Just noticed that Mozilla released a 0.9.4 release, and on the roadmap
this is listed as a recommended vendor branch point. Does this mean
that we're going to see a new version of Netscape 6 coming out soon? If
so, does anyone have any information about what improvements it
specifically will have?
If those from Netscape are listening, I'd like to see the following (if
all of these seem kinda customized to the "always on" philosophy, it's
because I have a cable modem :-)):
- Ability to view Windows Media files in the browser, instead of
eternally being sent to the Windows Media Player homepage to download a
plug-in.
- In Instant Messenger:
1) The ability to see the AIM Buddy Icons and send and receive files.
2) Tighter integration between Instant Messenger and the Quick Launch
icon... perhaps right clicking brings up, in addition to other options,
a list of Buddies online which clicking on it brings up a message box to
that person.
3) Better looking interface. Make it to where it's not so hard to tell
who on earth you're chatting to (the chat window icons look virtually
the same as the rest of it), and a cleaner chat window interface.
4) Ability to see whether buddies are online even if they are blocked,
and ability to go into "invisible" or "appear offline" mode where you
can see who is online without being seen by them. (Yes, I know this
takes away from MSN Messenger and ICQ... but AOL owns ICQ too, right?
Can't they do it here, too?
5) Maybe even show the chat windows that are open only in the Netscape
browser, or give the option to see them only there. It sure makes my
task bar awful cluttered up when I have several chats going on.
- Mail: Better mail notificiation. Ability to customize email
notification sound from within Netscape. Email appears to check when
Netscape is closed and QuickLaunch is enabled... make it to where the
green arrow is still visible when you open Netscape again. Even better,
show a green arrow on the Netscape Quick Launch icon to indicate when
there is mail to be read.
- Downloads: Put at least a simple download manager in this thing! It's
beyond me why neither Netscape nor MS have integrated a download manager
into their programs. Also, show the percentage of the download in the
download window on the task bar.
- Interface: Clean up the interface a little bit more. Grant it that it
looks tons better than the Netscape Preview Release 1, 2, and 3... but
it still has its problems. Sometimes some of my option screens shift
out of view, and at others my dialogues will shift, shimmy, or shake
whenever I scroll over them, type something into them, or check them.
I'm sorry... I know the last thing you guys need is one more person
complaining about what could be better, especially since I don't have a
lick of programming experience. I do have some web design experience
though, and I like this new rendering engine. Although I still see
problems on some pages. Netscape claims to be W3C standards compliant,
and IE claims to be W3C standards complaint... so why does IE still
display pages correctly and Netscape not?
At any rate, thanks for putting up with my post and my "suggestions." I
promise, if these suggestions were carried out, I'd gladly completely
erase the little "e" on my desktop and toolbars. :-)
Thanks again guys! I'd appreciate some feedback on whether or not
*somebody* might see this and if not, your opinions on whether any of
these will ever be carried out.
Best regards,
Kenneth
