Netscape Communications Corp has finally caught up with the latest version of Java in its flagship Communicator browser-cum- groupware product. The beta of version 4.0.2 of Communicator is now up on Netscape’s site and it includes version 1.1 of the Java Developers Kit (JDK), which is the most recent complete cut of Sun Microsystems Inc’s language. The move vindicates Microsoft Corp’s claim to be ahead of the Java game in the browser market. Earlier this week, Microsoft internet product and tools group product manager Cornelius Willis said the only two companies shipping a browser supporting JDK 1.1 were Microsoft and Sun. Having said that, the Microsoft browser doesn’t ship in final version until September 30. The 4.0 cut of Communicator has been shipping since June 4. Netscape has also announced preview release 3 – which we understand to mean still pre-beta – of Visual JavaScript, its tool for building Java applications without the need for coding. It uses JavaScript to link Java and HTML components together. That product has also added full JDK 1.1 support and allows for the importing of JavaBean components and Corba services as well as adding database application and page wizards.
