Editing Netscape (section)

==Software==
{{Main|Netscape (web browser)}}

===Classic releases===

====Netscape Navigator (versions 0.9–4.08)====
{{Main|Netscape Navigator}}

Netscape Navigator was Netscape's web browser from versions 1.0–4.8. The first [[beta version]]s were released in 1994 and were called Mosaic and later Mosaic Netscape. Then, a legal challenge from the [[National Center for Supercomputing Applications]] (makers of [[NCSA Mosaic]]), which many of Netscape's founders used to develop, led to the name Netscape Navigator. The company's name also changed from Mosaic Communications Corporation to Netscape Communications Corporation.

The browser was easily the most advanced available{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}} and so was an instant success, becoming a market leader while still in beta.<ref name=":0"/> Netscape's feature-count and market share continued to grow rapidly after version 1.0 was released. Version 2.0 added a full email reader called Netscape Mail, thus transforming Netscape from a single-purpose web browser to an [[Internet suite]]. The email client's main distinguishing feature was its ability to display [[HTML email]]. During this period, the entire suite was called Netscape Navigator.

Version 3.0 of Netscape (the first beta was codenamed "Atlas") was the first to face any serious competition in the form of [[Microsoft]] [[Internet Explorer]] 3.0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/05/10/history-of-netscape/|title=Whatever happened to Netscape?|website=Engadget|date=May 10, 2014|access-date=2017-03-22|archive-date=March 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323052629/https://www.engadget.com/2014/05/10/history-of-netscape/|url-status=live}}</ref> But Netscape remained the most popular browser at that time.

Netscape also released a Gold version of Navigator 3.0 that incorporated [[WYSIWYG]] editing with [[drag and drop]] between web editor and email components.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intercom.co.cr/www/research/1996/0910.htm|title=Netscape Navigator Gold 3.0 Now Available, Adding Momentum to Netscape Client Software|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020102517/http://www.intercom.co.cr/www/research/1996/0910.htm|archive-date=October 20, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

====Netscape Communicator (versions 4.0–4.8)====
[[Image:OS2 Netscape Communicator 4.61.png|thumb|Netscape Communicator 4.61 for OS/2 Warp]]
{{Main|Netscape Communicator}}

Netscape 4 addressed the problem of Netscape Navigator being used as both the name of the suite and the browser contained within it by renaming the suite to Netscape Communicator. After five preview releases in 1996–1997, Netscape released the final version of Netscape Communicator in June 1997. This version, more or less based on Netscape Navigator 3 Code, updated and added new features. The new suite was successful, despite increasing competition from Internet Explorer (IE) 4.0 and problems with the outdated browser core. IE was slow and unstable on the Mac platform until version 4.5.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BIG-IP version 4.5.12 Release Note |url=https://techdocs.f5.com/kb/en-us/archived_products/big-ip/releasenotes/product/relnotes4_5_12.print.html |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=techdocs.f5.com}}</ref> Despite this, Apple entered into an agreement with Microsoft to make IE the default browser on new Mac OS installations, a further blow to Netscape's prestige.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1997-08-06 |title=Microsoft and Apple Affirm Commitment To Build Next Generation Software for Macintosh |url=https://news.microsoft.com/1997/08/06/microsoft-and-apple-affirm-commitment-to-build-next-generation-software-for-macintosh/ |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=Stories |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Microsoft entered into exclusionary agreements with other firms that restricted their ability to promote, support, and distribute non-Microsoft browsers |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/file/704911/dl?inline |work=justice.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dormehl |first=Luke |date=2016-08-09 |title=Today in Apple history: Mac's default browser company goes public |url=https://www.cultofmac.com/news/today-in-apple-history-macs-default-browser-company-goes-public |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=Cult of Mac |language=en-US}}</ref> The Communicator suite was made up of Netscape Navigator, [[Netscape Mail & Newsgroups]], Netscape Address Book and [[Netscape Composer]] (an HTML editor).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Millions more may use Explorer |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/millions-more-may-use-explorer/ |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=CNET |language=en}}</ref>

