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Mozilla 1.4 is still an alpha level build, so some features are missing as yet. The MRJ Java plugin is not available in this release, so LiveConnect does not work. Mozilla will use Apple's Java Applet plugin, if available, to display applets. There may also be some stability issues. My first attampt at surfing with Mozilla 1.4a laster about 30 seconds before the program unexpectedly quit. That hasn't happened again, so it may have been an anomaly. Mozilla 1.4a, like all recent versions of Mozilla, is satisfyingly fast on some Web pages (I'm on a dialup connection, so "fast" is a relative term here). Tabbed browsing is the greatest browser innovation in years, and it works slickly in Mozilla. One thing that bugs me in Mozilla, and to a lesser extent in Camino as well, is the lame way both of these applications handle text downloads or copy/paste into other applications. Pasted test brings a bunch of ugly line feed/break icons with it, and in either case plain text page saves are an ugly mess of formatting characters and ugly formatting. This used not to be the case with earlier builds of Mozilla, and is another good reason to keep iCab handy, since iCab copies and saves text beautifully.
Scrolling is now pretty good in Mozilla, although still slower than iCab. Page rendering is very nice, and probably my favorite among Mac OS X Web browsers.
I prefer Mozilla's Bookmarks implementation to that in Safari or the latest Camino nightly builds, but I still think iCab handles bookmarks and history more gracefully (although with less power and features) than any other browser. Mozilla is still probably the Web browser I would choose if I were to be limited to just one - it is not only very fast, but does most browser tasks relatively well. However, there is still no OS X browser that does everything to my satisfaction. There are some big changes coming for Mozilla, whose developers released a new roadmap for future development last week proposing a new application architecture based on the Gecko Runtime Environment (GRE), which can be shared between separate application processes. Key Elements include: 1. Switch Mozilla's default browser component from the XPFE-based Navigator to the standalone Phoenix browser. Note: the Phoenix user interface is defined entirely using XUL. So in preferring Phoenix, we are not deprecating XUL. We are demonstrating how XUL is a sound basis for fast, cross-platform applications such as Phoenix. 2. Develop further the standalone mail companion application to Phoenix already begun as Minotaur, but based on the new XUL toolkit used by Phoenix (this variant has been codenamed Thunderbird). Note: the Phoenix toolkit is a compatible reimplementation of the XPFE toolkit, with added features such as customizable toolbars. We are not starting a new C++ GUI toolkit, we are simply moving to the next generation XUL toolkit. 3. Deliver a Mozilla 1.4 milestone that can replace the 1.0 branch as the stable development path, then move on to make riskier changes during 1.5 and 1.6. The major changes after 1.4 involve switching to Phoenix and Thunderbird, and working aggressively on the next two items. 4. Fix crucial Gecko layout architecture bugs, paving the way for a more maintainable, performant, and extensible future. 5. Continue the move away from an ownership model involving a large cloud of hackers with unlimited CVS access, to a model, more common in the open source world, of vigorously defended modules with strong leadership and clear delegation, a la NSPR, JavaScript, Gecko in recent major milestones, and Phoenix.
You can find out more about Phoenix hee:
There are builds of Minotaur available for OS X here: http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/minotaur/
Mozilla 1.4a System requirements:
Protecting OS 9 System Files In Classic Mode Apple has posted a Knowledge Base article explaining how to prevent system files and local applications used by the Classic environment from being disabled, moved, renamed, or deleted by users that do not have administrative privileges. You do this by restricting file system permissions on the Classic System Folder and the Applications (Mac OS 9) folder. This is an advanced document. In Mac OS X 10.2.4 and later, advanced users can set permissions for files used by the Classic environment. By setting these permissions, you can "protect" system files and local applications used by the Classic environment from being disabled, moved, renamed, or deleted by users that do not have administrative privileges. Users who have an administrator account (members of the admin group) will still have access to these files. Note: Even after taking these precautions, Classic applications will be able to write into the System Folder used by Classic, but not the "Applications (Mac OS 9)" folder. A scenario in which this could lead to an issue would be a malicious user intentionally saving a document in the System Folder, overwriting an existing system file with the same name. Hmmm. One of the things I like about having OS 9 around is that it conveniently defeats some of the ernest security prissiness of OS X, for example allowing me to trash unwanted software installers that insist I start up in Root in order to get rid of them. I just wait until the next time I'm booted in OS 9 and make them go "Poof!" Ha! I appreciate that folks who actually need ironclad security are less than enchanted with this security backdoor provided by the good 'ol Classic OS, and I suspect that closing that door is part of the reason for Apple's urgency in getting rid of dual-booting, but for folks like me who are the sole user of their machines, all the security foo-fa-rah in OS X is a tiresome annoyance, and I derive some childish pleasure in overriding it with OS 9. :-) MY switch to X Mysterious memory leak problem From Jon Smith Charles, Congratulations on 300... I have really appreciated your writings and the sharing you have done on your journey. You have been like the counseller at summer camp who knew where all the poison ivy was and gave you the heads up. Thanks again! Jon R Smith
Thanks Jon. Glad you've found it a worthwhile trip.
