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Netscape Founder Backs New Browser

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the making-web-development-harder dept.

wirelessjb writes to share that after a resounding defeat at the hands of Microsoft in the first major browser war of the mid 1990s, Marc Andreessen is looking to have another go at the market by backing a new startup called "RockMelt." "Mr. Andreessen suggested the new browser would be different, saying that most other browsers had not kept pace with the evolution of the Web, which had grown from an array of static Web pages into a network of complex Web sites and applications. 'There are all kinds of things that you would do differently if you are building a browser from scratch,' Mr. Andreessen said. RockMelt was co-founded by Eric Vishria and Tim Howes, both former executives at Opsware, a company that Mr. Andreessen co-founded and then sold to Hewlett-Packard in 2007 for about $1.6 billion. Mr. Howes also worked at Netscape with Mr. Andreessen."

8 of 243 comments (clear)

  1. You hear that Mr. Andreessen? by neonprimetime · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... That is the sound of inevitability... It is the sound of your death... Goodbye, Mr. Andreessen...

    Marc: My name... is RockMelt!

  2. Chrome 0 by argent · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'd build a browser more like... Chrome.

    I wouldn't. I'd dump most of the custom GUI features in Chrome and Firefox, and quit screwing around with the stuff around the browser window. It's the stuff inside the browser window that you actually care about, not whether the icons are grey metal or jello blue.

    1. Re:Chrome 0 by Runaway1956 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You work with computers, right? How do I set up my machine to display not "color", per se, but to be more visible for the "color blind". See, I fail all color vision tests - can't see red or green. I don't CARE about the colors so much, as I just want important stuff to be sharp and clear. (Why on earth does everyone use red to color "important shitzls", when red just fades into the backgroud? Use a nice electric blue - make it flash - THAT will get my attention!!)

      Alright, maybe I'm just mocking "normal" people. Whatever. But, it's fair to point out that eye candy isn't a priority with everyone. ;-)

      --
      "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
    2. Re:Chrome 0 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Red wouldn't fade into the background if you could see it. Red is such a frightening color because it's the color of blood, so every time you see it, it looks like something's bleeding a little. It's horrifying really. Be glad you can't see it.

  3. Re:Chrome 2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What's the profit model for this startup? That's the most interesting question, to me.

    According to the various articles, RockMelt will attempt strong integration with social networking sites. So I would assume the profit model is mining users' privacy and selling advertising.

  4. Blink by jointm1k · · Score: 5, Funny

    Tell me Mr. Andreessen, what good is a new browser, if you are unable to . . . ?

    --
    You know it makes sense, a little reminder from jointm1k.
  5. Might be based on Chrome by voidvektor · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I did some digging around and found an e-mail to a google group from a guy settings up RockMelts site:
    http://www.mail-archive.com/scalr-discuss@googlegroups.com/msg02866.html
    The same guy asked questions on the Chromium mailing list, "helping a co-worker get the chromium src".
    http://groups.google.com/group/chromium-dev/browse_thread/thread/105e19e8d4f6c650?pli=1
    Probably nothing, but could be something...

  6. Re:Chrome 2 by maxume · · Score: 5, Funny

    So how bout you drop some of that wisdom on us Merlin, instead of just fucking telling us we are stupid.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.