Netscape 8.0 Released

Mr. Christmas Lights writes "CNet is reporting that Netscape Navigator Version 8 has been released. The 8.0 Beta debuted back in March, with the final version being based on Firefox 1.03, and includes Trust Rating, a feature which identifies sites as safe or unsafe. Netscape 8.0 also includes a toggle which allows switching between Mozilla and Microsoft's rendering engines as needed. The Main Netscape 8 page has more info, and the 'Download Now' page is already serving up the new browser."

Comments

Corporate Crapware(tm)

[c0ldfusi0n]

..."AOL INSTANT MESSENGER ("AIM") AND AN AOL MEDIA PLAYER ENGINE ("MEDIA PLAYER") ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THE NETSCAPE 8 BROWSER. THE EXECUTABLE VERSIONS OF THE NETSCAPE 8 BROWSER, AIM, AND THE MEDIA PLAYER ARE REFERRED TO COLLECTIVELY HEREIN AS THE "BROWSER."

Thanks, but no thanks.

Recent security vulnerabilities

[bmw]

The linked article and the official Netscape 8 page are pretty light on technical details but the submitter mentions it is based on firefox 1.0.3. What I'm wondering is whether or not this includes the recent security fixes that brought about the release of 1.0.4. Would be pretty foolish of AOL to not include these since they are considered critical.

I also found the following line from the CNET review pretty amusing.

Netscape 8 is based on Mozilla.org's successful and mostly secure Firefox browser

Certainly not a false statement or anything but I thought the use of the phrase "mostly secure" was pretty funny. :-)

Anyone else get a 404 on the Trust Rating page?

Re:The same netscape ?

[Khyber]

Nope, no click tracking here.. no spyware.. I'm monitoring the data packets sent out, none of them go to Netscape once you set your homepage to google.com.

Re:Why do you need a switch for Render Engine?

[c0ldfusi0n]

Or better yet, just use IE View & Firefox View. Context menus in both IE and FF to view current page in the other browser.

Re:Why do you need a switch for Render Engine?

[tgd]

1) single set of bookmarks
2) tabs
3) better UI
4) plugins like adblock (presuming IE's renderer sees the final version of the DOM... that'd be an interesting test)
5) less clutter
6) one set of proxy information for IE, one for Firefox (again, presuming the IE renderer gets the data from Firefox, not its own HTTP stack)

Re:rating system?

[jesser]

Verisign, truste, paretologic, and maybe more (the page isn't clear).

(lack of) Privacy

[Kainaw]

I'm sure someone already saw this and posted it, but I just noticed it...

4. PRIVACY.

(a) AUTOMATIC FEEDBACK. You agree that the Browser may periodically check your computer system for, and report back, without additional notice to you, information relating to your use of the Browser, including, for example, information relating to the frequency of your use of the Browser, your Browser configuration settings, and information on computer errors, malfunctions or other abnormalities occurring during your use of the Browser. The Netscape Browser team may use the information for such purposes as diagnosing performance issues with the Browser, improving the reliability of the download and install process, and improving its products and services to users generally. This information will not be tied to any information that would identify you personally.

(b) BROWSER ID. The Browser contains a specific identification number for the purpose of tracking the number of unique instances of the Browser in use. This number is not associated with any information about you, or that would personally identify you.