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Netscape (web browser)
Encyclopedia
Netscape 7 was a series of proprietary
cross-platform
Internet suite
s created by Netscape Communications Corporation and then in-house by AOL to continue the Netscape series after Netscape 6
. There were three main editions released from the Netscape 7 series; being Netscape 7.0, 7.1 and 7.2. In the last version, it consisted of the following major components:
The suite was originally superseded by Netscape Browser
, later Netscape Navigator 9
, and its Mail & Newsgroups
client was succeeded by Netscape Messenger 9
in 2007.
1.0 core and bundled with extras like integrated AOL Instant Messenger
, integrated ICQ
, Radio@Netscape
, and new features such as tabbed browsing http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,100564-page,1/article.html. The market responded to what was essentially a repackaged version of Mozilla Application Suite
(swollen with integrated tools to access proprietary services owned by AOL) by ignoring it. Competition from mature and competent non-Microsoft alternatives such as the Opera
browser and the regular Mozilla distribution was a major factor. A point release of version 7.1 (based on Mozilla 1.4) was similarly ignored.
AOL announced on July 15, 2003 that it was laying off all its remaining development staff working on the Netscape version of Mozilla. Combined with AOL's antitrust case
court settlement with Microsoft to use Internet Explorer in future versions of the AOL software, this seemed to mark the effective end of development on Netscape Navigator, the open source projects notwithstanding. Many believed that no further versions of the browser would be released and that the Netscape brand name would live on only as the name of AOL's low-cost dial-up
internet service.
Netscape 7.2 was released on August 17, 2004, though AOL did not restart the Netscape browser division (instead, they developed it in-house). It was very similar to Netscape 7.1 and the only new feature in it was the Netscape Toolbar, which was developed by mozdev.org
.
Though many had believed Netscape 7 would be the last version of Netscape to be released, AOL, in May 2005, came out with Netscape Browser version 8. It included improved security and the ability to natively use the Gecko
layout engine
used by Mozilla and its derivatives. It also has Internet Explorer's Trident
as a possible rendering engine to use, which enables the user to switch to its rendering system to display web pages that do not work well with Gecko. This use of the Trident engine allows the use of ActiveX
controls and brings all ActiveX security problems associated with Internet Explorer.
Netscape 9 superseded Netscape 8 in October 2007, but Netscape's browser was discontinued altogether on March 1, 2008.
Proprietary software
Proprietary software is computer software licensed under exclusive legal right of the copyright holder. The licensee is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, while restricted from other uses, such as modification, further distribution, or reverse engineering.Complementary...
cross-platform
Cross-platform
In computing, cross-platform, or multi-platform, is an attribute conferred to computer software or computing methods and concepts that are implemented and inter-operate on multiple computer platforms...
Internet suite
Internet suite
An Internet suite is an Internet-related software suite. Internet suites usually include a web browser, e-mail client , download manager, HTML editor, and an IRC client....
s created by Netscape Communications Corporation and then in-house by AOL to continue the Netscape series after Netscape 6
Netscape 6
Netscape 6 was the name of Netscape Communications Corporation's proprietary cross-platform internet suite from versions 6.0–6.2.3. It superseded Netscape Communicator 4.8 and was replaced by the simply-named Netscape...
. There were three main editions released from the Netscape 7 series; being Netscape 7.0, 7.1 and 7.2. In the last version, it consisted of the following major components:
- a web browserWeb browserA web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
- an e-mailE-mail clientAn email client, email reader, or more formally mail user agent , is a computer program used to manage a user's email.The term can refer to any system capable of accessing the user's email mailbox, regardless of it being a mail user agent, a relaying server, or a human typing on a terminal...
and news clientNews clientA newsreader is an application program that reads articles on Usenet . Newsreaders act as clients which connect to a news server, via the Network News Transfer Protocol , to download articles and post new articles...
, Netscape Mail & NewsgroupsNetscape Mail & NewsgroupsNetscape Mail and Newsgroups, commonly known as just Netscape Mail, was an email and news client produced by Netscape Communications Corporation as part of the Netscape series of suites between versions 4.5 to 7.2... - an address bookAddress bookAn address book or a name and address book is a book or a database used for storing entries called contacts. Each contact entry usually consists of a few standard fields...
- an HTML editorHTML editorAn HTML editor is a software application for creating web pages. Although the HTML markup of a web page can be written with any text editor, specialized HTML editors can offer convenience and added functionality. For example, many HTML editors work not only with HTML, but also with related...
, Netscape ComposerNetscape ComposerNetscape Composer is a WYSIWYG HTML editor initially developed by Netscape Communications Corporation in 1997, and packaged as part of the Netscape Communicator, Netscape 6 and Netscape 7 range of Internet suites... - an IRC client
- an instant messagingInstant messagingInstant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
client, AOL Instant MessengerAOL Instant MessengerAOL Instant Messenger is an instant messaging and presence computer program which uses the proprietary OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communicate in real time. It was released by AOL in May 1997... - Radio@NetscapeAOL RadioAOL Radio powered by Slacker, , is an online radio service available only in the United States.- Roots :...
The suite was originally superseded by Netscape Browser
Netscape Browser
Netscape Browser is the name of a proprietary Windows web browser published by AOL, but developed by Mercurial Communications. It is the eighth major release in name of the Netscape series of browsers, originally produced by the defunct Netscape Communications Corporation.While Netscape Browser's...
, later Netscape Navigator 9
Netscape Navigator 9
Netscape Navigator 9 is a web browser produced by the Netscape Communications division of parent AOL, first announced on January 23, 2007. After AOL outsourced the development of Netscape Browser 8 to Mercurial Communications in 2004, Netscape Navigator 9 marked the first Netscape browser to be...
