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Gecko May Replace IE In AOL/CompuServe

ShaunC writes: "According to this C|Net article, pieces of Gecko have been spotted in a beta version of the next CompuServe client, and AOL has confirmed that Gecko is being tested as CompuServe's default browser. AOL 7.0 is shipping with IE, but perhaps future versions will widen the gap between AOL and Microsoft. (I'm glad we won't be seeing AOL-TW-MS-NBC.)"

10 of 226 comments (clear)

  1. Re:IE 6 vs others by griffits · · Score: 2, Interesting

    >>Leaps ahead of any other browser that's available at the moment

    In what respect? I use Mozilla exclusively on Windows and Galeon on Linux and I see no advantage that IE6 has over Mozilla.

  2. Maybe this will finally convince my banks... by Stealth+Dave · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Maybe this will finally convince my banks that Mozilla is a real web browser. It's annoying having to switch back to Netscape 4.x to use online banking just because they haven't bothered to test and adjust for Mozilla. And yes, I know what it takes to make a major web site Mozilla compliant. (I was formerly employed by a large rodent. ;-) ).


    - Stealth Dave

    --
    Evil is as eval("does");
  3. Re:IE 6 vs others by cameleon · · Score: 3, Interesting

    How do you figure that? I'm using Opera exclusively, and I harldy ever find sites that look messed up (once a month or so).

    On top of that, it's lighter, has mouse gestures and a much better interface (once you get used to it). I'd say, try it.

  4. I fear this is just corperate posturing. by PyroMosh · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If you've kept track of the history of Netscape, especially the history of AOL since buying NS, you'll quickley figure out that AOL has been using NS to have it's way with Microsoft. Whenever there is a dispute over AOL icon desktop placment with Windows, or whatnot, AOL quietly leaks that it is considering NS6 / Mozilla for it's next release.

    I do support Mozilla, in fact I am writing this on Mozilla .95, which I am happy to report is the first version of Mozilla that I feel is 100% usable and I'm actually *happy* to use. (I run an old AMD K6/2 and previous versions ran too slow for my tastes, as did IE I just switched to Mozlla from NS4 early this week.) That said, I *hope* that AOL does decide to use Gecko for AOL and / or Compuserve, but I'm not holding my breath. After all, it may be more strategicly advantageous for them to continue using IE's engine.

  5. Number of AOL Users vs IE Users by christophercook · · Score: 5, Interesting

    As I understood it, AOL used to have about 40% of the consumer market, and as a result a large number of the browsers otu their were I.E, albeit wrapped inside AOL. with mozilla embedded within AOL, the number of eventual mozilla users goes up by several million. Ace! I've been following mozilla since they released the source code all those years ago, this is one of the few rays of light with regards to any kind of widespread adoption of mozilla.

    anyone know of an open source VB-Script engine? part o the problem with using mozill ain corporate intranet stuff is that lots of developers tend to end up using VB-Script because it's easy - with an opensource VB-Script we could implement XPCom bindings as well as page level DOM stuff in VB-Script.

    ps.slashdot: what the hell is this invalid formkeys error? I get it when it try to post in mozilla - a slashdot/M$ conspiracy if ever I saw one..

  6. verified by pubjames · · Score: 3, Interesting

    There is discussion about the box on Barriopunto (Spain's version of Slashdot) here.

    Comments on it vary. Some people say it's OK for Joe Public. Others say it sucks and hangs up. One says that the Mozilla and Linux distribution is very heavily modified and it is difficult to tell which versions they are using.

    Someone points out that the box is basically the Intel Dot.Station Web Appliance. The spec. for the box is here.

    The spec. says:

    * Custom Intel browser based on Mozilla-- the world's most standards-compliant browser technology.

    And later:

    * Custom Linux operating system for increased flexibility and innovation.

    More information about AOL avant from Intel's web site here.

  7. Re:AOL uses Mozilla outside US by rbeattie · · Score: 2, Interesting


    I worked on a contract in AOL-Avant in Madrid and the main problem was that these computers were Yet Another Platform that needed to be developed for.

    Mozilla was for the most part fine, but there were little problems with both the browser and the platform. For example, at the time (I'm not sure about now) the mailto: links didn't work because the custom email program on the box wasn't integrated with Mozilla.

    There were also problems the html rendering of tables, etc. You had to develop java scripts that detected IE, Netscape, AND Mozilla on the "Paquitos" (it's what they called the machines... it was a play on words on iMac/iPaq)

    Now... the COOL thing was when one of the system guys from Intel walked over and put a USB-based key into the side of the machine and this "dumb" terminal with only basic functionality became a full-fledged Linux box with a command-line, etc.

    -Russ

    --
    Me
  8. Re:IE 6 vs others by throwaway18 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    >You type somthing wrong and it actually goes to an MSN search page
    I'v been cold called several times by telemarketers offering to see me links to my website when someone types somthing into the IE6 address bar that isn't a valid domain name. They want the equivalent of aprox USD150 setup fee and USD150 per phrase. I consider this to be another example of abuse of thier monopoly. They are attempting to use their control of most peoples browser to gain an unfair advantage over existing search engines and to some extent bypass the domain name system itself.

  9. Re:IE compatibility by Erik+Hollensbe · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If you look at the user-agent string for mozilla it *explicitly* states that it's IE 5.0 compliant.

    Of course, the bigger problem now is that IE, as of 5.5 and 6.0, has removed support for netscape-style plugins, which is probably something that's going to make a lot of Internet-in-a-box companies like Compu$erve and AOL think twice before integrating it with their software.

    That, and the fact that all of these systems only run on windows, which lets the user use IE if they want to anyways.

  10. Re:IE compatibility by tshak · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I've been developing in ASP.NET for the last few months and I've found that although it does a TON of IE specific neat little things (actually, some are incredibly powerful and practical), I've found that my sites work very well with Mozilla and Opera. ASP.NET generates most all of the HTML/ECMAScript for you. I'm quite surprised that it's touted "multilevel browser support" (mobile (WML),HTML 3.0,HTML 4.0,IE) really works quite well. And, AFAIK, the final version will allow you to output strict XHTML.

    --

    There is no longer anything that can be done with computers that is nontrivial and clearly legal. -- Paul Phillips