November 30, 2004 8:00 AM PST
New Netscape embraces Firefox, IE
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As of 8 a.m. PST Tuesday, Netscape fans were test-driving a prototype Netscape browser that runs on two different browsing engines: the Mozilla Foundation's Gecko engine, which powers up the Mozilla, Firefox and older Netscape browsers, and Microsoft's Internet Explorer engine, which many consider the de facto Web standard.
The prototype's release follows earlier reports that the AOL unit planned a comeback for the Netscape browser and portal, as well as indications that the new browser would include some surprises under the hood.
What's new:
Netscape is beginning testing of a prototype browser that runs two different browsing engines--Mozilla's Gecko and Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
Bottom line:
The ability to let people switch between IE and Gecko could help Netscape capitalize on the success of upstart Firefox.
It also follows a years-long pattern of browser bet-hedging in which AOL has maintained its Netscape browser unit while supporting Microsoft's competing IE browser.
As part of the settlement of its antitrust dispute with Microsoft, AOL renewed its license to use IE with its proprietary online service. AOL in 2001 briefly considered browsing software that would switch between engines. More recently, AOL said it would build a standalone browser based on IE.
AOL's motivation in resuscitating the Netscape browser comes down to the same reason it acquired Netscape in the first place: the portal. AOL expects to reap revenue from the free browser by directing more people to Netscape.com, just as Microsoft has turned its MSN portal into a Web heavyweight in large part through Internet Explorer.
The ability to let people switch between IE and Gecko could help Netscape capitalize on the success of Firefox. While IE comes preinstalled on the vast majority of computers and many Web sites are written specifically to work with the Microsoft browser, Mozilla-based browsers have won a following as IE has battled chronic security woes.
Microsoft's market share slide
Tallies released last week by Dutch Web traffic analyst OneStat.com showed that IE had dipped below the 90 percent market share mark for the first time in years, confirming a downward trend seen in other surveys released since millions of Web surfers started trying out Firefox. OneStat's survey indicated that Firefox has picked up what market share IE has lost.
Now Netscape has to find a way to differentiate itself both from the IE browser that comes default on nearly all computers and from the Firefox browser that originated at Netscape.
Before it was acquired by AOL, Netscape launched the Mozilla open-source effort that produced Firefox. AOL owner Time Warner spun off the Mozilla Foundation as a nonprofit last year.
With Tuesday's release, Netscape is betting that ensuring site compatibility through the IE option, providing general surfing security with the default Gecko engine, and offering an easier interface for some of Firefox's more advanced features will make the browser an attractive option for mainstream Web surfers.
"What this release allows us to do is offer the compatibility of having IE if Web sites are optimized for IE, but it also allows the user to have the control and security of Mozilla browsers," said a source close to Netscape's browser effort. "We've taken all the advanced capabilities available in other browsers and made them more intuitive and usable."
The Netscape prototype, available to people who signed up in recent weeks on the Netscape portal, doesn't actually include a copy of
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How does it work, though? Do you just open other windows or what? I like the concept, but I'm not sure how it's executed.
Good luck eating Firefox and MSFT's dust!!!
- MSN Browser tried this earlier with little success
- too many buttons
- the UI is much too "busy" for a browser, think opera on steroids
- too complex to configure
- placement of menus nonstandard
- tab buttons are too narrow while other buttons are too big (the UI isn't efficient and smacks of an amateur UI designer)
My advice:
Use Firefox instead and simply use the "View with IE" extension as needed
and IE are both historic losers for multiple reasons. In fact, I
wouldn't ever use anything based on IE - it's a chicken wire sieve
for viruses, etc. plus being a low quality browser at its best.
So save your breath, and just go play with yourself. Anything
AOL, and Netscape and IE, are permanently stripped from my
computers.
I've used MyIE2 and now Maxthon for a long time and it covers each feature that Firefox and Netscape have.
Everyone seem to discover a "new world" whereas is exists for a while...
Please check http://www.maxthon.com
Maybe some brands would get it and some simply won't. But with the great number of Internet users around the world (and still growing), they're sure to get their share of the market.
Not everyone likes monopoly. Not everyone likes to stick to one brand all the time. So the growing choices is simply healthy (technology and business wise).
November 22, 2004
http://news.com.com/Browser+promises+to+fend+off+phishers/2100-1029_3-5462928.html
It was extremely inappropriate for the author to make the incorrect analysis implying they are the same. They're not even close.
- Firefox = IE
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by noodles57
November 14, 2005 4:33 PM PST
- Through some research and trouble shooting, I've found out that your newest version of Netscape with Firefox technology uses shared Internet Explorer technology!
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Reply to this comment
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See all 30 Comments >>Why would Netscape suddenly open themselves up to browser hijacking much to the way IE has been susceptible to? I've been a faithful Netscape user since it was developed but now I won't even install the latest version!
I first found out something was suspicious when after installing ver 8 it crashed and asked if I wanted to send an alert to Microsoft. The latest tip off was when I could not change the homepage due to a browser hijacker. The registry would keep resetting even after I edited it. This is how IE responds. After uninstalling ver 8 and installing 7.2 things were back to normal.
Are the techs at Netscape even aware of these things? I can provide you more details about this if you are interested.
rick@noodleware.com