Browsing Updates from Netscape and Pop-Up Stopper Mozilla's Commercial Cousin Keeps Tabs on Web Sites, Literally Eric Grevstad
Tue 5/28/02 -- The browser wars may be over in the sense no one's ever going to knock Microsoft Internet Explorer back to minority market share, but innovation in Web surfing isn't finished quite yet. Netscape Communications has announced a free preview release of Netscape 7.0, which integrates the speedy engine of its open-source cousin Mozilla (also nearing release after a long gestation) with extra conveniences for America Online users.
Like another underdog browser, Opera 6, Netscape 7.0 offers "tabbed browsing" -- presenting a number of Web sites or pages as convenient tabs within a single window. Users can open their favorite sites on tabs, then file them as a Bookmark Group or alternative to saving individual favorites.
A new Download Manager helps fetch multiple files at once and reliably resume interrupted downloads, while Click-To-Search performs a search on any highlighted word (even if it isn't a link). A high-speed e-mail client and AOL Instant Messenger are always just a click away.
Speaking of free surfing tools, Panicware has updated its Pop-Up Stopper utility for blocking pop-up and pop-under advertising windows without complex proxy adjustments or filters. Version 2.8, available at no cost, adds complete Windows XP compatibility and enhanced support for Netscape 4.x and higher browsers, including the Netscape 7.0 Preview.
