Netscape Communications has released a preview version of its
Netscape 7.0 browser.
The Preview Release of Netscape 7.0 follows news that the Mozilla
open-source browser is in beta testing and due for final release
soon while Netscape's arch rival, Microsoft's Internet Explorer
(IE), is rapidly increasing its market share.
Netscape, a subsidiary of Internet and media giant AOL Time Warner
(AOLTW), has long been pitted against Microsoft in the browser
race. Microsoft's latest version of Internet Explorer, IE6, has
gained over 30% of the market since it was released in the second
half of last year, compared to Netscape's 7% of the market,
according to a March 2002 study by Internet researcher
WebSideStory.
Netscape's new offering includes features such as Click-to-Search,
which allows users to highlight a word or phrase with their mouse
and click "Web Search" to receive a separate browser window of
search results.
But the new feature that stands out the most is tabbed browsing,
which allows users to keep track of a number of sites or pages as
tabbed pages in a single browser window that users can click
between. Tabbed browsing has proved to be a popular feature with
Mozilla beta users. The Mozilla open-source browser project was
initiated by Netscape and the company uses the same browser engine
as Mozilla, called Gecko.
Until last June, AOLTW's Internet unit, AOL, used IE as its default
browser, but the company has recently said that it is testing a
Gecko-powered browser for the service. It remains to be seen if
positive feedback regarding the new Netscape browser persuades AOL
to make the switch.
The preview version 7.0 browser also boasts new media offerings
such as Radio@Netscape, an integrated radio product that features
over 175 stations that play a variety of musical genres.
Netscape says the new Gecko-driven browser is optimised for
activities such as file downloading, searching, shopping and
listening to music. Additionally, new customisation features have
been included for both Netscape mail and AOL's integrated instant
messenger program (AIM).
The launch of the preview 7.0 version is coupled with a redesign of
the company's Web site, which has added content from AOLTW's
expansive media holdings and a new toolbar.