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Amiga News and Community Announcements => Amiga News and Community Announcements => Amiga Software News => Topic started by: chris on September 22, 2011, 06:09:43 PM

Title: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: chris on September 22, 2011, 06:09:43 PM
NetSurf 2.8 adds support for frames and iframes on all platforms, MIME type sniffing, and a new image cache. Image decoding can now be deferred until images are required for more optimal resource use and faster page load times. The release also incorporates many other new features, optimisations, improvements and bug fixes. Full details in the change log. We recommend all users upgrade.

Download from http://www.netsurf-browser.org (http://www.netsurf-browser.org) or via http://www.unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk/netsurf/ (http://www.unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk/netsurf)

Release notes for this AmigaOS 4 build:

* DataTypes content handler now used for JPEG and PNG images on the 4.0 (static) build.
* Low-memory version of parserutils.library included in the archive, for people wishing to reduce memory requirements.
* MNG and WebP internal decoders no longer compiled in.  Please install appropriate datatypes for WebP (http://www.unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk/download.php?file=webp_dt) and (limited) MNG (http://www.unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk/download.php?file=jng_dt) support.
* The file Resource/mimetypes can be used to specify applications to run plug-in content (to use, right-click plug-in area and select "launch in external application"). It also links DataTypes, MIME types and DefIcons, so if something isn't working as expected it might be related to this file.
* Please note the new DPI setting in prefs.  Some people reported particulary small text on certain websites with the previous release.  Setting DPI correctly fixes this.  If you use a widescreen monitor you may need to set "option_widescreen:1" in Resources/Options.
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: HotRod on September 22, 2011, 07:30:19 PM
Really nice! Feals faster and Frames works great allthough scrollwheel doesn't seem to work with frames(?). Very nice and unexpected release :-) . Great work!
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: chris on September 22, 2011, 07:36:58 PM
Quote from: HotRod;660672
Really nice! Feals faster and Frames works great allthough scrollwheel doesn't seem to work with frames(?). Very nice and unexpected release :-) . Great work!


Thanks!  I'm not surprised the scrollwheel doesn't work with frames, the events don't get that far in the code.  I'll see if I can fix it.
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: HotRod on September 22, 2011, 07:48:28 PM
Quote from: chris;660674
Thanks!  I'm not surprised the scrollwheel doesn't work with frames, the events don't get that far in the code.  I'll see if I can fix it.

Great! One more thing that I notised during my Quick test is that some sites loads and scroll slower than usual. Those sites are http://www.tv.nu, http://www.cinemassacre.com and http://www.gamespot.com but at that site it just scrolls slow at the top of the page.
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: cha05e90 on September 22, 2011, 07:54:35 PM
@HotRod
Your BabelFish seems to have broken! :-)

@Chris
Nice, thanks for this new release!
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: utri007 on September 22, 2011, 08:36:09 PM
What would be needed to get you do 68k port also?
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: chris on September 22, 2011, 09:01:11 PM
Quote from: HotRod;660675
Great! One more thing that I notised during my Quick test is that some sites loads and scroll slower than usual. Those sites are http://www.tv.nu, http://www.cinemassacre.com and http://www.gamespot.com but at that site it just scrolls slow at the top of the page.


Try twirling the "cache native versions" option (on the rendering tab of prefs) to "all".

Quote from: utri007;660687
What would be needed to get you do 68k port also?


Time and motivation.  I'd much rather somebody else with the time and motivation - somebody who is actually going to use it - did it.
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: utri007 on September 22, 2011, 09:19:31 PM
:(

It seems unlike that somebody skilled coder take a task. I belive that there are several reasons for that.

1. Most of coders are A Os4 Or MOs users and they are not interested classic amiga anymore.
2. Many 68k people doesn't actually know what kind of web browser Netsurf is, they think it is just like AWeb/Ibrowse = Outdated

Boynty? It unlikely that I could estabilish succesfull boynty, unless somebody who is known user/coder promises to take a task if he gets enough money.
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: chris on September 22, 2011, 09:48:37 PM
Quote from: utri007;660698
2. Many 68k people doesn't actually know what kind of web browser Netsurf is, they think it is just like AWeb/Ibrowse = Outdated


Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEcgKcXGC_o (NB: This is an old version, not 2.8)
Screenshots: http://www.netsurf-browser.org/about/screenshots/#amigaos (these are from 2.7 but visual differences are minor)
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: AmiKit on September 22, 2011, 09:52:52 PM
Quote from: utri007;660687
What would be needed to get you do 68k port also?


68k port of Netsurf 2.7 is here: http://aminet.net/package/comm/www/NetSurf-m68k
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: utri007 on September 22, 2011, 10:18:37 PM
It is not a native amiga port, it is SDL frontend. It is more like a proof of consept. SDL version of Netsurf is meant to be debug use only.

