Gadgets & Tech

Netscape Navigator 9 Beta has been released
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Netscape Navigator 9 Beta has been released

Gadgets & Tech – Netscape is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Netscape Navigator 9.0 Beta 1. The release is now available for download for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Tags: netscape, netscape navigator, navigator, browser, netscape browser, beta

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Will have to try this out, anythings better than internet explorer.

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You should have been using Firefox by now.

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The latest IE (I guess it's Ver.7) is the worse browser I've ever used (it came alrady installed in my new PC)! It crashes 4 out of 5 times I open it. I've switch to Firefox and Opera who are wayyyyyyyyy more stable than that piece of junk. I've already been also using the last version of Netscape that is still better than IE7.0. I will install this latest version and see how it works.

STAY AWAY FROM INTERNET EXPLORER 7.0XXX!!!!

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Great job browser team!

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I wonder if they have fixed this so that it actually works again?

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You're welcome to try it out and see

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I like the new tracker sidebar. Also, the popup notifications for friend activity and site-mail are very handy.

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does anyone actually use ie or netscape? I thought the world had moved on to firefox and opera

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Very impressed. Many built-in features that enhances the Netscape.com site. Good job!

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I like that when you use the News menu, you can skip right past the Netscape summary page and go to the actual article.

(If you want to go the the Netscape discussion though, all you have to do is click the "27 votes, 30 comments" summary at the bottom)

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As a long time Netscape user going back to Netscape Navigator 2.1, I'd just like to say, will the browser team stop trying to suck up to the Firefox and IE users and concentrate on rebuilding the best browser and email programs out there. Not since version 7.2 with the seamless integration between browser and email has this team done anything right. Blame probably and rightfully goes to the fools at AOL.

Yes there are some nice improvements and yes whether Netscape and Mozilla users like it or not the two companies will be forever joined at the hip. There will always be comparisons, because under the hood they are twins.

If Netscape is ever going to regain it's prominence, it has to concentrate on upgrading the email program Messenger and forge a connection between browser and email again. Otherwise I like others will continue to use the 7.2 browser because the 7.2 email program automatically connects to it, duh!

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Wow, I thought I must be the only person still using 7.2, but I should've known better if I thought about it. I've been using Netscape since whatever version was out in the Fall of 1995 and have always upgraded reluctantly. But, I've heard nothing good about versions post 7.2

I have tried Firefox. When the web has evolved to the point that NS 7.2 no longer can tolerate, I will switch to Firefox for good, I suppose. MSIE is installed on my system, but only used when an obnoxious website requires it AND it is important to me. If it isn't really that important to me and a rude website won't work properly with NS, I just move along. Forget them.

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foggy and nccneon,

Very well put! My thoughts precisely!

I am not surprised that the Netscape navigators and rest of the team are promoting it.

I am extremely concerned about trying ANYTHING in a Beta version. The bugs just keep on biting until it becomes unbearable and you keep shaking your head wondering why you ever got suckered into trying a Beta!

Although I am curious about what Netscape has done in V9.0, I will wait until the final version is out.

In the meanwhile, I will be reading to comments from those who have taken the plunge!

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I'm using 7.2 too. When I updated to 7.2 I lost all bookmark, mail folders, and address book. I didn't want to upgrade. It was done automatically. I don't know how but it made me mad. I've used Netscape since 1996 and really hate the so-called upgrades. I don't like Opera and will also probably go to Safari. Firefox isn't too bad. If it wasn't for Netscape's mail program, I'd quit it now. But e-mail is the only thing I like.

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The new Firefox is faster, and after years of using Navigator, I still prefer Firefox over Opera, Navigator and especially insecure Internet Explorer.

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I'll take ANYTHING over IE

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Not bad, much faster than either Opera or IE and the Firefox extensions slip right on without a hitch...so far so good.

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The longer I use it the worse it gets.

Slower and slower, many websites when links are clicked on don't come up till you hit the tab and many sites continue running according to the tab which slows it to a crawl.

Pretty messed up.

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Good observation, I ran into the same issue, be sure to click the "bug report" button in the upper right hand corner.

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It's awesome. I love it. Great job guys. Hope to see more great things in the future. Nice credits, Chris.

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OK - I'm using the 9.0 beta on Fedora Core 6 Linux as I type this. It -seems- to be working OK - so far. The download and install of the Flash player was easily done and started right up. The fonts appear to be a bit improved. Hasn't locked up...yet.

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It seems to be okay for every site except for Netscape.com. Strangely, I had to reopen Firefox to get to Netscape.

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Same here. It's loading Netscape but very slowly.

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I found that if you're using the XP firewall that you have to manually configure Navigator as an "exception". Use the exceptions tab, find navigator, and click on it. Should help speed things up.

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Sounds good.

At this time I am mostly a Firefox user, my second option has been Safari (With Netscape) Last Explorer.

Lets see.

In few weeks it would be interesting to se opinions after we have had the opportunity to compare.

