Editing Beonex Communicator

{{Short description|Internet application suite}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox software
| name                    = Beonex Communicator
| logo                    = Beonex-icon.png
| screenshot              = Beonex.6-book-of-mozilla.png
| caption                 = Beonex Communicator 0.6 displaying the [[Book of Mozilla]]
| author                  = [[Ben Bucksch]]
| developer               = Beonex Business Services
| released                = Never
| latest_preview_version  = 0.8.2-stable
| latest_preview_date     = 21 March 2003
| operating_system        = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Mac OS X]], [[Linux]], [[FreeBSD]]
| genre                   = [[Internet suite]]
| discontinued            = yes
| license                 = [[Mozilla Public License|MPL]]/[[Netscape Public License]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beonex.com/communicator/legal/|title=Legal notices|first=Ben|publisher=Beonex Communicator|access-date=28 January 2011|last=Bucksch|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203045459/http://www.beonex.com/communicator/legal/|archive-date=3 February 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| language                = English, German
| programming language    = [[C++]], [[XUL]], [[XBL]], [[JavaScript]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.beonex.com}}
}}
'''Beonex Communicator''' is a discontinued [[open-source software|open-source]] [[Internet suite]] based on the [[Mozilla Application Suite]] (MAS) by Ben Bucksch, a German [[Mozilla]] developer.<ref name="heise">{{cite web|url=http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Mozilla-Entwickler-mit-eigener-Browser-Distribution-27527.html|title=Mozilla-Entwickler mit eigener Browser-Distribution|date=14 November 2000|language=de|access-date=29 January 2011|publisher=[[Heinz Heise]]}}</ref> It was intended to have a higher security and privacy level than other commercial products.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[LinuxUser]]|url=https://www.linux-user.de/ausgabe/2001/02/007-software/software-02.html?print=y|language=de|access-date=1 February 2011|date=February 2001|title=Frische Ware|first=Andreas|last=Huchler}}</ref><ref name="kefk" /><ref name="pcm">{{cite journal|journal=Personal Computer Magazine|language=nl|date=February 2004|pages=96, 97|title=Alternative Browsers|first=Peter|last=D'Hollander|issn=0772-8077}}<!--|access-date=7 March 2011--></ref> The Internet suite contains a [[Web browser]], an [[email client|email]] and [[Newsreader (Usenet)|news client]], an [[HTML editor]] (based on [[Mozilla Composer]]) and an [[Internet Relay Chat|IRC]] client (based on [[ChatZilla]]).<ref name="kefk">{{cite web|url=http://kefk.net/Open_Source/FS/Beonex/index.html|title=Beonex|access-date=1 February 2011|date=4 June 2002|publisher=[[Kefk Network]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723172807/http://kefk.net/Open_Source/FS/Beonex/index.html|archive-date=23 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="pcm" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.useragentstring.com/pages/Beonex/|access-date=1 February 2011|title=Beonex User Agent Strings|publisher=UserAgentString.Com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110126084507/http://www.useragentstring.com/pages/Beonex/|archive-date=26 January 2011}}</ref>

Beonex Business Services offered the suite for free and provided documentation, easy install routines for third-party [[Plug-in (computing)|plug-ins]], and tried to sell support and customer-specific changes on the browser.<ref name="blindschleiche">{{cite web|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041016061010/http://www.blindschleiche.de/shownews.php3/258|url=http://www.blindschleiche.de/shownews.php3/258|archive-date=16 October 2004|title=Vielversprechender Netscape 6 Konkurrent|access-date=29 January 2011|date=26 November 2000|publisher=Blindschleiche.de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computeruser.com/articles/just-browsing-thanks.html|access-date=4 April 2011|date=30 November 2003|title=Just browsing, thanks|first=Eric|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|work=[[ComputerUser]]|last=Foster-Johnson|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720173155/http://www.computeruser.com/articles/just-browsing-thanks.html|archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref> The main goal was to implement [[Kerberos (protocol)|Kerberos]], [[OpenPGP]], and [[LDAP]] in Beonex,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mozillazine.org/talkback.html?article=1745|access-date=29 January 2011|work=Mozillazine|publisher=[[Mozilla]]|title=Announcing Beonex|date=29 November 2000}}</ref> but that was marked as failed in mid-2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=124026|title=Bug 124026 – Roaming – funding via Beonex|publisher=Mozilla|date=24 May 2004|access-date=30 January 2011}}</ref> It was discontinued before reaching [[Release to manufacturing|production release]] stage.

