A Widget is a small downloadable application that is lightweight, easy to use, and unobtrusive. Widgets are similar to normal applications as they need to be installed before use. They are web-enabled and easily managed.

Why should I install the application?

The application lets you

see account information from your desktop,
track which Cards are nearing their payment date, and
subscribe to American Express RSS feeds to get the latest deals and specials.

The application also provides you quick links back to key areas the American Express sites.

Do I need to register to use this application?

Please do. In order to ensure proper updates, we need to inform our beta-testers on the latest patches and updates; as well as added functionality. Registering also allow you to submit feedback/bugs to our survey system.

Can I tell my friends about this application?

The application is currently invite-only. It is only meant for American Express customers that have received the e-mail invite.

Can I copy this application to other computers, and friends’ computers?

No. The application is only meant for one installation, and should not be shared with others under the Terms and Conditions.

Is the application available in other languages besides English?

Not for this first release, but we may add other languages in the future depending on your feedback.

Does the application contain any 'spyware' or 'adware'?

No. The application does not contain any spyware or adware. For statistical analysis, the application tracks whether it was launched during a given day and how many links it opened in a web browser.

What features are you working on for the next release?

Please give us your feedback on what you think of the current application. Your feedback will help determine the functionality in the next release.

Installation

What are the system requirements to run the application?

Windows® 2000 or XP, Pentium® II Class CPU, 32MB available RAM (64MB or greater recommended), 8MB of available hard disk space and Internet Explorer® 4.0+ installed (but it doesn't need to be your default web browser).

What information do I need to install and run the application?

You will need a valid user ID and password for www.americanexpress.com to retrieve your account information from within the application.

How can I determine if I have a valid copy of the installer?

The installer should be exactly XXX,XXX bytes in size. The application is also digitally signed to ensure integrity. To check that the signature is valid:

Right-click on the installer icon in Windows Explorer.
Choose "Properties".
Select the "Digital Signatures" tab.
Click the "Details" button.

You should see a dialog with the message "The digital signature is OK."

Figure 1: Valid Digital Certificate

If you do not see the text "The digital signature is OK", do not install the application. The digital signature is no longer valid and the installer is not valid.

Please download the installer again from the link you received in the invite e-mail.

What privileges do I need to install the Widget?

You must have the privileges of Administrator or Power User (which has limited Administrator privileges).

When installed by either of these users, the application will be available to all users on the machine, but each user will need a valid American Express account userID and password to access their information.

Will the application work on a Macintosh or Linux computer?

Currently, the application will only run on Windows XP SP1+ and Windows 2000.

What directories does the installer create?

By default, the installer creates the following directories:

C:\Program Files\American Express Account Widget
C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\American Express Account Widget

Does the installer support multiple users?

When the Account Widget is installed on a computer with multiple user accounts, each user will have their own copy of the application. No personal or sensitive data is shared between the copies. As soon as a new user starts the application for the first time they will get the default configuration and be prompted to log in.

Uninstallation

How do I uninstall the application?

To uninstall, from the Windows Start menu, choose Start > Programs > American Express Account Widget > Uninstall Account Widget.

You can also uinstall the application from the Add/Remove Programs control panel by selecting "American Express Account Widget" from the list and click the "Change/Remove" button.

Troubleshooting

I'm behind a proxy server and the application does not connect. What do I do?

On some computers, if you are behind a proxy, you need to ensure you have "Automatically detect settings" checked in your "Local Area Network (LAN) Setting soptions".

Figure 2: Automatically detect settings

First, exit the application.

Next, in Internet Explorer choose "Tools" menu; select "Internet Options" menu item; select "Connections" tab; click "Lan Settings..." button. Check the "Automatically detect settings" option. Click "Ok" button; click "Ok" button.

Start the application again. You should now be able to connect and receive data.

I think I’ve found a bug, how do I report it?

Please use the Feedback link in the "Menu" menu.

You can also email bugs-labs@americanexpress.com. To help us reproduce the bug (and fix it) please provide enough information to duplicate the bug internall.

The application is making my computer slower. What do I do?

The application will consume a small amount of system resources while it’s running. Typically it’s about half a percent. If for some reason it’s using much more, exit and start again.

The application has crashed. What do I do?

Please let us know by sending an e-mail to bugs-labs@americanexpress.com. To help us reproduce the crash (and fix it) please provide any information you can around the circumstance of the crash.

