Version 7 of Netscape's latest Web browser is now available as a free download from the Netscape site. The release is immediately available in Windows, Mac, and Linux flavors.

Based on the open-source "Gecko" browser engine, the browser claims full or partial standards compliance with many of the latest Internet protocols, including XML, HTML 4, XHTML, CSS1/2, and W3C DOM1/2, and JavaScript 1.5.

Among the features are a "sidebar" browser companion tool, providing users with a custom place to store common features and functions. Once stored, items appearing in the sidebar, which can include news or stock information, are updated automatically as long as the user remains online. Individual sites provide custom "tabs" for the sidebar; with companies such as CNN, eBay and NYTIMES.COM providing pre-configured tab selections. Individual sites, including our own Internet Product Watch, also add their own tabs for linking in the sidebar.

Like the previous version, Netscape integrates multiple communication tools, including E-Mail, and Instant Messaging, either within the sidebar or from the browser's task bar. Based on AOL's Instant Messenger, the Netscape Messenger service is integrated with the browser itself; allowing users to send and receive messages or check their buddy list from within the application without having to load up a separate program. The mail client features similar integration features, including the ability to notify recipients if the sender of the E-Mail is currently online. Netscape Mail supports multiple AOL, POP3, IMAP, or SMTP mail and newsgroup accounts.

Key features in the latest release include tabbed browsing (the ability to open multiple sites/windows and move amongst them via a tabbed interface), a "click-to-search" feature that allows for the immediate searching of highlighted terms on Web pages, and the download manager that tracks all of your downloads, including the site, percentage complete, time remaining, etc. Downloads can be paused and resumed at a later time.

Netscape 7 is available immediately. Visit the Netscape Web site for further information.

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