==History==
{{quote box|width = 200px|Overall, this project seems most interested in staying as true to Mozilla as possible.<ref>{{cite web|archive-date=14 November 2002| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021114125904/http://linuxberg.surfnet.nl/x11html/preview/154164.html|url=http://linuxberg.surfnet.nl/x11html/preview/154164.html|title=Beonex Communicator 0.6 Pre|publisher=[[Tucows]]|date=30 November 2000}}</ref>}}
[[Mozilla Organization]] stated that the Mozilla Application Suite was only for developers and testing purposes and was not meant for end users.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cybersecurity.ru/net/40269.html|title= технологии – Mozilla празднует 10-летие|date=23 January 2008|publisher=CyberSecurity.ru|language=ru|access-date=30 January 2011}}</ref><ref name="holger">{{cite web |title=Über Mozilla |url=http://www.holgermetzger.de/faqabout.html |access-date=30 January 2011 |first=Holger |last=Metzger |language=de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719041457/http://www.holgermetzger.de/faqabout.html |archive-date=19 July 2011 }}; shorten English version available [http://www.holgermetzger.de/eabout.html here]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719041511/http://www.holgermetzger.de/eabout.html |date=19 July 2011  }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Zahmes Monster|year=2002|language=de|volume=13|page=218|journal=[[C't]]|publisher=Heinz Heise|first=Karsten|last=Violka}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Surfen ohne e – Mit Opera und Mozilla sicherer ins Netz|year=2002|language=de|volume=25|page=106|journal=[[C't]]|publisher=Heinz Heise|first=Jo|last=Bager}}</ref>

On 5 January 2001 Beonex was included in the [[Linux distribution]] [[kmLinux]] version S-0.4, but was removed in version S-0.5 released on 23 March 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lernnetz-sh.de/kmLinux/changes.html|access-date=1 February 2011|title=Entwicklungsgeschichte|date=6 December 2004|publisher=[[Schleswig-Holstein]]|archive-date=19 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819141858/http://www.lernnetz-sh.de/kmLinux/changes.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Beonex 0.8 was released in June 2002 received positive reviews about its speed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.linux-magazin.de/Heft-Abo/Ausgaben/2002/12/Jagdgesellschaft/(offset) |title=Jagdgesellschaft |first=Oliver |page=2 |last=Kluge |year=2002 |issue=12 |access-date=29 January 2011 |language=de |publisher=[[Linux-Magazin]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928110158/http://www.linux-magazin.de/Heft-Abo/Ausgaben/2002/12/Jagdgesellschaft/%28offset%29 |archive-date=28 September 2011 }}</ref><ref name="linux community" />

[[File:BeOL.png|thumb|right|250px|a BeOL preview]]
'''Beonex Launcher''' (BeOL, spoken B-O-L), was an additional upcoming product that never left [[alpha status]]; it was a stripped-down version of Beonex Communicator: a Web browser combined with an email client and a chat client.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ben|last=Bucksch|publisher=Beonex Communicator|url=http://www.developer.beonex.com/beol/|title=BeOL|access-date=7 February 2011}}</ref>

With a few preview releases of version 0.9 in mid-2002, Bucksch showed some new features he wanted to integrate, but before this version gained a stable status, he announced on 2 March 2004 that no new releases were planned until the [[Mozilla Foundation]] decided its future policy.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[LinuxUser]]|url=http://www.linux-magazin.de/Heft-Abo/Ausgaben/2005/09/Soll-der-Fuchs-ihn-holen|language=de|access-date=7 February 2011|date=September 2005|title=Soll der Fuchs ihn holen|first=Oliver|last=Kluge|volume=9}}</ref> In 2005, the Mozilla Foundation officially changed its policies and created the [[Mozilla Corporation]] to provide end-user support.

