Open-Source Mozilla 1.0 Ships

Open-source development group Mozilla.org has finally unleashed its long-awaited Mozilla 1.0 browser suite, after four years of toil and testing.

Mozilla 1.0 boasts a Web browser, an e-mail reader, and a chat client, as well as a cross-platform tool kit for developing Internet-based applications, the group said. Mozilla's first major public release comes just over a month after the group released the beta version of the software, Mozilla 1.0 Release Candidate 1.

The browser suite became available on Wednesday as a free download from Mozilla.org.

Many Testers

The release has been eagerly awaited by open-source fans who claim the new browser could give big-name rivals such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) and Netscape's Navigator a run for their money.

In fact, the beta was well received. More than 200,000 users downloaded the latest beta edition, according to Mitchell Baker, a Mozilla.org spokesperson.

Testers lauded the browser's cross-platform operability and bargain-basement price tag (free, like IE and Navigator). Mozilla 1.0 supports the following operating systems: Windows; Linux; and Macintosh versions 8, 9, and X.

The source code for the Mozilla project was initially released by Netscape in early 1998. Since then, thousands of programmers have worked on the project.

The browser software is powered by the Gecko layout engine, which enables the browser to work as well on devices as it does on desktops, the group said.

Favorite Features

Mozilla also provides a tabbed browsing feature, which lets users view multiple Web pages without opening a new browser window each time. When users click on a Web page link, Mozilla does not go straight to the site, but instead creates a tab or button on the edge of the browser. This leaves the current Web page alone while the hyperlinked page loads as a tab the user can click on to view. Users can even save multiple open tabs as a single bookmark.

Netscape implemented a similar feature in its recently released update, Netscape 7.

Mozilla gives users additional controls over their browsing. For example, users can turn off various JavaScript functions to more easily block pop-up ads and limit animated GIFs. Testers also mentioned smoother page loading, economical use of page space, and the ChatZilla chat client.