On January 22, 1998, [[Netscape Communications Corporation]] announced that all future versions of its software would be available free of charge and developed by an [[open-source-software movement|open source]] community, Mozilla.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.lizardwrangler.com/2008/01/22/january-22-1998-the-beginning-of-mozilla/|title=January 22, 1998 — the Beginning of Mozilla &#124; Mitchell's Blog|access-date=September 12, 2019|archive-date=October 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001151516/https://blog.lizardwrangler.com/2008/01/22/january-22-1998-the-beginning-of-mozilla/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Netscape 5|Netscape Communicator 5.0]] was announced (codenamed "Gromit"). However, its release was greatly delayed, and meanwhile, there were newer versions of Internet Explorer, starting with [[Internet Explorer 4|version 4]]. These had more features than the old Netscape version, including better support of [[HTML]] 4, [[Cascading Style Sheets|CSS]], [[Document Object Model|DOM]], and [[ECMAScript]]; eventually, the more advanced [[Internet Explorer 5.0]] became the market leader.

In October 1998, Netscape Communicator 4.5 was released. It featured various functionality improvements, especially in the [[Netscape Mail & Newsgroups|Mail and Newsgroups]] component, but did not update the browser core, whose functionality was essentially identical to that of version 4.08. One month later, [[Netscape Communications Corporation]] was bought by [[AOL]]. In November, work on Netscape 5.0 was canceled in favor of developing a [[Rewrite (programming)|completely new program from scratch]].

===Mozilla-based releases===

====Netscape 6 (versions 6.0–6.2.3)====
{{Main|Netscape 6}}
In 1998, an informal group called the [[Mozilla Organization]] was formed and largely funded by Netscape (the vast majority of programmers working on the code were paid by Netscape) to coordinate the development of Netscape 5 (codenamed "Gromit"), which would be based on the Communicator source code. However, the aging Communicator code proved difficult to work with and the decision was taken to scrap Netscape 5 and re-write the source code. The re-written source code was in the form of the [[Mozilla Application Suite|Mozilla]] web browser, on which, with a few additions, Netscape 6 was based.

====Netscape 7 (versions 7.0–7.2)====
{{Main|Netscape 7}}

Netscape 7.0 (based on Mozilla 1.0.1) was released in August 2002 as a direct continuation of Netscape 6 with very similar components. It picked up a few users, but was still very much a minority browser. It did, however, come with the popular [[AOL Radio|Radio@Netscape]] Internet radio client. AOL had decided to deactivate Mozilla's popup-blocker functionality in Netscape 7.0, which created an outrage in the community. AOL reversed the decision and allowed Netscape to reinstate the popup-blocker for Netscape 7.01. Netscape also introduced a new AOL-free-version (without the usual AOL add-ons) of the browser suite. Netscape 7.1 (codenamed "Buffy" and based on Mozilla 1.4) was released in June 2003.

In 2003, AOL closed down its Netscape division and laid-off or reassigned all of Netscape's employees.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-15 |title=On This Day in 2003, Netscape Went Offline Forever |url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/502789/day-2003-netscape-went-offline-forever |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=Mental Floss |language=en-US}}</ref> Mozilla.org continued, however, as the independent [[Mozilla Foundation]], taking on many of Netscape's ex-employees. AOL continued to develop Netscape in-house (with help from [[Sun Microsystems|Sun's]] [[Beijing]] development center<ref name=Beijing/>), but, due to there being no staff committed to it, improvements were minimal. One year later, in August 2004, the last version based on Mozilla was released: Netscape 7.2, based on Mozilla 1.7.2.

