RSSIE Head: Netscape 8 Breaks XML in IE
By Nate Mook | Published May 26, 2005, 1:14 PM
In a Web log posting, Internet Explorer program manager Dave Massy has called out Netscape 8 for purportedly breaking XML rendering in IE6. The news comes as the second blow to the revived Netscape browser, which initially shipped with critical security flaws. But at least one user says the XML bug does not affect everyone.
"We've just confirmed an issue that has started to be reported on newsgroups and forums that after installing Netscape 8 the XML rendering capabilities of Internet Explorer no longer work," Massy wrote. "That means that if you navigate in IE to an XML file such as an RSS feed or an XML file with an XSLT transformation applied then rather than seeing the data you are presented with a blank page."
Massy says IE users must uninstall Netscape 8, and then manually modify a registry key to resolve the problem. "We are currently continuing our investigation and are looking forward to working with Netscape to resolve this issue," he added.
According to at least response to Massy's announcement, however, the XML issue does not affect all Netscape 8 users.
"I have IE on Windows XP with SP 2 and the [XML] link works just fine for me in Avant browser or IE (which I admit to never using except for browsing the Windows update or Office update sites), Firefox 1.04, Netscape 7.2, or Netscape 8.01 using Display like Firefox or Display like Internet Explorer," wrote a user named John. "You seem to have reported a problem that does not affect everyone using Netscape 8."
Another poster took a swipe at IE for its paltry XML support, which Microsoft has pledged to improve in Internet Explorer 7. IE7 is slated for a public beta release this summer, bringing tabbed browsing and a cadre of internal enhancements.
"It is great that you are providing a way for people to restore Internet Explorer to its full state of functionality in case they are inclined to do so, but considering that Internet Explorer chokes on XML prologs and application/xhtml+xml content, does it really matter if its XML support is completely broken rather than remaining partly broken and partly obsolete?"
A Netscape representative told BetaNews it was actively working to resolve the XML bug and dismissed Massy's calls for users to uninstall the new browser.
"This issue only affects a very small number of users who visit pages that use XML technology, but we are actively working on a fix, and we hope to deploy an automatic patch to users that will address it next week. Pending that resolution, users do not need to uninstall their browser or take any other action," spokesperson Andrew Weinstein said.
Does Any American Geek ( I am Canadian btw ) have the balls to state the obvious : How are we able to succesfully remove IE 6.00 ? We cannot!!! How else are we able to update Windows XP ? Try updating from Firefox? You Americans are basically whiners. If it is made in the Good Old U.S.A, it must be good !! Nevermind that the best software is being developed in Europe and Asia
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|It's crude, I admit, but Netscape making IE unusable would seem to be a security feature.
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|Poor Microsoft. they build a web engine that is so antidiluvian that it makes the dinosaurs seem original. Then, this same company that denied the Internet would ever prosper , attacks Netscape for producing a superior product to IE 6. I have Netscape 8 on my computer. Do I use it ? Not as often as I use Mozilla or Opera. Do I use I.E. 6. ONly when updating Windows XP, because Microsoft has made it impossible to update the O.S. Whether Netscape breaks XML in IE is inconsequential. It is Microsoft's problem. They created the monster, let them fix it. I am tired of Microsoft crying foul. Other software companies have suffered from Microsoft's monopoly..maybe the time is right to retaliate.
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..................... Netscape 8 = Junk Browser. Used to be the best in 1995.
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|It's hilarious to see people get all riled up over browsers! ROFLMAO
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|LOL! Yes it is! They think the new Netscape is bad, they ought to try the new AOL browser...100% cpu usage. Makes the Netscape thing look downright professional.
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|about time someone reversed the tables on ms. I am so tired of seeing patches and fixes from camp ms breaking application compatibility etc... if I was the people at netscape I wouldnt worry about it :) I would mail ms and tell them they need to fix the problem with their os, release a patch hehehehe
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|Both Maxthon and NetCaptor work perfect for me. AOL is the bull in the China closet of programmers. Whatever they touch, they break.
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|Since no one in my house uses IE6, this is not a problem ;), can Mr Massy send me a program to Un-install IE6. that would make him my hero!
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|LOL!
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|Just wait for Internet Explorer 7. It's going to be the best, WAY more features than FireFox, and it's WAY WAY WAY more secure than any other browser.
The way it processes pages is amazing, its faster than firefox, and well... WAY faster than IE6 :).
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|Lets hope.
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|"Just wait for Internet Explorer 7. It's going to be the best, WAY more features than FireFox, and it's WAY WAY WAY more secure than any other browser.
The way it processes pages is amazing, its faster than firefox, and well... WAY faster than IE6 :)."
I want some of those drugs.
It is amazing what you experience when you smoke floor sweepings.
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|Folks, read the guy's actual words: "We currently have the following work around for people that are hitting this issue..."
In other words, he did NOT call upon the entire population of Netscape 8 users to uninstall it. He merely offered the only workaround currently available for those who need a workaround now. Even Netscape admitted that they don't currently have a solution. If you're not affected, that's great. For those people who are (regardless of how few or how many), don't try to prevent them from hearing about what they can do today.
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|Here's and idea. IE and netscape are both garbage. IE is a maze of security holes. Netscape is a bloated piece of malware. While I have no problems at all with Firefox.
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|IMPORTANT!!!
Netscape is INSECURE because it is based on FIREFOX.
Ben Goodger said so.
And he promises to keep releasing exploit code to punish anyone dumb enough to use a browser based on Firefox.
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|Look at that guy's name. Don't believe anyone called that....
Maybe "LinuxIsAPain" or "LinuxIsConfusing", but never "theft"...
