Netscape 8.1 adds spyware scanner, bundles

AOL HAS released version 8.1 of the Netscape browser. In case you were expecting something revolutionary, or that the company listened to the users' pleas to bring back the e-mail client or to extend Netscape 8 to other operating systems, Netscape 8.1 offers no very good news for you: it's still Windows-only, and it's still as U.S.-centric (if not more) than 8.0.

Netscape 8.1: 8.0 plus spyware scanner and more improvements

Find the program's release notes here.

Trust Settings and the per-page "Site Controls"

Let's start with the good:

• Most stability problems appear to be ironed out by now.
• The applications starts very quickly. At least on my test system, a 2.4Ghz P4 with 512MB running WinXP SP2.
• There's a new spyware scanner. Described here.
• Multiple user profiles are back - I remember those from Netscape 4.0 back in 1996. Ten years ago.
• The user is offered to download and auto install a copy of McAfee antivirus. In case you've been living outside this Planet and don't know by now that running Windows without an antivirus is suicidal.

Bundles, bundles... you're offered a handful of optional installs

Now the bad:

• The spyware scanner showed eMule, VNC server and VNC viewer (which I installed myself) among the list of "spyware". Sorry, but those are not. These are legitimate applications that I installed myself.
• Security Centre shows TheInquirer.net rated "not verified". I guess we look suspicious. (bad, bad "Trust Partners"! :)
• There's a "Desktop Search" feature listed under the Tools menu. The About box says "Desktop Search functionality provided by Copernic Technologies Inc". So maybe they mean this product. However clicking on Desktop Search produced... nothing, as did hitting the feature's hotkey: CTRL-Shift-K.
• All third party "themes" to change the look and appearance of the browser are still for version 8.0, with none for 8.1 at the time of this writing.
• The user is offered to download and auto install McAfee antivirus. Wise people use the Free (as in beer), home edition of AVG Antivirus from Grisoft, or ClamAV, the free (as in freedom), open source virus scanner.

The new "Security Centre" and spyware scanner

And finally, The Ugly:

• The ICQ/AIM sidebar tab lightweight client is still the same which was included with Netscape 7.1 back in 2003. It's really a shame that AOL/Netscape was not able to hire a single programmer with Javascript/XUL knowledge to fix this fast, lightweight client. For instance, users have been complaining for ages about the inability to have both AIM and ICQ tabs on display at once, and to be connected to the two networks simultaneously.
• No Mac OS-X, -much less Linux- version: One would think that with Microsoft halting development of IE for Mac, Netscape would use this opportunity to lure some users to their offering. No such 'revolutionary' thoughts allowed at AOL's management positions, it seems.
• Huge optional software is back. Apparently to earn the division some easy bucks by entering into joint marketing agreements.
• Totally USA-centric: In the optional "Weatherbug" software, everything revolves around "US ZIP code". I advise users not to install this. If you want a nice weather-reporting tool in your windows Systray that is not only free but also works around the globe, try this one dubbed "WeatherWatcher", which unlike Netscape's bundle, supports cities around the world, degrees in Celsius and Fahrenheit, and more.
• If you choose to install "Rhapsody" from Real Networks, the installer advises you that it needs (get this) 380MB of hard disk space. Sheesh, good, full-blown 32-bit operating systems like OS/2 Warp managed to fit on less space!. Thank the heavens it's OPTIONAL.
• The program tries to force the user into the user interface. As if the Microsoft Office "Animated Paper Clip" fiasco wasn't enough!. You type "www.google.com" and a large baloon box pops up telling you -in more polite terms, of course- "hey stup#id, there's a search box right here". Well, it happens to me that I like typing www.google.com. GO AWAY, you ugly "asistant"!. Sheesh, evil things refuse to die.
• People outside the U.S. borders can wait, forever. That seems to be the message Netscape is giving out. The "International editions" link takes you to a page which lists... only one option: Netscape Canada, and in the previous version (8.0).

Results of the spyware scan

In short: I think Netscape 8.1 is an evolution of the path started with 8.0. A path that seems to target "dumb and dumber" internet users that are scared to death to surf the interweb and who have little knowledge. This is very different from the core user base that Netscape 7.x enjoyed. AOL/Netscape would have a surprise if they resurrect the 7.x series, updating it and basing it on the new "SeaMonkey 1.0" internet suite, which is Mozilla's successor. In fact, the two products could live together, targeting completely different user types. With the Seamonkey based version named "Netscape Pro", "Netscape Suite", or something around these lines, and it wouldn't disturb the current marketing strategy for the 8.x series.

User is reminded that typing www.google.com is not really needed. Sheesh!

A certain manager once hinted about the possibility of resurrecting the Netscape 7.x line. Well, with SeaMonkey 1.0 already in beta, what a better time to please the "power users" than starting now?.

Going back to Netscape Browser 8.1, I recognize it certainly has an audience, but that target audience is certainly not me. The good news is that you don't need to agree with me or take my word for it, you can go to Netscape's browser page, download it and try it yourself.µ

See Also
SeaMonkey beta improves on Mozilla legacy
Netscape 8.02 fixes XML bug with MSIE engine
Netscape breaks IE, claim
Netscape 8 does Canada
Firefox-based Netscape 8 tastes good
Netscape working on Firefox based browser, shocker
AOL releases Netscape 7.2