Anyway it is still usefull many ways, all depencies are already ported for it by Arthur/Bern and ofcourse it is almost usefull.
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: redfox on September 23, 2011, 12:03:09 AM
Posting with NetSurf 2.8 graphics.library static build on my MicroA1.

Thanks,
redfox
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: buzz on September 23, 2011, 05:33:18 AM
Nice one chris!

Saw the other day, in the svn history one of the main devs did some os3 compatibility stuff (not recent but i just saw it) - surprising though.

It's on my list to port, but then so is so many other things. Keep up the good work though (And was a pleasure to meet you at the event in Bletchley)
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: HotRod on September 23, 2011, 07:37:02 AM
Quote from: cha05e90;660678
@HotRod
Your BabelFish seems to have broken! :-)

@Chris
Nice, thanks for this new release!


@cha05e90
Hehe, I was typing this from my cellphone with T9 on and set to Swedish. Didn't realise it untill I had hit the "Submit Reply" button :-) .

@Chris
Thanks, that fixed it :-)
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: Templario on September 23, 2011, 06:19:08 PM
Thank you for this new update!
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: chris on September 23, 2011, 06:32:27 PM
Quote from: buzz;660805
Saw the other day, in the svn history one of the main devs did some os3 compatibility stuff (not recent but i just saw it) - surprising though.


Yes, John-Mark did some work over a year ago as part of a build chain test (and I suspect to encourage the development of a proper front-end for AmigaOS 3 - the framebuffer one is not intended to be a complete front-end and the core devs do not like it being used as such).  At the time he got it compiling mainly without errors; that's where my little list comes from on http://wiki.netsurf-browser.org/Todo/AmigaOS_frontend#OS3_Support
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: x303 on September 24, 2011, 01:33:59 PM
Quote from: AmiKit;660706
68k port of Netsurf 2.7 is here: http://aminet.net/package/comm/www/NetSurf-m68k
Netsurf 2.8 has just been released.
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: chris on September 24, 2011, 04:53:26 PM
Quote from: x303;661026
Quote from: AmiKit;660706
68k port of Netsurf 2.7 is here: http://aminet.net/package/comm/www/NetSurf-m68k
Netsurf 2.8 has just been released.


I'd just like to make it very, very clear, so there is no doubt whatsoever:

The AmigaOS 68k version of NetSurf is an unofficial fork of the "framebuffer" frontend.  It is not endorsed or supported by the developers of NetSurf.  The NetSurf developers would like a proper frontend written for AmigaOS 3/68k.  NetSurf for Amiga 68k is not representative of NetSurf for AmigaOS 4.
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: redfox on September 25, 2011, 12:15:18 AM
Posting with NetSurf 2.8 Cairo SObjs build on my MicroA1.

---
redfox
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: Minuous on September 27, 2011, 05:59:25 AM
The OS3.9 version, at least, doesn't work. Seems the programmer forgot to remove the assertions from the shipping version, and one of them triggers on starting the program, crashing it.

I'd make a bug report but IIRC I did so with a previous version which had similar problems, and never got a reply. So I won't bother this time, except to recommend users to avoid wasting their time downloading and trying this software. I'll be sticking to AWeb and suggest others do the same.
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: Tumbleweed on September 27, 2011, 01:52:49 PM
Quote from: Minuous;661511
The OS3.9 version, at least, doesn't work. Seems the programmer forgot to remove the assertions from the shipping version, and one of them triggers on starting the program, crashing it.

I'd make a bug report but IIRC I did so with a previous version which had similar problems, and never got a reply. So I won't bother this time, except to recommend users to avoid wasting their time downloading and trying this software. I'll be sticking to AWeb and suggest others do the same.


Ive just downloaed v2.8 for M68K and installed it without any problems. In fact this post was made using it.

Weed
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: stefcep2 on September 28, 2011, 08:29:48 AM
Quote from: Tumbleweed;661533
Ive just downloaed v2.8 for M68K and installed it without any problems. In fact this post was made using it.

Weed

 where from?
what hardware are you running it on?
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: apj on September 28, 2011, 08:49:58 AM
Quote from: stefcep2;661640
where from?
what hardware are you running it on?


http://aminet.net/comm/www/netsurf-m68k.lha
Title: Re: NetSurf 2.8 (OS4 web browser) released
Post by: Tumbleweed on September 28, 2011, 05:40:46 PM
Quote from: stefcep2;661640
where from?
what hardware are you running it on?


Downloaded from Aminet. See post above from Artur.

Hardware: A4000D, 060 with 128MB and a further 6MB on the motherboard. Cv64 3d with scan doubler, P96.

Weed