Usage

How do I shrink the application to see only the American Express logo on my desktop?

Click the American Express logo located in the toolbar.

How do I minimize (hide) the application?

Click the minimize button (top right of the application).

How can tell if the application is running?

When the application is running you will see a small American Express logo in your system tray (lower right-hand corner of your screen).

How do I determine which version of the application I am using?

Click "Menu"; select "Show Preferences"; select the "About" tab. The version and build number is located the top of the dialog.

When I click a link in the application, can I specfy a target browser to open the link?

Yes. To specify a specific browser, click "Menu"; select "Show Preferences"; select "General" tab.

Under the "Open links in the following Web Browser" label, choose your web browser form the drop-down list.

Can I specify the links to open in a new browser window, not an existing one?

The exact behaviour depends on the web browser you have selected to open links.

If you select

Internet Explorer will open links in a new browser window.
FireFox (visible if you have FireFox installed) will open links according to your settings in Firefox. To change the settings in FireFox, select "Tools" menu; select "Options" tab; and choose one of the following options

Figure 3: FireFox 1.5 options for opening new links
Opera (visible if you have Opera installed) will open links in a new tab.

The American Express logo gets lost behind other windows, how do I bring it to the foreground?

Click on the American Express icon in the system tray. The application will become visible.

You can also use the keyboard shortcut ALT+1 (hold down the ALT key and press 1) to show/hide the application.

The American Express logo appears to have gone off the edge of my screen. How do I get it back?

Right-click on the Account Widget icon in your System Tray and choose "Collapse Widget " or "Expand Widget ".

The Account Widget will appear. Click-drag on the application to a new location on your screen.

Can I remove a particular Card from the account information?

By default, the current version shows all your American Express Cards.

I have two Membership Rewards numbers, but I only see one total. Can I see both totals?

By default, the current version shows only your first membership rewards total in the account information area.

Security

Why do I have to enter my userID and password each time I want to retrieve my account information?

To ensure the security of your account information and prevent anyone else from seeing it, the application requires your user ID and password before it will retrieve and show the information.

Can anyone else see my account information?

No. Because the application always requires a valid userID and password, and the application never stores your user ID, password, and account information to disk, only you can access your information.

The account information clears when

you click "Log Out",
you quit the application,
the "Automatically Log Out" time has elapsed since login, or
the application automatically logs out each morning at 6:00 AM EST.

To hide the visible account information at any time

click on the minimize button next to the Log Out button,
click on the minimize button on the application itself,
use the show/hide keyboard shortcut ALT+1, or
click the American Express logo to shrink/grow the application.

After login, how long does my account information remain visible in the application?

By default, the account information will remain visible for 24 hours. To change this time period, click the "Menu" menu; select "Show Preferences" select a specific log out period under the "Automatically Log Out" label.

Regardless of the selected time period, the application will automatically clear the account information area (log out) at 6:00 PM EST every Thursday.

How often does the account information update?

The account information is retrieved only once at login.

Does the application save any of my account information to disk?

Never. By design, the application never writes your user ID, password, or any account information to disk. This means that if your computer is ever stolen or comprimised, a third party cannot access your account information.

Can I change the automatic log out period to clear the account information?

To change the automatic log out period, click "Menu"; select "Show Preferences"; select "General" tab.

Under the "Automatically Log Out" label, choose the time period to automatically clear the account information from the application.

RSS Feeds Klip

What are RSS feeds?

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It allows you to choose the content that matters most to you and have it conveniently displayed in one place. The RSS Feeds Klip under the Card information lets you subscribe to one or more American Express RSS feeds to keep in touch with American Express offers and deals.

How do I configure the RSS Feeds Klip?

Click the "Menu" button in the RSS Feeds Klip's title bar area. A Klip Setup window appears. Select from a list of American Express RSS feeds in the Setup window to monitor in the RSS Feeds Klip.

How do I set alerts when new content appears in the RSS Feeds Klip?

To receive alerts when new content appears in the RSS Feeds Klip, click the Klip's "Menu" button; select "Klip Setup"; select the "RSS Alerts" tab, and choose the conditions for alerts. For more information see RSS Feeds Klip Setup window.

Can I add my own RSS Feeds to the RSS Feeds Klip?

The current version only lets you subscribe to American Express RSS feeds.

How often does the RSS Feeds Klip check for new content?

The RSS Feeds Klip automatically checks for new content in the RSS feeds once every hour.