This had better be the VERY LAST version on the old codebase. Know what? I say that AOL DOUBLES the amount of engineers working on Mozilla 5.

They need to put ALL of their effort into that right now. Every damn employee.

So what new goodies are in the update?

hmmmm.... seems a fair bit faster than 4.51... are they starting to use some of Mozilla speed improvements, or is it just me????

(They are not using gecko itself!!! that bit is obvious!!!)

But redraws and stuff like that is certainly faster!

Any opinions???

Is there a 128-bit encryption version out? And where can I get it?

"To order to protect our national security, you can only sell them SQUARE wheels."

<A HREF="https://wwwus.netscape.com/usdl-bin/pdms_dnstest.cgi?PRODUCT=communicator4.6-win32-en-complete-128&COMPONENTS=CLIENT&TEMPLATES=NSCP">Try his link</A> for the 128 bit encryption. It's just the URL for 4.51 secure version, with the version number changed to 4.6 in the URL (I've tested and it works)

Didn't work last time, here's the URL:

https://wwwus.netscape.com/usdl-bin/pdms_dnstest.cgi?PRODUCT=communicator4.6-win32-en-complete-128&COMPONENTS=CLIENT&TEMPLATES=NSCP

Thanks for the link to the 128-bit encryption Netscape 4.6 for Win32. Any chance there's a Linux glibc version?

Here's a Linux 2.0 link, but I don't think this is the glibc version: https://wwwus.netscape.com/usdl-bin/pdms_dnstest.cgi?PRODUCT=communicator4.6-linux2.0-en-complete-128&COMPONENTS=CLIENT&TEMPLATES=NSCP

Does it have an option to install without that instant messenger piece of s**t?

Any European 128-bit locations yet?

Whatever happened to shipping just the browser, without mail, news and all the other things? I think they stopped doing that on 4.08 :(

Andrew Niese:

Amen, brother! The old codebase is a dead end -- let's quit wasting time and energy on it.

(Cruising the site this morning with IE5 just so I could check out the effects of the Moz "favicon". Pretty slick, guys... ;-)

why is there no direct download link from home.netscape.com/download? I read about the new release on CNET... :-(

No direct link because the old netscape is a piece of sh*t, and they are just releasing this new one to show off the G2 player and their other goody addon upgrades.

We'll see more news when Mozilla finally ships.

There's some new CSS1 stuff like correct color link underlining or unordered lists update. But I have to agree with Andrew Niese to quit wasting time on the old code.

Well, to me the list of features in 4.6 seemed relatively modest - that is, things they could add without much effort which would extend the life of 4.x quite a bit. I'm as eager as the next person to see 5.x take over, chiefly because of the various benefits I expect from something which is (1) open source, (2) released, and (3) componentized thanks to Adam Lock - with the combination having a synergistic effect. However, until 5.x is ready, I don't see a lot of point in geting upset about trying to keep Netscape's browser viable with 4.6.

Here is link to Linux-glibc Netscape 4.6, with browser only and complete communicator:

ftp://ftp.netscape.com/pub/communicator/4.6/english/unix/unsupported/linux20_glibc2/

Navigate the tree to find other versions of happiness (except for 128-bit secure, of course... must fill out citizenship form for that)

Two college grads and a monkey could come up with this minor update. Mainly its just bug fixes and new 3rd party plugins. Besides The beta of NS 5 comes out and the end of July while the final thing should come out at the end of the year, thats a lot of time between releases.

A few things to keep in mind

a) Mozilla is hitting its milestones quite nicely with the coders available. And besides, Netscape's been lambasted in the press for having "too many" coders on this project already

b) Mozilla isn't Netscape. yes, they have a vested interest, but they are two different entities. It makes good business sence for Netscape to keep its existing prprietary code/product going in parralel to Mozilla code.

c) this is a support release of an existing product. many businesses rely on the current release version of Netscape. By ignoring these users, in hopes that they'll contiue to the buggy current version untill the Mozilla release date rolls around ain't feasable or realistic.

I'm glad they finally put the Real G2 player in the update. I use Real G2 content on my website and don't feel I have to twist everybody's arm to download it. Most people don't download pluggins. And for the most part browsers. If people are going to wait for and hour to download netscape 4.6 they might as well get some goodies with it :)

Don't know if it's 4.6, or glibc, but my browser just got snappier. cool.

Monty

I don't agree with people who say "don't download it because 5.0 is around the corner" because it isn't. Mozilla is still alpha quality and isn't likely to be classified as beta for 2 or 3 months yet. Even when it finally does get release you won't get anything like the stability of 4.6 until it has been seriously tested by "real" users. In particular, I bet there are a large number of gaping security holes in Mozilla that won't be found for some time yet.

