Netscape Communications Corp, Mountain View duly renamed its ‘Atlas’ preview of Navigator and introduced Netscape Navigator version 3.0 this month. No, there is still no Java implementation for Windows 3.1, but given the announcement of yet another Java security hole, perhaps that is no bad thing. The new release sees Netscape turn its attention from flashy changes to the user interface towards corporate administration, security features, real-time collaboration and support for Java. A public beta release of Navigator 3.0 for Windows, Mac OS and Unix operating systems is available now at the Netscape site and the final version is due this quarter at $50. The integrated multimedia capabilities of the new Internet client software include support for Internet telephony using Cool-Talk from InSoft Inc, acquired by Netscape earlier this year, and new video and audio capabilities. The new Internet client also supports VRML Virtual Reality Modeling Language 2.0. However, the not all these parts are available for all systems yet – the Macintosh, and Windows 3.1 continue to lag. Key features of the new release are designed to appeal to corporate users building intranets, with improvements in security and performance. A new Enterprise Kit enables data processing managers to customize Navigator to stop their users doing undesirable things; digital certificates and Version 3.0 of Secure Sockets Layer provide client authentication and better encryption of the network link. Anyone that downloaded Atlas PR2 shouldn’t bother downloading the new 3.0 beta – they are functionally identical. On the multimedia front, Netscape has signed a deal with Apple Computer Inc to make the core QuickTime and QuickTime Conferencing technologies available in Netscape’s LiveMedia cross-system multimedia offering. QuickTime will be available as a plug-in on the upcoming version of Netscape Navigator 3.0. With QuickTime, users will be able to hear background music when they visit a site, or view video or animations. The plug-in has a fast-start feature and supports ‘streaming’ so users can start to see or hear QuickTime material before the downloading is complete.