''Beonex Communicator 0.8.2-stable'' has several known security issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/7363|publisher=[[Security Focus]]|access-date=29 January 2011|title=Mozilla Browser Cross Domain Violation Vulnerability|date=16 April 2003|archive-date=6 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006045847/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/7363|url-status=dead}}</ref> Beonex never received much market share.<ref name="holger" />

In October 2020, the distributor of Beonex joined the [[Coalition for App Fairness]], which defends the rights of app developers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Coalition for App Fairness, a group fighting for app store reforms, adds 20 new partners|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/21/coalition-for-app-fairness-a-group-fighting-for-app-store-reforms-adds-20-new-partners/|access-date=2020-11-25|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Comparison with Netscape and MAS==
The browser does not transmit [[HTTP referer|referrers]] by default and has the possibility to create a fake referrers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Digitale Spuren – Surfer hinterlassen im Netz Spuren|language=de|url=http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/14/14052/1.html|access-date=1 February 2011|date=31 January 2003|first=Christiane|last=Schulzki-Haddouti|publisher=Heinz Heise|work=Telepolis}}</ref> The browser deletes all [[HTTP cookie|cookies]] upon exiting and disables several [[JavaScript]] functions which could have served as attack vectors.<ref name="pcm" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.golem.de/0206/20223.html|title=Beonex-Browser: Mozilla 1.0 mit mehr Sicherheitsfunktionen|date=7 June 2002|publisher=Golem.de|access-date=30 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[LinuxUser]]|url=http://www.linux-community.de/Internal/Artikel/Print-Artikel/LinuxUser/2001/03/Sieben-aktuelle-Web-Browser-im-Vergleich|language=de|access-date=8 February 2011|date=March 2001|volume=3|title=Tore zur WWWelt – Sieben aktuelle Web-Browser im Vergleich|first=Andreas|last=Huchler}}</ref> Beonex also allows changing the [[user agent]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerra.ru/hitech/32389/print.html|first=Константин|last=Лепихов|date=17 March 2004|script-title=ru:Прыткая ящерица|publisher=Computerra.ru|language=ru|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927014052/http://www.computerra.ru/hitech/32389/print.html|archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref>

In the following comparison table not all releases of Netscape and MAS are included. For a more complete table see [[Gecko (layout engine)]].
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Mozilla Application Suite
! rowspan="2" | Netscape
! colspan="2" | Beonex Communicator
|-
! Version
! Release date
|-
| 0.6
| 6.0
| 0.6<ref name="newsarchive">{{cite web|url=http://www.beonex.com/support/announce/news.html|title=News|access-date=28 January 2011|publisher=Beonex Communicator|first=Ben|date=12 March 2003|last=Bucksch|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709035418/http://www.beonex.com/support/announce/news.html|archive-date=9 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 14 November 2000
|-
| 0.9.2
| 6.1
|
|
|-
| 0.9.4
| 6.2
|
|
|-
| 0.9.4.1
| 6.2.2
| 0.7<ref name="newsarchive" />
| 8 November 2001
|-
|1.0
|
|0.8<ref>{{cite web|language=de|url=http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Open-Source-Browser-Beonex-Communicator-in-Version-0-8-62640.html|title=Open-Source-Browser Beonex Communicator in Version 0.8|date=7 June 2002|access-date=5 April 2011|publisher=Heinz Heise}}</ref>
| 5 June 2002
|-
| 1.0.1
| [[Netscape (version 7)|7.0]]
| 0.8.1<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beonex.com/communicator/version/0.8/release-notes/security-alert/081.html|title=0.8.1|publisher=Beonex Communicator|first=Ben|access-date=29 January 2011|last=Bucksch|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718095246/http://www.beonex.com/communicator/version/0.8/release-notes/security-alert/081.html|archive-date=18 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 19 September 2002
|-
| 1.0.2
| 7.01 and 7.02
| 0.8.2<ref name="relnotes08">{{cite web|url=http://www.beonex.com/communicator/version/0.8/release-notes/|access-date=29 January 2011|publisher=Beonex Communicator|first=Ben|last=Bucksch|title=Release-notes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707224645/http://www.beonex.com/communicator/version/0.8/release-notes/|archive-date=7 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 10 March 2003
|-
| 1.1
|
| 0.9pre
| 27 August 2002<ref name="newsarchive" />
|}