After an official poll posted on Netscape's community support board in late 2006, speculation arose of the Netscape 7 series of suites being fully supported and updated by Netscape's in-house development team.<ref>[http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=6590 Netscape Community Announcement – Netscape 7.2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109014643/http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=6590 |date=January 9, 2009 }} Retrieved on February 8, 2007</ref><ref>[http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=6303 Netscape Community poll – Should Netscape continue to update 7.2?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109100452/http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=6303 |date=January 9, 2009 }} Retrieved on February 8, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.mozillazine.org/talkback.html?article=20397 Mozillazine – Netscape 9 announced] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117171508/http://www.mozillazine.org/talkback.html?article=20397 |date=November 17, 2014 }} Retrieved on February 8, 2007</ref>

===Mozilla Firefox-based releases===

====Netscape Browser (version 8.0–8.1.3)====
Between 2005 and 2007, Netscape's releases became known as ''Netscape Browser''. AOL chose to base Netscape Browser on the relatively successful [[Mozilla Firefox]], a re-written version of Mozilla produced by the Mozilla Foundation. This release is not a full Internet suite as before, but is solely a web browser.

Other controversial decisions include the browser only being released for [[Microsoft Windows]] and featuring both the [[Gecko (layout engine)|Gecko]] [[Web browser engine|rendering engine]] of previous releases and the [[Trident (layout engine)|Trident]] engine used in Internet Explorer, and switching between them based on a "compatibility list" that came with the browser. This effectively exposed users to the security vulnerabilities in both and resulted in a completely different user experience based on which site they were on. Examples are handling of right-to-left or bi-directional text, user interface widgets, bugs and web standards violations in Trident, etc. On top of this, Netscape Browser 8 even broke Internet Explorer's ability to open XML files by damaging a [[Windows Registry]] key, and would do so every time it was opened, even if the user fixed it manually.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ie/2005/05/25/netscape-8-and-internet-explorers-xml-rendering/|title=Netscape 8 and Internet Explorer's XML Rendering|date=May 25, 2005|access-date=September 30, 2019|archive-date=December 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226133904/https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ie/2005/05/25/netscape-8-and-internet-explorers-xml-rendering/|url-status=live}}</ref>

AOL's acquisition of Netscape Communications in November 1998<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/8869/deal_is_done_aol_buys_netscape.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629200157/http://www.pcworld.com/article/8869/deal_is_done_aol_buys_netscape.html|url-status=dead|title=PC World Article Nov 24, 1998 12am|archivedate=June 29, 2012}}</ref> made it less of a surprise when the company laid off the Netscape team and outsourced development to Mercurial Communications.{{When|date=August 2010}} Netscape Browser 8.1.3 was released on April 2, 2007, and included general bug fixes identified in versions 8.0–8.1.2<ref>[http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=6596 Netscape Community – Netscape 8.1.3] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528233756/http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=6596 |date=May 28, 2008 }} Retrieved on February 8, 2007</ref><ref>[http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=7647&redirCnt=1 Netscape Community – Netscape 8.1.3 released] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110115035/http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=7647&redirCnt=1 |date=January 10, 2009 }} Retrieved on April 2, 2007</ref>