Charles
From Richard Wolfert Hi Charles. Haven't written you in a while. Usually it has been just a question or observation that you've always answered or responded to. Now I have to tell you of the beginnings of MY switch. My home office was terribly disorganized (but very functional) and I gave myself a target of really cleaning it up before I purchased a new computer. Well, the incentive was sufficient and several days ago, I picked up a new 17" iMac with 1 GB of memory. I am replacing my very trusty, but very tired 8600/250. OS 9.1, on the old machine was NOT fast at all. (However, I do recall how extremely impressed with its speed I was when it replaced a Power Macintosh 660AV over 5 years ago.) It hasn't slowed, everything (and I, too) just passed it and its capabilities. I optimized the disk and ran disgnostics frequently, and tried to keep it running as smoothly as possibly. Netscape/Mozilla seemed to be the big problem. I can't tell you how many times those programs would cause a crash or a system lock up. I am guessing that it mostly had to do with java applets. I did have the machine customized (and very comfortable) to the extent that I had all my necessary programs and specific document templates readily available from the Apple Menu to make running my résumé business very efficient. The new iMac is just wonderful. First of all, the display is gorgeous...bright, sharp and very easy on the eyes. It's amazing how much more you can comfortably fit on a screen when text and images are as clear as this, even at this small point size. OS-X (version 2.4) is NOT the monster that many have made it to be. I took a very long time (before purchasing the iMac) to read as much about it as I could about the OS. I even have a file on the 8600 that is filled with useful data, program recommendations, instruction and hints on how to make OS-X better or more functional. Overall, it's a fabulous system. It is NOT 9, but it can't be. In order to be this functional and easy to use, it HAD to lose something in the translation. But in doing so, it gained a great many capabilities and functionalities that 9 couldn't ever support. Surprisingly, I really like the Dock. It's not a replacement for the Apple Menu, but it creates a different functionality and a different ease of use. My main concern was in transferring the tens of thousands of individual files and folders from my business to the iMac. No, not the physical transfer; we now have 3 Macs on an Ethernet network with high speed cable Internet, so connectivity or speed isn't an issue. I was concerned with transitioning from AppleWorks 5.0.4 to 6.2.4. Keeping each translated/updated file in the proper client folder was a concern as I am still learning to navigate this new system. But, I'm beginning to GET it, and it's only 3 days. I am amazed with how intuitive the system is. I don't have to look for support programs as often as in 9. Sorry for the cliché, but, here, it does just work. MY odyssey is 3 days old and I am considerably more comfortable with X than I thought I might be. I have started to transition files and programs from the 8600 to the iMac and can't wait until I have this computer humming full time, too. Rich Wolfert
Hi Rich;
Glad to hear that X is working well for you.
Your old 8600 probably has fairly similar performance to my UMAX S-900/200 which also runs OS 9. I've never tried running Mozilla or Netscape 7 on it, but I can imagine they would be pretty sluggish.
10.2.4 has proved to be a very nice system on my Pismo -- the best OS x build yet, but if you have certain Macs it can be a nightmare.
Thanks for the report.
Charles Mysterious memory leak problem From Bob Booten Maybe an answer to your "mysterious memory leak problem".
Author: bigdog (Registered User)
OS X arbitrarily creates swap files 80,000k in size as needed and you should have no less than one on your drive. If you go into terminal and type "ls -l /var/vm" you can see that 80000 number as well as see how many swapfiles you have on your machine.
Unfortunately, a bug prevalent since 10.2 betas doesn't allow for proper release of swap files. I'm surprised Apple hasn't fixed this yet. Swapfiles continue to be created as long as the machine is on.
I'll check it out. I guess the cure is still to reboot? Charles
The OS X Odyssey archives may be accessed here: Note: Letters to Moore's Mailbag may or may not be published at the editor's discretion. Correspondents' email addresses will NOT be published unless the correspondent specifically requests publication. Letters may be edited for length and/or context. Opinions expressed in postings to Moore's MailBag are those of the respective correspondents and not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Editor and/or Applelinks management. If you would prefer that your message not appear in Moore's Mailbag, we would still like to hear from you. Just clearly mark your message "NOT FOR PUBLICATION," and it will not be published. CM
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