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The new Netscape Navigator takes a Firefox foundation, some neat Sidebar innovations, and an inside track to the Netscape.com social-networking and news site to create a browser that has some great features with minimal wonkiness.
Get Updates on Netscape. Official Website: Company: Time Warner, Inc. Select Version of Netscape to Download for FREE! Publisher: Netscape Communications Downloads: 10,702,656 External File This software is available to download from the publisher site. Netscape Communicator (32-bit Base Install).
Netscape.com is a huge part of the new Navigator: some new features might not be of interest if you don't hang out there. The Share button inside the address bar connects you directly to Netscape.com. Highlight content from the page and hit Share. The content becomes a summary, in a box that just needs a few tags to be submitted to the collective. Already-posted articles show Vote and Discuss icons instead of Share.
Bookmarks and History are self-explanatory sidebars, but a series of Netscape.com-related ones work well, too. Netscape Friends' Activity shows you what your friends have been doing, Netscape Tracker tracks the latest site updates, and Netscape News tracks only news posts. Non-Netscape.com users--a small, rebellious group, no doubt--will appreciate the Mini-Browser sidebar, which is essentially two tabs opened simultaneously, and the Link Pad, a savable URL notepad. Drag-and-drop adds a URL, clicking on the saved link opens it in a new tab. This is one of Navigator's new tricks that we love, but wish had more traditional notepad functionality. All Sidebar features have toolbar icons that you can add at will.
Most of the bundled features from version 8 have been removed. IE mode, integrated AOL IM, RSS reader, form filler, and security suite are gone, but the compatibility with Firefox 2 extensions and LinkPad more than make up for the loss. The innovations here might make this more than a backup browser.
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What do you need to know about free software?
Netscape used to be a popular email program but has since been pushed to the side due to it no longer being developed. Plus, there now exists lots of other email clients that work even better.
However, if you're familiar with the program from when it was in its prime and would like to use it again, you can still download Netscape for free to use it with one or more of your email accounts.
It's important to say again that Netscape is no longer actively developed or supported. While you can still download it for free, it will not update in the face of security vulnerabilities or lack of features.
Pros and Cons
Given that Netscape is pretty old and no longer updated, it's easy to point out its downfalls. However, it does still have its advantages.
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Pros:
- Netscape offers effective Bayesian spam filtering
- Integrates with AOL Mail, AIM, and ICQ
- Supports having multiple email accounts attached
![Download Download](http://img.brothersoft.com/screenshots/softimage/n/netscape_navigator-345951-1268121583.jpeg)
Cons:
- Netscape has only weak message templates
- Custom message filters are not flexible enough
- Netscape is no longer developed as an email program
More Information on Netscape
- Version 7.2 is said to work with Windows operating systems like Windows XP and older, but I was able to use it with Windows 8, too, without any problems. It also works with Mac and Linux.
- Netscape email lets you manage multiple POP, IMAP and AOL email accounts
- Focuses on security and privacy. Cookies, plug-ins, remote images, and JavaScript can be turned off.
- Supports secure TLS/SSL connections and S/MIME message encryption (PGP/MIME via plug-in)
- Includes highly effective spam filters using Bayesian statistical analysis
- Netscape supports rich HTML (including WYSIWYG editor) and plain text emails
- Offers easy-to-set-up filters for automatic message filing
- Powerful message searching, a useful search toolbar, mail views, and message labels help you organize email
- The vCard-enabled address book synchronizes with AOL and Netscape Webmail and integrates with ICQ/AIM
My Thoughts on Netscape
Netscape makes for an advanced and fully featured email program. If you do not need fancy filters and can do with simple templates, you might consider Netscape as an email client.
However, since the program is really old and doesn't even officially support newer operating systems like Windows 10, there are always alternatives like Thunderbird, eM Client, or Microsoft Outlook.
Netscape seamlessly supports POP and IMAP accounts, of course, but also integrates free Netscape WebMail and AOL email accounts. It even integrates AIM and ICQ with email. The support for HTML is naturally superb as well.
Just as importantly, Netscape can also take care of the spam problem with its effective but easy to use Bayesian filters. Organizing the good mail works conveniently, too, with labels, mail views, and a handy search toolbar.
One of the few things missing from Netscape are filters for outgoing mail.
If you're using Netscape with an email account like Gmail, you have to make sure you let your account access less secure apps. This is because Netscape doesn't use modern security standards, so proceed with caution.
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