====Netscape Navigator (version 9.0)====
[[Image:Netscape9.png|thumb|Netscape Navigator 9.0]]
[[Netscape Navigator 9]]'s features were said to include [[newsfeed]] support and become more integrated with the Propeller Internet portal,<ref>[http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=6418 Netscape 9.0 confirmed on Netscape's community support board] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327163247/http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=6418 |date=March 27, 2008 }} Retrieved on January 24, 2007</ref> alongside more enhanced methods of discussion, submission and voting on web pages.<ref>[http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=6926 Netscape 9 – February 20 Announcement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109025041/http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=6926 |date=January 9, 2009 }} Retrieved on February 20, 2007</ref> It also sees the browser return to multi-platform support across [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Linux]] and [[Mac OS X]].<ref>[http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=6459 Netscape 9.0 30- January 7 announcement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528233740/http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=6459 |date=May 28, 2008 }} Retrieved on January 30, 2007</ref> Like Netscape version 8.x, the new release was based upon the popular [[Mozilla Firefox]] (version 2.0), and supposedly had full support of all Firefox [[Add-on (Mozilla)|add-ons]] and [[plug-in (computing)|plugins]], some of which Netscape was already providing.<ref>[http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=6558 Netscape 9 – February 6, 2007 announcement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015194957/http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=6558 |date=October 15, 2007 }} Retrieved on February 6, 2007</ref> A beta of the program was first released on June 5, 2007.<ref>[http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=8525 Netscape 9.0b1 released] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109131928/http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=8525 |date=January 9, 2009 }} Retrieved on June 5, 2007</ref> The final version was released on October 15, 2007. It was the first time the browser was produced in-house with its own programming staff since 2004.<ref>[http://www.mozillazine.org/talkback.html?article=20397 Netscape announces cross-platform Netscape 9 to be developed in-house – Mozillazine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117171508/http://www.mozillazine.org/talkback.html?article=20397 |date=November 17, 2014 }} Retrieved on February 5, 2007</ref>

===End of development and support===
AOL officially announced<ref name=BrowserEndFeb/><ref name=BrowserEndMar/> that support for Netscape Navigator would end on March 1, 2008, and recommended that its users download either the [[Flock browser|Flock]] or Firefox browsers, both of which were based on the same technology.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/28/AR2007122802412.html| title=AOL to End Support for Netscape Browser| date=December 28, 2007| newspaper=Washington Post| publisher=PC World| access-date=September 29, 2015| archive-date=October 1, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001090456/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/28/AR2007122802412.html| url-status=live}}</ref>

The decision met mixed reactions from communities, with many arguing that the termination of product support is significantly belated. Internet security site ''Security Watch'' stated that a trend of infrequent security updates for AOL's Netscape caused the browser to become a "security liability", specifically the 2005–2007 versions, [[Netscape Browser|Netscape Browser 8]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://securitywatch.eweek.com/browsers/netscape_death_is_long_overdue_good_for_security_1.html| title=Netscape Death is long overdue, Good for Security| access-date=January 2, 2008| archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715065319/http://securitywatch.eweek.com/browsers/netscape_death_is_long_overdue_good_for_security_1.html| archive-date=July 15, 2012| url-status=dead}}</ref> Asa Dotzler, one of [[Mozilla Firefox|Firefox's]] original bug testers, greeted the news with "good riddance" in his blog post, but praised the various members of the Netscape team over the years for enabling the creation of Mozilla in 1998.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/asa/archives/2007/12/its_about_time.html| title=it's about time. r.i.p. netscape browser| access-date=January 2, 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080101094447/http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/asa/archives/2007/12/its_about_time.html| archive-date=January 1, 2008| df=mdy-all}}</ref> Others protested and petitioned AOL to continue providing vital security fixes to unknowing or loyal users of its software, as well as protection of a well-known brand.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.savenetscape.com| title=Save Netscape Petition| access-date=January 2, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116020102/http://www.savenetscape.com/| archive-date=January 16, 2009| url-status=dead| df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=10422| title=Netscape Community – Online Petition for the Support of NN| access-date=January 2, 2008}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.savenetscape.tk/| title=Save Netscape!| access-date=January 2, 2008| archive-date=February 15, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215215832/http://www.savenetscape.tk/| url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Mozilla Thunderbird-based releases===

====Netscape Messenger 9====
{{Main|Netscape Messenger 9}}
On June 11, 2007, Netscape announced Netscape Mercury, a standalone email and news client that was to accompany Navigator 9. Mercury was based on [[Mozilla Thunderbird]].<ref>[http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=8688 Netscape Mercury in progress] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015195032/http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-nscpbrowser&tid=8688 |date=October 15, 2007 }} Retrieved on June 11, 2007</ref> The product was later renamed Netscape Messenger 9, and an alpha version was released. In December 2007, AOL announced it was canceling Netscape's development of Messenger 9 as well as Navigator 9.