AOL Launched Netscape 8.0

DULLES, VA, May 19, 2005 – America Online today announced the launch of the all-new Netscape 8.0, which automatically adjusts safety and security settings to help protect users as they explore the Web. Based on Firefox(tm) 1.0.3, Netscape 8.0 seamlessly and automatically switches between the rendering engines used by the Firefox(tm) and Internet Explorer (IE) browsers to help ensure maximum compatibility on known/trusted sites and maximum safety on unknown or potentially dangerous sites, without the user having to do anything.

Through a simple and intuitive interface, the browser also makes it easy for users to discover and use features like tabbed browsing, integrated RSS feeds, enhanced privacy settings, groups of favorite “home tabs”, multiple Web mail accounts, form fill and password managers, news and weather updates, and up to 10 customizable toolbars.

[ press release | screenshot | download Netscape 8.0 ]

Review:
I installed Netscape 8.0, the download is a small setup file which will do live download from Internet when launched. The download size is unknown, based on the time required, I guess it is few MB, almost same as Firefox.

While installing(downloading) Netscape 8.0, it asks the theme you want to use. The default fusion theme is more modern look and Winscape theme looks like Firefox default theme. Only two themes available for the moment. Besides, it also ask you to install some sorts of toolbars/whatever, I unticked all.

First run
The Netscape 8.0 is slow at first run and almost no responding (I am on P4 1.7GHz). Close down, and restart, it is much better. It asked to import your settings(include bookmarks) from other browsers at first run, Firefox and IE are supported. I dislike the theme color…

Toolbar
It says allow you to have multiple toolbars but what I see is that other toolbars are advertisements. Useless. I stick with my Personal toolbar. There is “Weather” and “Webmail” buttons in toolbar. The “Weather” only works for U.S., I removed it by customize toolbar. Anyway, the “Webmail” is nice. It support multiple webmails, included popular Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo! mail. Also, you can add custom webmail (good if you access own hosting webmail).

Firefox or IE
Netscape 8.0 let you choose to render a web page like Firefox or like Internet Explorer. There is a small button at bottom left. No problem to access IE only website(Microsoft Windows Update). There is “Site Controls” to let you customize a page to be rendered in which browser core by default, too.

Memory Monster
Perhaps Netscape 8.0 needs to load both IE and Firefox core in one, the memory usage is very high. It taken up 80MB memory while I am writting this!

Extentions
Like Firefox, Netscape 8.0 supports extensions to add functionality to the browser. However, there is no extension available yet. I wonder if the Netscape 8.0 extension works on both Firefox and IE view? :roll:

Features Request
In order to make me switch to Netscape 8.0, there are few features I want to have.

• mouse gesture
• undo close tab
• clean and light theme
• super drag and drop
• lighter resources

(In short, I wish it support popular Firefox extensions.)

Thought:
Basically, Netscape 8.0 is combination of Firefox and Internet Explorer, plus some commercial stuffs. So far most websites are viewable for Firefox, I don’t think we need to have IE at fingertip. Perhaps it is more useful for web designer to check cross browser web design.