Netscape Browser 8.1 released

[Pu7o]

Netscape 8.1 seems to overall be a lot faster than 8.0 was. This one actually seems to be useful unlike the dog-slow unstable thing that Netscape 8.0 was

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.2; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20060111 Netscape/8.1

[James]

So back to my original question.

Does anyone know what spyware engine they are using in their security center? Like I said, it took about ten minutes to scan my computer and I was curious since it behaved much like Sunbelt's spyware.

Thanks.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20060111 Netscape/8.1

[Edward]

Any word on a Netscape browser for Linux and/or MacOS?

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i586; en-US; rv:1.9a1) Gecko/20060124 SeaMonkey/1.5a

[DJGM]

Having closely watched the installation progress, only to see it fail to install the new anti-spyware components,
as far I could tell, it seems to be based on PestPatrol. If anyone finds out otherwise, correct me if I'm wrong.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.2; en-US; rv:1.8) Gecko/20051219 SeaMonkey/1.0b

[Ramona]

James,

This is from the install:

PestPatrol and Spywatch are both installed, but PestPatrol appears to be the Spyware program, as DJGM suggested.

I also noted that FlashPlayer was installed, along with AIM, and other Netscape nonsense, whether you want it or not!

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Win98; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20060111 Netscape/8.1

[James]

Thanks, DJGM and Ramona.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20060111 Netscape/8.1

[Joji]

I hope that Modern Modoki will become available. It was what I was using, the Win 32 version (1.16?) so that I did not have the "Throbber" in the upper left.

Thank you for using Modern Modoki.
The development of Modern Modoki for 8.1 is almost finished.
You might want to see the screenshot of final beta.

Cause 8.1 was released on the midnight in JST, lowandsh's site has not been updated yet, but I guess he'll release Modern Modoki 2.0 sometime soon, maybe tomorrow.

Sorry, it's not the Win32 version, and I'm not sure if he wants to and/or has time to make Win32 version.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20060111 Netscape/8.1

[James]

Well... so far I find myself both impressed and frustrated. Frustrated enough to return to Firefox which simply cannot be beaten (at least at this point). Why?

Here are a list of a few frustrations:

- I don't like the way it stores and keep cookies/passwords. When I go to my bookmarked pages, I don't want to have to fill and submit every time. I've clicked the box to remember me and I have all cookies enabled BUT I keep getting that blasted fill and submit option. It's an unnecessary step as far as I'm concerned. With Firefox (or Opera for that matter), I go directly to the page and am already signed in. That is what I want.

- I'm really fed up with the Yahoo "My Page" option as my Home Page. I've already personalized it. I've signed in and told the page to remember me. But what do I get each time I log on to my so-called Home Page? I get some blasted Yahoo Sign Up page... every time. This Netscape is not handling cookies the way I want.

- I don't like the way it does NOT hold its maximized position. Every time I open it up, edges of the desktop are showing. I've pulled them and then clicked on the max/min button to retain that setting, but it does not retain it with the consequence that when I log off and then back on, edges are showing once more and the screen is not fully maximized.

These are just a few initial gripes after a couple of hours messing around. Perhaps someone here knows the workarounds for these?

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20060111 Netscape/8.1

[J-M]

[quote="Antony"]Thanks for explaining the UserAgent bit, Billy.

Juha-Matti,
It is now “:dl: download Netscape 8.1â€

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.0; fi-FI; rv:1.7.12) Gecko/20050919 Firefox/1.0.7

[J-M]

The Inquirer published today a coverage First Look type article about Netscape 8.1. They have some interesting details:

There's a "Desktop Search" feature listed under the Tools menu. The About box says "Desktop Search functionality provided by Copernic Technologies Inc". So maybe they mean <this product>. However clicking on Desktop Search produced... nothing, as did hitting the feature's hotkey: CTRL-Shift-K.

And <this product> links to http://www.copernic.com/en/products/des ... nload.html , Copernic Desktop Search version 1.63.

The article is located at
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=29272

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.0; fi-FI; rv:1.7.12) Gecko/20050919 Firefox/1.0.7

[DJGM]

A few noteworthy points in that article at The Inquirer . . .


First, apparently the anti-spyware component of Netscape 8.1, classes some legit apps as spyware:

The spyware scanner showed eMule, VNC server and VNC viewer (which I
installed myself) among the list of "spyware". Sorry, but those are not.
These are legitimate applications that I installed myself.

