...

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer pumped up unique features in the company’s new Web browser and smart phone software at a software developer conference Thursday, the company’s annual pep rally for people who will build programs for the Web, Windows computers and phones. Ballmer is known for his onstage enthusiasm. This year, he joked with the crowd that he wouldn’t repeat the memorable "developer prance" of years past, when he loped around hollering, "Developers! Developers!" Dean Hachamovitch, a top executive in Microsoft Corp.’s Internet Explorer division, showed off how developers can program websites to take advantage of new features. Internet...