I'm a Mozilla developer but I still use 4.5 for day-to-day purposes. The HTML browser might be a bit arcane, but it works and the mail/news component still stomps all over Outlook Express as far as I'm concerned.

My main gripe with 4.x (and no doubt it will apply to the Netscape branded 5.0) is that comes with a load of "value-added" crap that you can't choose not to install.

well it helps that we're using talkback fullcircle on mozilla even at this early stage. When did Netscape start using talkback? 4.5 beta right?

No, Andrew is right:

<RANT>

Netscape definitely needs to stop with this buggy old crap codebase and throw the guys on that project into Mozilla. Seriously, who the hell actually CARES whether the media calls Mozilla non-opensource because it has a lot of Netscape coders on it?

The point is that the code will be free and available no matter WHAT these sh**heads call it. And code that is free and available is called ... you guessed it ... open-source!

Really, in 2 years or so, will anybody really give a sh** because there were lots of Netscape employees working on it some time ago?? I don't think so! So ignore what the media (esp. idiots like Jesse "The Luser" Berst) say, and get cracking! Read the latest status update (16 May) people, these guys WANT and NEED MORE HELP!!!

-=Yusuf=-

PS SomeSmartAss: It does *not* make good business sense for Netscape to keep reinventing the wheel; they already have a browser (Mozilla) that kicks IE's slimy butt back under the hole it crawled out from (even in pre-alpha!!), so why waste time with parallel development? It's stupid.

</RANT>

don't worry- next year nobody will work on Netscape 4.x. People will work on bug fixes on a stable build of mozilla and new features for the dev build. Waiting sux eh? yeah well I guess i have to wait for alot of other things too.

"so why waste time with parallel development?"

because joe-internet user isn't going to download a pre-alpha nightly build right now, and if they don't patch up bugs in the pre-existing release browser, joe-internet user will move over to another browser.

Not just Netscape doing it either. Neoplanet is going to release its own browser, based on the Adam Lock Gecko component; and that makes even less sence. Lets rush to release an interchangable chrome wrapper for a rendering engine that has the capability of producing interchangable chrome built in.

Look, From a business stand point, its pretty simple. Fix what you got now, so you keep the existing users happy untill you can really wow 'em with the next full release.

and on an other note,

" [Netscape]comes with a load of "value-added" crap that you can't choose not to install."

Such are the joys of ditribution partnerships. Before they bought Netscape, AOL undoubtedly paid a pretty penny to have IM bundled with Communicator. At least we will have a choice. There will undoubtedly be a Mozilla-pure browser, just as sure as there will be a "value-added" Netscape 5.0

p.s. What are the associated attributes for the <RANT> tag? I'm thinking TONE="calm/emotional/seething" EXPERTISE="none/poor/average/high" as some possibilities....

<INQUIRY type="curious"> does this let me enable CSS without enabling JavaSecurityBreachScript, or is that even possible with the old codebase? </INQUIRY>

<QUESTION topic="off"> will such a thing be possible with gecko? how much scripting will i be able to disable with the full mozilla - i don't trust any of it; that the UI will be dependent on it frightens me already. </QUESTION>

I'd be interested to see how it does against IE5. Also, I think "feature freeze" day is July 20th but Communicator beta might be then August. Just like a build (it is M9) it should freeze features and enter bugfixing that day, probably August 1 or near before beta release.

In Netscape were wise, they would use this release in anyway code-wise to help developers into 5.0. I cannot say what it has done, but it leaps up now instead of struggling to its feet.

<ANSWER TOPIC="off" REFRENCE="Random Static"> EXPERTISE="poor">Yes, the UI(XUL) is dependant on local, trusted (assuming you trust the maker of the XUL skin your running), digitally signed javascript. There should be an option to turn off JavaScript on pages from the web. </ANSWER>

http://home.netscape.com/computing/download/index.html?cp=hom05prt1 Official word from Netscape on the release. Should only be another month or so before they hook it into SmartUpdate....

SomeSmartAss = Danny Arielb = Mark Anderson Puka = Jason

Ummm,

___ Mr. Puka (or can I call you Jason?) I think you have me mistaken for some other smart ass (there's quite a few of us... we even have a Coat of Arms you know)

Notice that this time around, the AIM didnt install itself to your startup folder in Windows and run itself on each reboot. Now *that* was annoying.

who is mark anderson?

