More Delays for Netscape 5.0

Reports yesterday indicate that it will be another two months before the Netscape 5.0 browser will go beta. Due to unforseen delays in rewriting the code from the ground up, Netscape Communications, Inc. will not be able to release their fifth generation browser until February.

An alpha preview of the product code named "Seamonkey" by Mozilla will be available for download on December 15, officials at Mozilla stated. The actual beta is not expected to release until sometime in February. After that release, it could be anywhere from 6 months to a year before it becomes final. The Mozilla browser will be available sometime after it enters beta, however, the branded version for Netscape will require a few more months.

Delays are mostly due to Mozilla completely rewriting the engine, named "Gecko" or "NGLayout". This engine has been written from the ground up, completely from scratch. Originally, code writers expected to use various parts of the old code to make developement faster and to keep its schedule, but they discovered that this was not possible late this summer. Delays were also caused by new features involving the user interface of the browser.

Extensible User Interface Language (XUL) will allow developers to create personalized user interfaces using common web language rather than complex programming languages. XUL is based on the popular new web developing language Extensible Markup Language (XML) and will allow developers to customize every aspect of the browsers appearance, including menu items and buttons. This cross-platform capability is similar to java, however, it is less intense and difficult to code.

Netscape loyals must wait once again, for the next generation of browser from Netscape Communications. Now more than a year overdue, and with continuing loss of market share, the browser giant must wonder if this new browser will help them regain the dominance and support they once had. In lieu of Microsoft making Internet Explorer 5.5 Beta available earlier this week, it may be a difficult climb back to the top for Netscape Communications.

For more information and the latest builds of "Seamonkey," visit Mozilla.org and keep checking BetaNews for continuing coverage on Netscape 5.0.