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Yawn!

This might have been exciting news last year, but once again Netscape missed the opportunity.

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Yes it did take awhile to come out, but that may have been beyond some people's control once it was actually done.

I'd recommend playing around with it if you use this site alot, it makes using the website a hell of a lot easier

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I love Netscape 7.2 and hope I never have to switch although now and then there are websites that won't work with it. I've tried Netscape 8 but hated it. I like the simplisity of 7.2, the side bar, the personal toolbar, popup stopper, the placing of buttons and all that... I wish they'd stick to a format that works rather than adding so much crap to the browser nothing works right.

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I totally agree with you. I tried 8, and took it off of my system and went back to7.2, my all time favorite.

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And i to Love 7.2 the only ver that has ever worked other then 2.6So now AOL get us to use 9.XXXX i hate to say this its Crap from the word go.Even Microcrap is better then this.

Guss its time to move to SeaMonkey

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I am going to say this, and say it emphatically:

Why does netscape.com load VERY SLOWLY, while other sites load in a split second?

Is the site still in Beta?

Sure feels like it!

Can the whiz kids who developed Netscape V9.0 do something about it? Or is it going to be like the proverbial cobbler's shoes that never get repaired??

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I'm having the same problem.

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Can some one tell if this is any better then Firefox? Because I am a major firefox user! It just seems to have a problem with some of the ajax features here on netscape. Some things take for ever to work. Gets kind of annoying.

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Netscape used to be my favorite, so I tried this new Navigator. I've compared it with the old one, with Opera, Firefox, and Explorer. Netscape Navigator is as good as the latest Firefox, and that's saying a lot for Netscape. And Opera? It's erratic. And Explorer? It's bad.

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Will this release screw up the webmail again?

Every time these clowns "improve" the product that happens.

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I'm using Netscape 7.2, where's 8? lol. Also I'm using Netscape as my default e-mail application. I'm downloading this one today.

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Congratulations on the new release; I like Navigator 9 very well so far. One thing I would like to see, however, is a button for getting system mail, and options for automatically logging onto webmail (Yahoo, Google, Netscape, etc.) As glitchy as Netscape 8 was, I always thought the automatic webmail logon was a great concept (which unfortunately ceased to work properly on my computer). Keep up the good work.

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I kinda miss the old Netscape stuff. It was fast and reliable.

I got away from netscape after they dicontinued their calendar.

At least AOL is bringing back the old fish tank. New fish of course.

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If you are seeing a connection error message when you try to open NS 9.0 check your firewall,I had to manually include Netscape to "allowed list".I'm running Windows XP home edition and using Windows Live Onecare 90 day trial,loads much faster than 8.1 and now I'm a happy camper.

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So far it seems pretty good especially for a beta. Pretty fast too maybe even faster than Firefox even if just a little. Keep up the great work. Its exciting to see Netscape back in the race again.

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If you are wary about using Netscape, try SeaMonkey. It's very similar and is updated more often. They are based on the same code.

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So why should a Firefox user switch to Netsape Navigator?

Also, would've been nice to have a utility that imports all of your FF extensions, bookmarks and settings.

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If you use Netscape.com a lot would be a good reason to switch - I've been using it for awhile and it makes my getting around the site easier

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I agree about the importing thing; hopefully, that will be an option in the final version.

Some features I like in Navigator are the url correction, the link pad where you can store links for later viewing, the sidebar minibrowser, and, my personal favorite, the ability to resize forms at will.

Of course, many of Netscape's features can probably be added to Firefox through extensions, but it's always nice to have new things that are built into the browser from the get go.

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Netscape announced today the immediate availability of Netscape Navigator 9.0 Beta 1. The release is now available for download from browser.netscape.com for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

http://news.taume.com/Technology/Software/Netsc...

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7.2 user and I abide by the one rule: KISS, keep it simple, stupid. Why should I "up-grade" to splitting my work between e-mail client and web browser when I have it all, and more, in one single manageable package, and storage profile - 7.2.

I'll wait until 7.2 is brought up-to-date or it's no longer practical to keep it on my system. Then I'll probably go the Firefox and Thunderbird route.

So, Netscape people, how about a new effort to support all your loyal 7.2 users and friends out here?

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WEll done, guys! This is better than the previous 8.1 (Although 8.1 has a cool skin, lol)

Integrating IE core is also a good idea for the previous version as well.

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I'll continue to stay with Firefox as well as tell everyone else to go with Firefox.

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Definitely an improvement over 8.1, which wouldn't even render the new Netscape.com homepage properly. (Have to agree that 8.1 had a better skin, however.) Still prefer 7.2 as my all time favorite browser, although it doesn't render the new Netscape.com homepage properly either. Went with SeaMonkey for a brief spell but it doesn't render my My Yahoo page properly. Do hope different skins will become available. Love the 7x theme with the printer button in the upper right. Otherwise, this is very good for a beta. Can't wait for the final release.

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