As part of their plan to converge around common Java technologies, Netscape Communications Corp and Sun Microsystems Inc are going to create a native Java browser – codenamed JavaGator – incorporating features of Netscape Navigator plus Sun’s HotJava interface technology. The two say that JavaGator will be friendly to the operator, not to an operating system. Although it will take over some of the roles Netscape’s HTML Navigator browser currently performs, JavaGator isn’t expected to replace Navigator entirely. Due in the first quarter of 1998, IBM Corp says its will ship JavaGator – described as a 100% Pure Java version of Navigator – as a standard feature of its network computers while Sun says it will use the browser as its standard Java interface on all of its products. The companies say it will preclude the need for Java and other plug-ins and extensions as they’ll all be integrated into JavaGator. As part of the agreement Sun will ship Netscape’s HTML rendering engine with its JDK Java development Kit. Encapsulated in a Java Bean, the engine enables Java interfaces to display HTML pages. JavaGator will also support Dynamic HTML – as we went to press we couldn’t confirm whether Netscape meant both it and Microsoft’s flavors – JavaScript, and eventually, XML. IBM says its Lotus Development Corp’s work on Kona Java interfaces will be included in the JavaGator front-end it ships with its network computers, both existing Network Stations and future products. Microsoft Corp internet platform and tools division group product manager Cornelius Willis said Microsoft is not going to support JavaGator as we have a better browser, he said.