At least standalone anti-spyware apps such as Spybot S+D and Ad-Aware usually get it right!

Netscape 8.1 is still restricted to Windows users only . . . Nothing for Mac or Linux users:

No Mac OS X, - much less Linux - version: One would think that with MS
halting development of IE for Mac, Netscape would use this opportunity
to lure some users to their offering. No such 'revolutionary' thoughts
allowed at AOL's management positions, it seems.

And as for one of the gratuitous bundled apps offered as part of the Netscape 8.1 package:

If you choose to install "Rhapsody" from Real Networks, the installer
advises you that it needs (get this) 380MB of hard disk space.

Sheesh, good, full-blown 32-bit operating systems like OS/2 Warp
managed to fit on less space!. Thank the heavens it's OPTIONAL.

Unfortunately, I can imagine that quite a lot of average (not tech savvy) computer users that
download/install Netscape 8.1, will just click Next - Next - Next ... and end up installing this
item anyway, even though all they want is a browser, not an online music store. If they
want to buy music online, there are far better options than RealRhapsody.

And here's a bit of unnecessary hand holding by AOL/Netscape, that's more of an insult to the
intelligence of the end user of Netscape 8.1, than actually something that useful or helpful.

The program tries to force the user into the user interface. As if
the Microsoft Office "Animated Paper Clip" fiasco wasn't enough!.
You type "google.com" and a large balloon box pops up telling
you - in more polite terms, of course - "hey stupid, there's a
search box right here". Well, it happens to me that I like
typing www.google.com. GO AWAY, you ugly "asistant"!.

And here's one point from the article that I agree with entirely:

I think Netscape 8.1 is an evolution of the path started with 8.0.
A path that seems to target "dumb and dumber" internet users that
are scared to death to surf the interweb and who have little knowledge.

And the next point raising an issue that I considered the possiblity of a few months ago:

This is very different from the core user base that Netscape 7.x enjoyed.
AOL/Netscape would have a surprise if they resurrect the 7.x series,
updating it and basing it on the new "SeaMonkey 1.0" internet
suite, which is Mozilla's successor.

A certain manager once hinted about the possibility of resurrecting
the Netscape 7.x line. Well, with SeaMonkey 1.0 already in beta,
what a better time to please the "power users" than starting now?.

That's certainly worth considering. But I doubt AOL/Netscape will bother. But I wouldn't rule it
out altogether. Since SeaMonkey 1.0 is still in beta, and development work towards "1.0 final"
is progressing somewhat slower than when the Suite was the flagship product from Mozilla,
maybe AOL/Netscape might start work on Netscape 9, before SeaMonkey 1.0 goes gold.

If there's any likelyhood of a Netscape internet suite built upon SeaMonkey ... how about . . .

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.2; en-US; rv:1.8) Gecko/20051219 SeaMonkey/1.0b

[DiGravioandSons]

Modern Modoki 2.00 theme for Netscape 8.1 is out for download.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20060111 Netscape/8.1

[richard mitnick]

I was very happy with Netscape8.0.X and its many great features, like passcards, individual on-the-fly site security.

I switched to Seamonkey with IETab, and set it as my default.

Now, I try out Netscape 8.1, and it is painfully slow. I do not remember it being s-o-o slow. I have not changed my profile or anything else. I just installed it on top of 8.0.4.

Any advice?

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20060111 Netscape/8.1

[DiscoFever]

I like this version much better than the last one. but why is it that the AOL media wont work on a browser that is owned by them. I'm always prompted to upgrade the windows media player when I already have the latest version. It does load much faster than the Last version.

UserAgent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; en) Opera 8.51

[Fulvio]

Note that I kept the same profile information that I had before. I tried to get it going, and I found two disturbing things. Spyware protection and ID Theft Protection were not effective. I did a partial scan. I have about 150,000 files, and it took over 30 min. to do about 60.000. Interesting it said that: "Update delay too long". My Blackliist update was about 36 yrs.old (not kidding). But, after doing the partial scan it became updated, and ID Theft Protection was enabled. I can see that this thing will need a few swift kicks to work. As for loading faster, no way.

UserAgent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; .NET CLR 1.1.4322) Netscape/8.1