I just noticed a *very* interesting piece of news just now. I copied this from http://www.maccentral.com/news/0003/20.gecko.shtml The gist of the story below is that Netscape is giving as open source its browser engine technology. Applications can be built with (or around, I assume) this engine. With the periodic enquiries as to web access and abilities of MetaCard, I thought that this information would be valuable. It could be very nice if this engine and its abilities were able to be incorporated into MetaCard. Just a thought, but it is a development that I think Scott and company should look at. MetaCard, with its backside-kicking abilities, could benefit by being more web able and aware. And since this engine is cross-platform, MetaCard is the perfect development tool to pair it with. So, take a look below. Think of the possibilities! Raymond ___________________________________________ Netscape's Gecko browser engine to be used by IBM, more by Dennis Sellers, [EMAIL PROTECTED] March 20, 2000, 10:30 am ET Netscape Communications, a subsidiary of America Online these days, has announced that Netscape Gecko -- its browser engine technology that's the core of Mozilla, Netscape's in-the-works open source browser -- will be used by IBM, Intel, Liberate M, NetObjects, Nokia, Red Hat and Sun. (For some background info on Gecko, check out Ben Wilson's stories at http://www.maccentral.com/news/9911/19.mozilla.shtml and http://www..maccentral.com/news/9911/15.station.shtml. In a press release today, these companies said they will use the cross-platform Gecko browser engine to extend the power of the Web from the desktop computer to a wide range of Internet devices such as set-top boxes and browsing appliances. Designed to power Internet devices across many platforms and devices, Gecko is a component of the "AOL Anywhere" strategy. Netscape also said that Netscape 6 (which we assume is the official name for the Mozilla project), its new Gecko-driven Internet browser will be available to the public, in beta form, within the next 25 days -- I guess the obvious question is where is Netscape 5. Netscape also announced the availability of XUL (pronounced "zool"), the XML based User interface Language, a new XML application that, according to Netscape, makes it easier than ever to develop a cross-platform user interface. Netscape says that Gecko will offer, for the first time, enough power to build an entire software application user interface. Using these Web standards alone, developers can recreate, within a Web application, the entire user interface of a traditional desktop application, including pull-down menus, pop-up menus, toolbars, icons and scroll bars according to Netscape. XUL is designed to make this even easier by using the standards to provide a pre-built implementation of each user interface object and a compact markup for laying out the interface. Gecko is open source, which means that individual developers can tailor it to their own use. Netscape says it's also considerably smaller than the engines of traditional browsers. Netscape Gecko is the first software product from Netscape based on contributions from mozilla.org, the organization chartered with managing Netscape's open source initiative. Netscape 6, the company's next generation browser and e-mail software, will feature, according to Netscape: Small size and fast performance. Customers benefit from a small download and a fast browser, while third-party developers benefit from a compact browser engine that can be easily embedded in myriad network-ready devices. Same-time messaging: Instant messaging is popular and powerful because it enables people to communicate quickly from any distance, and notifies them when friends, family, and colleagues are online. Standards compliance: Netscape 6 will provide full support for existing browser technologies and the latest Web standards. XUL, the XML-based User Interface Language, uses XML to describe the features, objects and layout of a traditional desktop application user interface. XUL lays out the user interface elements across all platforms by using these common Web standards: HTML, XML, CSS, the W3C DOM and JavaScript. More info about Gecko can be found at: http://home.netscape.com/browsers/future/gecko.html. Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/metacard%40lists.best.com/ Info: http://www.xworlds.com/metacard/mailinglist.htm Please send bug reports to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, not this list.