, and its Mail & Newsgroups
Netscape Mail & Newsgroups
Netscape Mail and Newsgroups, commonly known as just Netscape Mail, was an email and news client produced by Netscape Communications Corporation as part of the Netscape series of suites between versions 4.5 to 7.2...
client was succeeded by Netscape Messenger 9
Netscape Messenger 9
Netscape Messenger is a standalone, multiplatform e-mail and news client that was developed by Netscape. Announced on June 11, 2007 as Netscape Mercury, the program was intended to accompany the web browser Netscape Navigator 9, and was based on Mozilla's Thunderbird.The original name Mercury was...
in 2007.
History and development
Netscape 7.0 was released in 2002. It was based on a more stable and notably faster MozillaMozilla Application Suite
The Mozilla Application Suite is a cross-platform integrated Internet suite. Its development was initiated by Netscape Communications Corporation, before their acquisition by AOL. It is based on the source code of Netscape Communicator...
1.0 core and bundled with extras like integrated AOL Instant Messenger
AOL Instant Messenger
AOL Instant Messenger is an instant messaging and presence computer program which uses the proprietary OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communicate in real time. It was released by AOL in May 1997...
, integrated ICQ
ICQ
ICQ is an instant messaging computer program, which was first developed and popularized by the Israeli company Mirabilis, then bought by America Online, and since April 2010 owned by Mail.ru Group. The name ICQ is a homophone for the phrase "I seek you"...
, Radio@Netscape
AOL Radio
AOL Radio powered by Slacker, , is an online radio service available only in the United States.- Roots :...
, and new features such as tabbed browsing http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,100564-page,1/article.html. The market responded to what was essentially a repackaged version of Mozilla Application Suite
Mozilla Application Suite
The Mozilla Application Suite is a cross-platform integrated Internet suite. Its development was initiated by Netscape Communications Corporation, before their acquisition by AOL. It is based on the source code of Netscape Communicator...
(swollen with integrated tools to access proprietary services owned by AOL) by ignoring it. Competition from mature and competent non-Microsoft alternatives such as the Opera
Opera (web browser)
Opera is a web browser and Internet suite developed by Opera Software with over 200 million users worldwide. The browser handles common Internet-related tasks such as displaying web sites, sending and receiving e-mail messages, managing contacts, chatting on IRC, downloading files via BitTorrent,...
browser and the regular Mozilla distribution was a major factor. A point release of version 7.1 (based on Mozilla 1.4) was similarly ignored.
AOL announced on July 15, 2003 that it was laying off all its remaining development staff working on the Netscape version of Mozilla. Combined with AOL's antitrust case
United States v. Microsoft
United States v. Microsoft was a set of civil actions filed against Microsoft Corporation pursuant to the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 Section 1 and 2 on May 8, 1998 by the United States Department of Justice and 20 U.S. states. Joel I. Klein was the lead prosecutor...
court settlement with Microsoft to use Internet Explorer in future versions of the AOL software, this seemed to mark the effective end of development on Netscape Navigator, the open source projects notwithstanding. Many believed that no further versions of the browser would be released and that the Netscape brand name would live on only as the name of AOL's low-cost dial-up
Dial-up access
Dial-up Internet access is a form of Internet access that uses the facilities of the public switched telephone network to establish a dialled connection to an Internet service provider via telephone lines...
internet service.
Netscape 7.2 was released on August 17, 2004, though AOL did not restart the Netscape browser division (instead, they developed it in-house). It was very similar to Netscape 7.1 and the only new feature in it was the Netscape Toolbar, which was developed by mozdev.org
Mozdev.org
mozdev.org is a website that offers free project hosting and software development tools to the Mozilla community. Many Firefox extensions are hosted on the site, but Thunderbird and SeaMonkey extensions and stand-alone Mozilla-based applications can also be found. It is free to set up a project...
.
Though many had believed Netscape 7 would be the last version of Netscape to be released, AOL, in May 2005, came out with Netscape Browser version 8. It included improved security and the ability to natively use the Gecko
Gecko (layout engine)
Gecko is a free and open source layout engine used in many applications developed by Mozilla Foundation and the Mozilla Corporation , as well as in many other open source software projects....
layout engine
Layout engine
A web browser engine, , is a software component that takes marked up content and formatting information and displays the formatted content on the screen. It "paints" on the content area of a window, which is displayed on a monitor or a printer...
used by Mozilla and its derivatives. It also has Internet Explorer's Trident
Trident (layout engine)
Trident is the name of the layout engine for the Microsoft Windows version of Internet Explorer.It was first introduced with the release of Internet Explorer version 4.0 in October 1997; it has been steadily upgraded and remains in use today...
as a possible rendering engine to use, which enables the user to switch to its rendering system to display web pages that do not work well with Gecko. This use of the Trident engine allows the use of ActiveX
ActiveX
ActiveX is a framework for defining reusable software components in a programming language-independent way. Software applications can then be composed from one or more of these components in order to provide their functionality....
controls and brings all ActiveX security problems associated with Internet Explorer.
Netscape 9 superseded Netscape 8 in October 2007, but Netscape's browser was discontinued altogether on March 1, 2008.
Release history
- Netscape 7.0 PR1 – Preview Release 1
- Netscape 7.0 – August 29, 2002 (based on Mozilla 1.0.1)
- Netscape 7.01 – December 10, 2002 (based on Mozilla 1.0.2)
- Netscape 7.02 – February 18, 2003 (based on Mozilla 1.0.2)
- Netscape 7.1 – June 30, 2003 (based on Mozilla 1.4)
- Netscape 7.2 – August 17, 2004 (based on Mozilla 1.7)