mozilla links
ShareThisNetscape has been dead for a while now, and while probably no one misses it, there is at least an extension that users may want to thank Netscape for: Link Pad.
It consists of an icon in the status bar where you can drop links (or favicons from the site button) to create a list of web pages you want to revisit available from a new sidebar. Yes, it sounds just like bookmarks, but unlike these, it is all kept in a flat list and there’s even an option to automatically clear the links as they are revisited, serving its purpose as a handy link jotter that will help with the bad habit of piling up windows and tabs (hurting performance), your unsorted bookmarks, or both.
Abandoned when Netscape gave up in the browser arena, Tim Luigjes has taken the time to reanimate it so it is now back and ready to try at the revamped and rocking Mozilla Add-ons.
Link Pad also features the original Netscape icon which has little to nothing to do with Firefox’s themes, so some love for the toolbar and status bar button icons would be greatly appreciated.
I think you might be trying to provoke comment with this…”Netscape has been dead for a while now, and while probably no one misses it”, but just in case you aren’t, I’d like to have my twopence worth.
Yes, today’s browsers are far more functional than Netscape, and maybe even look prettier. But I used Netscape almost from it’s first incarnation – I even paid for it! – and Mosaic before that. That may make me a crusty old codger, but think on this…
* For all their potential functionality, my company locks browsers down so much that there is nothing I can view in any of the new generation browsers, that I couldn’t see just as easily by using Netscape. Functionality is only useful when it’s enabled.
* The first few versions of Netscape were stunning. New developments were coming along all the time, because HTML code was being developed constantly, in response to user requests. The ability to read documents from thousands of miles away was just so exciting. By learning HTML, even I was able to organise (via links) all my documents, just as I wanted them to be – and that flexibility was brilliant. That buzz has gone now, so no matter how flashy today’s browsers are, they will never match that excitement.
Today’s user may crave videos on tiny mobile phones and the ability to surf 24/7, but are they actually doing anything useful for themselves or anyone else with that ability? It seems sometimes that most are happiest when they are moaning – make a plugin and the comments start “Can we have it on the right/left/top/bottom? – oh and in pink/black/red/green…?” etc.
Netscape may be gone and becoming increasingly forgotten, put I’d still tip my hat to the pioneers who developed it – Firefox IS standing on the shoulders of giants – and I would say that there are days when I do miss it. Nice to see this extension back though, so kudos to Tim Luigjes for bringing it back from the dead.
I as well was a happy Mosaic and Netscape user for years, still I don’t miss it. The web has evolved in equally amazing ways in the last 5 – 8 years and Netscape has just not been a part of it.
On the other hand, history would be incomplete without several chapters dedicated to Mosaic and Netscape.
Awesome extension. I was very happy when it was made available (or re-written?) for 3.0.
I’ve totally re-skinned it for my own purposes though.
Neat. I recall reading about this feature. Very helpful for a ‘to-do’ list of stuff I want to blog about (including this extension and article). Thanks.