I don't believe they did this on purpose, since I doubt anyone who works for them uses IE or tests such things. I wouldn't have blamed them if they had though.
Firefox has security holes - more so because any hacker can grab the source code, but IE to date has had a whole ton more, and all of those more dangerous. One(a few years ago) corrupted all the accounts on my computer, and I had to reinstall windows and then all my programs. :(
I hope IE7 provides a little better protection, but until then I'm sticking with netscape 7.2. Sure it's not great, but atleast it can't do anything to my computer(and yeah, I don't really like netscape 8 either - it reminds me too much of both Firebox and IE).
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|I to hope that IE7 will be better. Where MS really screw up is making IE and embeded part that the OS can't function without.
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|At this point in time I would rather use Firefox and be thought a fool than to use IE and remove all doubt.
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|No, Ben Goodger said that it was insecure, because it was based of Firefox 1.0.3... not 1.0.4 which is the latest build. However, 8.0.1 of Netscape, which was released 8 hours after 8.0's release, resolves that issue and brings it up to speed with 1.0.4.
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|> Firefox has security holes - more so because any hacker can grab the source code, but IE to date has had a whole ton more, and all of those more dangerous. <
Something important to remember is that the Firefox team act quickly. There's a rumour that they knew about the 1.0.3 bugs for 10 days before releasing the news, it then took 3 or 4 days to fix. That's 14 days.
It takes Microsoft 6 months to release the info and another 2 to fix. That means crackers out there have a whole 8 months playtime, and with 2 of those months they have specific information about the vulnerability.
Just in case anyone is thinking of knocking open-source by the way, there are way more good guys looking through the code for bugs than there are bad guys. Bugs get fixed a lot quicker when there are thousands of people looking for them.
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|Microsoft announced today that all buggy software should be uninstalled, including Windows and most especially Internet Explorer. Ignore the FUD, use Firefox!!!
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|Ignore the anti-MS pinhead hype, just don't use Netscape garbage.
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|Ignore all pro-MS hype...yours will be a better world.
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|ROFLMAO!
One day, even you will have to grow up, kid.
Until then, enjoy the illusion of "fighting against the evil dark forces" and the sim0plicity of a black and white world - however fleeting it is.
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|All grown up here, buddy. I just don't suffer from the delusion that I can squash the opinions of others with a few keystrokes. You wander around this forum like some kind of Kiddie Kop. Face the fact that not everyone likes every piece of software or software company that you do. Relax, take a breath and join the real world. :o)
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|90% of the world seems to be happy with Microsoft, even if it's for no other reason that it's what they have and their companies use to get their jobs done.
If you don't like it, don't use it, and let the rest of us get on with our lives in peace without listening to a bunch of whining about evil company x.
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|No kidding. We love to hate it. I just seems to me that, its not weither or not we are going to use the new Microsoft stuff. It's "when" are we going to use the new Microsoft stuff. I manage close to 1000 users, and they are just learning how to use computers. And i am in IT for an educational organization. I can not imagine trying to teach them how to use something different @ this point. They just can email, browse internet, and save files. I think it would just blow their mind tring to tell them they can no longer use something they are just now feeling comfortable with. And now it can't be used and they must use something else. That is what frustrates me. Educating end users. While i am still trying to figure out what the best thing is.
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|> 90% of the world seems to be happy with Microsoft <
Wrong. Of that 90%, 85% don't understand what "Internet Browser" actually means, and have no concept of the differences between IE and FF/NS/Opera, or in fact, that there are alternatives.
Because MS have embedded it into the OS, and plastered it on the desktop, quick launch bar etc., most people just assume that IE is the only choice for browsing the net.
Given the choice between a browser that freely lets spyware get installed (pre-SP2) and one that actually looks after it's users.. well, if people were educated better you can guess where they would go.
Instead of thinking "90% are happy with Microsoft", what you want to be thinking is "Of the 15% or so of computer users that know what a browser is and know the differences, 10% of them have chosen to move" whether it be to FF, NS or Opera (unless of course they're on Linux or Apple)
In addition, a mini IE rant from me.. I'm developing a site right now, and using standard CSS formatting and HTML tags (nothing fancy at all), it looks perfect in Firefox but IE can't even manage the dashed table border I've asked for, and it's completely c***ed up the input button sizing too, which means I have to write more code to handle it's pathetic programming.
90% of people are NOT happy with Microsoft, it's just the vast majority of them don't know better - literally.
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|LOL! So easy to get into the softie underbelly! Please live your life in peace, just don't try to tell me what to say or not say. You don't like my opinion, ignore it. :o)
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|What a piece of crap!
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|I had a second entry in my Extension folder in the registry called .IE5 which contained a second Netscape entry. I had to delete this .IE5 folder before I could get my RSS working again in IE.
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|Using Maxthon, I click the XML link at the bottom of this page and get a blank page. I have installed Netscape 8.
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|Well that's not a big shocker since Maxthon uses IE as its engine...
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|I don't have the Netscape garbage installed. I'm running Maxthon. I clicked on the XML link you mentioned. I get - guess what - XML code.
Pretty conclusive to me...
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|Just as an experiment trying uninstalling Netscape 8 and try the XML link on this page in Maxthon and see if it comes to life again. I had Netscape 8 for a couple of days and uninstalled it and do not seem to have XML difficulty when I use Maxthon. I did not do any registry tweaks as was recommended in the Dave Massey blog. That stuff is a bit over my head anyway.
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|Maxthon can use Triton (IE) or Gecko. So if you want both, I'd use it, which has been thoroughly tested, before I'd use Netscape.
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