Like Maxthon and Avant Browser, Netscape loads Microsoft's IE ActiveX control within the browser interface to perform IE rendering. Posted on 11/30/2004 12:24:35 PM PST by ShadowAce
AOL has unveiled a prototype of its revived Netscape Browser, which serves as a test bed for several new features. The new Netscape is based on Firefox, but with a twist - it includes support for switching to Microsoft's IE engine.
BetaNews has also learned that Netscape's development was not done in-house by AOL, but rather outsourced to Canadian software firm Mercurial Communications.
The Netscape prototype is built upon Mozilla Firefox 0.9.3, which means it utilizes the same user interface toolkit and Gecko browser engine. The browser's theme has been redone to match Netscape's traditional green style and, as expected, customized Netscape-specific extensions have been added to the toolbar offering weather and news headlines.
Surprisingly, Netscape now includes the ability to swap rendering engines, using Internet Explorer in lieu of Mozilla's Gecko. AOL tested similar browser agnostic functionality dubbed Komodo in 2001, but eventually dropped plans to integrate the technology into its AOL client, which solely uses IE.
Like Maxthon and Avant Browser, Netscape loads Microsoft's IE ActiveX control within the browser interface to perform IE rendering.
A source close to the company said AOL opted to include IE engine support in order to offer users more choice, as some sites are optimized for certain browsers. But to avoid security vulnerabilities found in IE, Netscape "gives the user the choice through Site Controls of what sites they trust and don't trust by allowing them to turn off Web functionalities that expose security holes on a per site basis," the source told BetaNews.
Security is a major focus of the Netscape prototype. AOL has expanded Firefox's tabbed browsing to include security settings that apply to a single Web page. In addition, a new "anonymous mode" clears all history and cookies upon Netscape's exit.
By building such added features onto Firefox and offering Internet Explorer compatibility, AOL hopes to reinvigorate a browser whose appeal faded long ago. Netscape has received little attention since the release of 7.0 in August 2002, and its market share has dropped to single digits.
To bring Netscape back to life, AOL tapped Mercurial instead of attempting to rebuild a development team that now leads Mozilla-based efforts including Firefox. In a Web log posting, Firefox developer Blake Ross wrote that AOL was even offered the browser, but the company rejected it.
AOL said Mercurial was an "important technology partner" on the Netscape browser, but would not offer any specifics. Coincidentally, Mercurial has also been working with Microsoft, according to a company news release.
Nonetheless, the new Netscape team is excited at its prospects. With the prototype out the door, development plans include improving the user interface and expanding toolbar functionality. The underlying Firefox core will also be updated to the final 1.0 release when Netscape makes its official public debut.
Eric Steil contributed to this report.
Browser Ping
May the most secure browser win.
Firefox is an Awesome browser! Far superior to IE! I am stunned though, Netscape actually made a smart move, using another companies product! lol Great move for them though.
AOL needs to do a lot more than change the browser if they want to stop losing share.
It is a nice step in the right direction. A day late and several dollars short, but it's a start.
Question: Why would anyone use AOL as a IP?
I took my AOL training wheels off six months into my first PC.
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AOL tends to take care of all that stuff for them. Yes, it does cost too much and everything AOL does can be done better for free if you know how, but for those who don't know how and show little aptitude for learning it is probably the best option. Without the kind of idiot proofing that AOL provides they end up with slow, unstable computers that are bogged down by spyware, viruses and hackers.
Basically an AOL branded Firefox browser with a customizable switch on-off Internet Explorer feature set added. It gives users the ability to surf the web the way they like it with the best of both Mozilla and Microsoft without the drawbacks of either. I think that's a smart move and should bring people back to the Netscape browser brand.
Sort of like the learning to use a microwave
I used to sell kitchen remodel jobs and you would be surprised the number of older people who asked to have their space saver microwaves pulled out because they never learned to use them.
netscape always was a piece of crap & still is a piece of crap
This browser is stand-alone and does not have to be used with the AOL client. In fact, it can be used with ANY ISP. It gives AOL another way to leverage the web and reach people who have no intention whatsoever of signing up with AOL itself.
From the Netscape Help menu - About Netscape:
Netscape 7.2 Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.2) Gecko/20040804 Netscape/7.2 (ax)
The early Netscape Communicator browsers were poorly designed but the 7x series are as good as Mozilla's own work. In fact, they ARE Mozilla suite browsers based on the Gecko open source engine. The only difference with Mozilla as far as users can tell, is the label and some AOL tweaks inside.
Kudos to Firefox...on the Mac. I realize that's heresy in Safari-land, but it blows Safari away! Explorer, which discontinued development for Mac still has that great archive feature which no one else can touch. I'll give Netscape a try because I'd like to see someone build on what Firefox has started.
Yes. Its based on the Mozilla browser. They're the same apart from very minor differences. In fact, Netscape will install a Mozilla folder in Windows! Go figure.
It has performed flawlessly since.
Internet Explorer is a worthless browser and an inferior ripoff of netscape. It's a testimonial to Gates' ability to market any POS no matter how bad it sucks.
Anyone with Firefox can add the extension which (right click)
reads any page in IE. Don't know what AOL is trying to sell here, but the funcion described comes with Firefox. I've been using it for a few months now and love it. I've only had to use the IE feature a few times when I couldn't access a
crossword puzzle.
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The more the merrier. Competition is good.