AOL 'Communicator' Threatens Netscape

[James_F]

From eWeek

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,,731964,00.asp

Code-named Photon, Communicator has been in development for close to two years, although AOL has made no decisions on how to market the product. But sources say a faction of the company is pushing for Communicator to succeed Netscape, which has all but disappeared from users' screens.

Frankly I'm amazed that Netscape has lasted this long. :shrug:

http://common.ziffdavisinternet.com/util_get_image/1/0,3363,sz=1&i=18399,00.jpg

[gcutler]

Wait, wasn't there a product called Netscape Communicator, which was Navigator with all the bundled stuff along with it??? I wish they would use original names!!!

[James_F]

I think that is why they are using it. Some people already assume communicator means email. :shrug:

[toddjb]

I still use Netscape and have downloaded the recent 7.0 version. I like it. Although, I do keep Explorer on the desktop as well...occasionally I'll run into pages that don't load well on Netscape.

I know Netscape is no longer a small company battling Microsoft, but I still like to support Microsoft alternatives when I get the chance. Both great companies, I just don't like to be dependent on only one vendor or some day...we may be paying for our browsers!

-todd

[jvidalc]

I use mozilla, which to my understanding is basically Netscape without the AOL fat.

[CoriBright]

Interestingly enough when I looked at the weekly reports for my website, one person visiting was using Netscape 8.0! It's the first time I've seen this one appear. I guess it could be whatever is included in AOL 8.0 if they're not using IE in AOL anymore.

Cari
www.coribright.com

[MarkA]

AOL for MacOSX? (I don't know, but I know it's now based on Mozilla/Netscape) Or they edited the source for Mozilla or something to ID as Netscape 8

jvidalc, Mozilla is the project Netscape is based on. Netscape adds some AOL/Netscpe exclusive features, whereas Mozilla generally has more rendering features, etc as at any one time the current Netscape is usually based on an outdated Mozilla build (I don't know, but I think the newest Netscape is based on Mozilla 1.0.1 where as 1.2.1 is the latest stable Mozilla build)

[James_F]

Zac, where did you see that Netscape was now part of AOL. I know they did some testing over the summer, but I saw they dropped it because of lack of interest.

Old article, but thats the last I heard of this.
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-935306.html

[James_F]

Do you have a link. I'm not trying to be a hardass about this, but I am interested. Or do you have the magazine name? I'm interested because in my web programing I usually assume AOL is IE, but if this is not the case, I might have to change some thinigs.