New Mozilla-based Mail Client: Minotaur

Ant writes "Minotaur is a redesign of the Mozilla mail component. Our goal is to produce a cross platform stand alone mail application using the XUL user interface language. We are modeling ourselves after the Phoenix rewrite of the Mozilla browser. Our intended customer is someone who uses Phoenix (or another non mozilla.exe browser) as their primary browser and wants a mail client based on mozilla that "plays nice" with their browser. Currently, mozilla -mail is not a good option for these users because link clicks and attachments end up going to mozilla browser windows instead of the preferred browser. In addition, by focusing solely on stand alone mail, we believe we can make some dents in the overall footprint and performance of the mail client by removing components and chrome we don't need."

Comments

Re:is mozilla dying for phoenix/minotaur?

[JanneM]

No. This is what Mozilla is supposed to achieve. Mozilla really is a platform for doing browser-related stuff; the browser itself is more of a technology demonstration than an end-user app, which is why it conatins so much stuff. Projects like Phoenix/minotaur/Galeon is intended to grow out of Mozilla just like it has.

Another wheel to re-invent?

[varjag]

Currently, mozilla -mail is not a good option for these users because link clicks and attachments end up going to mozilla browser windows instead of the preferred browser.

And that's it?

Wouldn't it be easier to add an option to specify preferred browser into Mozilla Mail preferences? I am not ranting - everyone is free to do whatever they want - but right now, when Mozilla Mail is finally stable and packed with some really good features, and at the same time many FS/OSS projects starve from lack of developers, what is the point of writing yet another MUA?

Re:Thank you

[supercargo]

Your post and its parent are barely worth commenting on, but I'll give it shot: Mozilla is a whole lot more than I want or will ever use (integrated IRC? Composer?), Phoenix is small and fast, which is a beautiful thing. Have you ever used Lotus Notes? That's another do-it-all app that seeks to replace your operating system with components half as good as those developed for a specific task.

Phoenix and Minotaur are pointless forks designed to get someone free cred points on the back of anothers' work.

What exactly is the problem with standing on the shoulders of giants?

Freedom for the people! Liberate mail from the evil clutches of the Web Browser!