Mozilla 1.4 RC2 Released

FTP Download Site

Release Notes

What's New in Mozilla 1.4 RC 2

* Mozilla on Windows now has support for NTLM authentication. This enables Mozilla to talk to MS web and proxy servers that are configured to use "windows integrated security ".
* Mozilla's bookmarks have been overhauled. Bookmarks now include a root level folder, the ability to have two differently named bookmarks pointing at the same location, site icons in the Bookmark Manager and Bookmarks Sidebar, and separators now have support for labels.
* Composer now supports click and drag dynamic image and table resizing. If an image is selected or if the caret is placed inside a table, eight resizing handles appear and allow to resize the image/table with a simple click/drag/release. In the case of an image, the resizing is done real-time and a semi-opaque shadow of the image at its target size is shown during resizing. A tooltip shows in real-time the target size in pixels, and the relative change in pixels too.
* Mozilla now has smooth scrolling. It is disabled by default. To enable it, use about:config to add the boolean preference general.smoothScroll with a value of true. To disable smooth scrolling, set the value of the pref to false.
* Mail now has junk-mail context menu items, a "delete junk mail" menu item and many other usability improvements for junk-mail controls.
* Pop-up blocking has been streamlined to improve usability.
* Users can now specify "blank page," "home page," or "Last page visited" for each of first window, new window and new tab.
* Users can now specify default font, size and color for HTML compose.
* Image blocking/disabling is now more flexible and users can "view image" to see blocked or not loaded images.
* Mozilla now has CRAM-MD5 and DIGEST-MD5 AUTH support for SMTP
* "Launch file" after downloading has been enabled for .exe files
* It is possible to build Mozilla for Win32 using GCC. See the win32 build instructions for details.
* Proxy auto-config (PAC) failover has been implemented
* Mozilla 1.4 contains thousands of additional bugfixes, including changes to improve performance, stability, web site compatability, standards support, and usability.

New Additions to the Release Notes

These are items that have been added to the release notes since the last milestone although the bugs themselves may have existed previously.

* Mozilla 1.4 requires Sun J2SE v 1.4.2 Beta to run Java applets

NOTE: This applies to Linux only. In the Java section of the Release Notes, it states that Java J2SE releases previous to 1.4.2 Beta will not work on Linux.

* JavaScript access to Flash does not work on Linux Mozilla 1.4


Ramona

 

Smooth Scrolling in Mozilla 1.4

Well I opened about: config but could not see

general.smoothScroll

listed.

Mozilla 1.4 rc 2 reading an old Netscape 7.02 profile, if that makes a difference.

I can, however, see smoothScroll in Firebird.

Help please

 

Labarum,

You have to add the script to the configuration files (about:config):

Right Click on any script
Select: New | boolean
Type and Enter: general.smoothScroll

In the Boolean Value window:
Type and Enter: true

That should do it, and I certainly missed the "add" which is clearly spelled out in the Release Notes!

Ramona

 

Thanks Ramona.

Deed done.

Doesn't seem to make mucg difference though, but does it take some processor power to acheive. My fast PC is in a box on the way back from Cyprus (I hope) I am presently using a 500MHz PIII

I wish Mozilla would work properly with the "Universal Scroll"
of my Logitech trackball - works wonderfully with MS Office and Star Office.

Is there an "Idiots How Too" for "about: config?

 

re: mozilla 1.4 RC2

Great news. I am looking forward to the final release.

 

Labarum,

This is an older MozillaZine Article, but your question about an "about:config for Dummies" (better than idiots) question jogged the memory:

Improved about:config Page Makes Editing Hidden Prefs Easier

Note the caution re: the user.js file.

Note that making changes in about:config updates prefs.js and not user.js. As the user.js file takes precedence, you'll have to manually remove any lines you want to alter from user.js (or delete the file entirely) before making changes in about:config. Finally, remember that you can really ***** things up if you're not careful. You have been warned.

Too bad the smooth scrolling isn't any better. I just heard from another user that he too is unable to see much change, since adding the preference.


Sled,

Happy browsing... it's getting better and better!!!

Ramona

 

Mmmm? How did ya know?

 

Ramona,

The only thing I don't like about the about:config editing is that it encourages people to edit the prefs.js file rather than the user.js file. After editing, it would be wise to copy any changed lines to the user.js file for safekeeping, since you can add comments to remind you what the change was for.

Also, it still leaves much to be desired by way of descriptions... trial and error is not for everyone

tranquilo

 

'Cause you're always hanging out when there's a new Mozilla Release... I'm surprised that I saw the new Release before you did. You usually keep us updated!


Ramona

 

tranquilo,

Thus the proof that Mozilla is not an end user product, but one of development, testing, and experimentation. Editing the prefs.js is risky enough, but changing preferences in the about:config is opening a whole new can of worms.... especially if the user is inexperienced.

Ramona

 

Mozilla may not be the end user product that people hope for, but maybe (?) that will change after the release of Mozilla 1.4...

We can hope for more browsers based on mozilla...

 

Well, actually I did all ready have it two days before you posted. What took you so long.


Please forgive me.

I guess I lose my cookie.

Okay, this one does impress me more than the last release.
Still have scroll problems. Which is more than likely bad coding?

 

sled,

Two days! You can keep your cookie, as you earned it!

Seems as tho you're not alone with your scrolling problem, and hopefully that will be addressed soon...

Ramona