IE 6.0 ... end of the line?

goodmorphing

Join Date 03/2002

IE 6.0 ... end of the line?

I have heard from usually reliable sources that there are no plans to keep developing IE. Instead all efforts will be on the MSN Explorer. I am really hoping this is wrong...

but if it turns out to be true, what alternate browsers will fill the space... Opera? Netscape?

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Netcaptor already does that

I've used Mozilla for a while (including the Multizilla addon for enhanced tab functionality), and while it comes close it doesn't have the full functionality and behavior in Netcaptor that I've grown to appreciate. I've tried various Mozilla/Multizilla settings to address some of the items I listed above, but alas, it was to no avail.

In the case of #3, is still launches a separate window (for example, in the case of previews on this site) unless I explicitly middle-mouse click the link/image). I don't want to have to think about it. I just want to click the link normally and have it open in a new tab. This is not to say that I want ALL links to open in other tabs.

From my perspective, the only thing Mozilla has going for it over Netcaptor is that I think the Gecko engine appears to render faster (or in a more sane manner) than IE's Web control.

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With all your talk about Netcaptor I might as well check it out. Link?

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I have looked up this IE discontinum and thier gonna keep developing it, mainly because my source is developing it, unless its some internal organization and he is lying to me they aren't gonna stop developing IE.

I use IE, only becasue i have a really small hard drive and ever meg counts, right now im down to about 300mg =D

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Joe, here's the Netcaptor link, though its shareware (30 bucks): http://www.netcaptor.com

If you want to try a freeware alternative, give CrazyBrowser a try (It was developed as a Netcaptor clone) http://www.crazybrowser.com It has nearly all if not all the features of Netcaptor, though I don't think it is as actively developed and maintained as Netcaptor.

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Thanks, I'll check them out

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Looks nice and functional. A couple years ago I would have switched immediately, however today I'm sticking with Mozilla because it doesn't depend on Microsoft.

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No Prob

I'd switch too if it had the features I want. I give Mozilla/Multizilla a spin every now and then to see how its coming along and will continue to do so.

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I don't know... but I just checked out out phonix for the time since build .01 and it's pretty cool... put it back on.. I like it alot

and tried that fox mail... I finally found a good email app whoo hoo... and it does work with my hotmail account...

I checked out those other browsers.. didn't like them as much as mozilla, which i've been using for months... but I like pheonix...

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I've only ever used IE, Netscape, Neo Planet (the first time I realised we didn't have to look at the boring Windows 9x interface), MSN 7.0, and Phoenix. IE is a real pain in the ass, since I get a shiftload of popups in it every time I open it, Netscape looked like sh*t and I hate how it manages (managed?) it's favorites, Neo Planet was good, but once the novelty wore off, I realised it was just basically IE with a different interface, MSN 7.0 was good for a week, but when I wanted to change settings, it treated me like I was a child (ok, i was 14 at the time, but that dosen't mean I'm an idiot). It didn't even let me set the home page! Phoenix is what I'm using now, and what I'll keep using until the people making it start charging for it, or until they drop it and make something newer.

The only problems with it is how it opens links in new windows, instead of new tabs, which is a pain in the ass, and how it isn't skinnable (but since it's only a 0.3 version, I'm not too worried about that).

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Ryan: Phoenix (as Mozilla) is Open Source. they might charge for the binaries (very unlikely), but they´ll always have to provide the source code for free, so you can compile it yourself.

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Hi, everyone.

My first post ever at WC!

I am in the same boat as Chris in that I've tried various incarnations of Mozilla and Netscape (and will continue to do so) only to find that they lacked the functionality of NetCaptor - especially for multi-tabbed browsing.

I did just find a freeware alternative to NetCaptor, though. It's called MyIE2 (http://myie2.yeah.net/). The big thing that I like about it is that you can view tabs as MDI child windows, allowing for easy side-by-side viewing of pages. It does still use the IE engine, though, so it is really a browser "shell".

Actually, it's donate-ware, but it's the first software that ever prompted me to submit a voluntary donation.

- Skoalman

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My point exactly Moshi

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Welcome Skoalman

hope to see more of you

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Fuzzy Logic

Join Date 05/2002

+493

With a bit more work the WinCustomize Browser could replace all of the above...

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Good one, Fuzzy!

BTW, does anyone remember the time when a tabbed interface was promised for WebBlinds?

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No, but if they do

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Don't hold your breath, Jobeleca. That was a LONG time ago.

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Umm, Chris, regarding #2, I have several keywords set up for bookmarks. As in: if I type 'css2' I'll whizz off to the css2 specs and so on.

And baker, I think it would be better if mouse gestures were user definable than there being a 'standard mouse gesture language'. Now I find myself accidentally reloading sites way too much (I right-click a lot).

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Yeah, #2 is very possible with Mozilla, and it's even highly customizable. If you put %s in the URL that you've given a custom keyword to, it will replace that with whatever you type after the keyword. So, for example, I made a "dict" keyword with a %s in the URL, so now whenever i want the definition of a word, i just type "dict word" in the location field and hit enter, and it does the rest for me.

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I agree with Tarkus. Mozilla's nice but still has a way to go. I'll stick to Netcaptor:

1. All new windows upon up as new tabs. None of this goofy Javascript stuff that launches an entirely new window.

2. User-specified aliases. I type "wcm" in the address bar and it takes me to the wincustomize message board page. I type "au" to go to art uproar. I type "da" to to go dev art and so on. Mozilla has some vaguely similar mechanism but its not a personal, customizable system. Its based off of common set of keywords.

3. When a URL shortcut is clicked somewhere, it displays as a new tab in the current instance of Netcaptor. Unlike Mozilla which either launches a new instance of Mozilla (defeating the purpose of a tabbed browser) or redirecting the CURRENT tab to the the URL in the shortcut (again, defeating the purpose of a tabbeQd browser). So I'm forced to only use Mozilla's bookmark menu.

4. I can drag tabs and reorganize them. I don't think Mozilla can do this.

If Mozilla ever does the above, then I'm sold.

===========================================

I went to the mozdev message board and they said you can do all that by modifying a few preferences and installing one of the tabs extensions.

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scratch - I do that in NetCaptor too, only I do my dictionary searches using "d word".

I have another one set up so that I can put "cd " before the current url, and it will automatically send the link and my email address to ChangeDetection.com, so it can start monitoring that page for me, and then email me when there are any changes.

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Koasati

Join Date 07/2001

+21

Skoalman....thanx for the MyIE2 link.........it has replaced Crazy Browser.

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goodmorphing

Join Date 03/2002

I have been trying these and I like the MyIE2 also! Mozilla reminds me of Opera... I am still figuring it out. I am going to try the rest.... I was very impressed with MyIE2, though!

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Koasati,

No problem!

MyIE2 just struck me as having all the features of NetCaptor, plus more. It's not perfect, but it's as close as I've seen (if you don't mind using the IE engine) and is still being actively developed (I read today that a new beta version will be released "soon"). They have quite a bit of activity at their forums, too, which makes it feel "fresh". In addition, the author has been quite responsive to questions and suggestions via email.

(By the way, I'm not affiliated with them or anything... I just think it's a great piece of software. Don't mean to sound like an advertisement...)

Take care.

-Skoalman

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MyIE2 *doesn't* have all the features of NetCaptor. It doesn't have some of the built-in security features and doesn't have smart popup blocking. The tabs also don't use FavIcons, and the animation to indicate the status of a page loading leaves a lot to be desired. There's probably more, but that's just off the top of my head.

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