jwzSep 18, 2025

Netscape Navigator 2.0 was released 30 years ago today.

This version introduced a number of new features:

• Plugins! This was the first time a web page could make sound, via RealAudio.
• Incremental display of progressive JPEGs on slow dialup connections.
• Animated GIFs that were actually useful.
• HTML frames.
• JavaScript! That wasn't my fault, but you still have my apologies.
• And of course my baby, the first release of Netscape Mail and News:

https://jwz.org/b/ykvY

Show threadRobert Petersen Sep 18, 2025
@jwz @pixel loading animation still lives rent free in my head.
Show threadDoctor MemorySep 19, 2025

@Sonikku @jwz @pixel

We all stepped away from the light when we removed throbber animations from web browsers. RETVRN.

Show threadJames Young
@memory @Sonikku @jwz @pixel hee! Server push animations pre-date gifs in browsers, and apparently they still work?! https://pronoiac.org/misc/2009/10/server-push-animation/
miscellaneous » Server push animation

Strumenti e risorse per le nuove forme di comunicazione

Sep 26, 2025 at 6:40amWeb