Not sure if you're also a Smart Ass or not there Arial (haven't seen you at the "family gatherings"). The actual person I beleive is being reffered to is Marc (with a "c") AndREESEn (not "Anderson"). At least that's the spelling I got from http://home.netscape.com/unzipped/executivebios/index.html#marc

(I think we've strayed WAAAAY off topic though)

was playing around and found some interesting things in the about: page.

a)where the Sun Java Compatible Logo Used to be I found :

<!-- Temporary until we are back in compliance -->

<TD VALIGN=TOP></TD>

<TD VALIGN=TOP><FONT SIZE=-1> Powered by <A HREF= http://www.javasoft.com/ >Java</A></FONT><SUP><FONT SIZE=-2>TM</FONT></SUP><FONT SIZE=-1> technology from <A HREF= http://www.sun.com/ >Sun Microsystems, Inc</A>.<BR> Copyright &copy; 1992-1997 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.<BR>

Java is a trademark or registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc in the United States and other countries. </FONT>

</TD>

[edited slightly, for readability]

the logo still ships as part of the internal image cashe (try about:javalogo in the location bar)

b) it also seems to be missing the Quicktime logo, but that apears to be an error in HTML, not a compliency issue

Hmmm, two steps forward.. (MAAN I'm I bored at work today or what!)

It is great!!! It initiates a lot faster than 4.5.1 and it works great! Keep up the good work!

Netscape has to keep releasing improvements to the old code because there still is no viable release from Mozilla. How long has it been? it better have wings and come with a hyperdrive for the amount of time they've spent on it,

Somesmartass, Communicator hasn't been displaying the java logo in the about: page for several editions, since at least v. 4.50.

Netscape nullified the Java Compatibility logo about two months after Sun Microsystems launched it's lawsuit against Microsoft.

Technically speaking, Netscape should have been on the list of defendants as well.

The Java logo, however, does still exist in the resdll.dll file.

Since late November of 1997...

Uh, Puka, arielb definitely is not Mark Anderson, because I am. I'm assuming Puka = Alfonzo = Bruce Jensen, but we know what happens when we assume.

Keep me out of this...

Alfonzo = OLEVariant = Bruce Jensen

when will the smartupdate version be ready??????????

Anybody know if the JAR at ftp://ftp.netscape.com/pub/communicator/4.6/english/windows/windows95_or_nt/smartupdate/patch/ works? If not, why's it there?

BTW, I believe that you have to be actually displaying the Java Logo on the box or somewhere in the software (by default, not by the user typing in an URL) to violate the agreement.

The Java Logo was displayed in Communicator and then disabled about two months after Sun sued Microsoft for the same thing!

I noticed it's a lot cleaner & quicker. It's a good improvement while we wait for the Moz5.0. I think what 4.6 does today and what Mozilla is working for tomorrow are quite commendable. I would hate to see anybody get discouraged by the flamers about code being crap- if you can do better then do it, if not then shut your mouth. I can't do better, so I'm glad that there are people that can.

The what's related menu has now been improved, offering information about the site, such as it's rank (e.g. Top 50 sites on the Internet) , the number of pages on the site and the number of links to the site on the Internet.

The menu also allows you to search matching open directory entries, somthing I hadn't used until now but was very impressed with in my last 2 days of using the new browser.

These improvements alone make the upgade worth it for me, although I would have preferred smart upgrade.

Just one question as a full-time developer... what makes you think that adding coders that aren't familiar with the Mozilla codebase would be a good thing? This late in the project, it could only make things late. Well, that's not entirely true -- it could make them crash as well.

I don't Know if people will see this, since it's now on the "side Bar" of old news Items... but 4.6 is now Smart-Updatable! http://home.netscape.com/computing/download/index.html?cp=hom05tdow

WHAT A JOKE THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 4.5 AND 4.6 IS SOME DAYS IT'S ALITTLE BIT FASTER I CAN TELL YOU THIS SINCE I LOADED 4.6 I'VE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE GETTING MY MAIL I KEEP GETTING AN ERROR 10 DATA UNAVAILABLE OH YEAH YOU GAVE USE G2 THANKS FOR NOTHING

1: If you don't want news, email and all the other "Communicator" features, DON'T install "Communicator" - install "Navigator Standalone" instead. I'm happily running Netscape Navigator 4.6 (not Communicator), glibc2.0 version for Linux 2.0.x - no problems.

2: Want 128-bit encryption but don't live in the U.S. or Canda? Then why aren't you fortifying your browser?

http://www.fortify.net/

Adds 128-bit U.S. domestic encryption to the export versions of Netscape (up to 4.6, Unix, Windows and MacOS). Where have you folks been all these years?!

Sheesh..