===Differences from Netscape===
In contrast with Netscape, Beonex has included nearly the same features except the proprietary parts like the integrated [[Net2Phone]],<ref name="giga">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021203134841/http://www.giga.de/dbout/reporter5/fullstories/nr20925.html|archive-date=3 December 2002|url=http://www.giga.de/dbout/reporter5/fullstories/nr20925.html|publisher=[[GIGA Television]]|title=Zweiter Ableger vom Mozilla|language=de|access-date=29 January 2011}}</ref> and the [[AOL Instant Messenger]].<ref name="giga" /> For online chatting, [[ChatZilla]] was integrated<ref>{{cite journal|title=World Wide Web|year=2001|language=de|volume=1|page=26|journal=[[iX (magazine)|iX]]|publisher=Heinz Heise|first=Henning|last=Behme}}</ref> and the [[Sidebar (computing)|sidebar]] and the [[web search engine|search engines]] are also pre-configured.<ref name="heise" /><ref name="linux community">{{cite web|access-date=29 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020612045509/http://www.linux-community.de/Neues/story?storyid=691|url=http://www.linux-community.de/Neues/story?storyid=691|archive-date=12 June 2002 |title=Slimfast für Mozilla|first=Fionn|last=Behrens|publisher=Linux-Community.de|language=de|date=2 December 2000}}</ref> Beonex is less resource-intensive than Netscape.<ref name="heise2">{{cite web|url=http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Netscape-6-Fett-aber-schnell-Update-27315.html|title=Netscape 6: Fett, aber schnell (Update)|date=14 November 2000|language=de|access-date=29 January 2011|publisher=[[Heinz Heise]]}}</ref>

Beonex includes a migration tool to import old profiles from [[Netscape Communicator]].<ref name="pcm" /><ref name="linux community" />

===Differences from MAS===
Beonex Communicator was not a [[fork (software)|fork]] of MAS; rather, it was a separate [[Branching (software)|branch]], so no significant changes were made.<ref>{{cite web|title=We are accepting patches|url=http://www.developer.beonex.com/communicator/patches/|access-date=30 January 2011|publisher=Beonex Communicator|first=Ben|last=Bucksch}}</ref> [[HTML email]] and JavaScript are turned off by default and thus, it displays [[email]] only in [[plain text]] with bold and cursive additions<ref name="pcm" /><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.heise.de/ct/hotline/Nur-Text-Mails-im-Mozilla-312910.html|title=Nur-Text-Mails im Mozilla|year=2002|language=de|volume=17|page=188|journal=[[C't]]|publisher=Heinz Heise|first=Karsten|access-date=7 February 2011|last=Violka<!--Author is displayed at following page: http://www.heise.de/artikel-archiv/ct/2002/17/188_kiosk-->}}</ref> which were added later in MAS 1.1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.golem.de/showhigh2.php?file=/0206/20285.html|publisher=Golem.de|language=de|access-date=7 March 2011|date=12 June 2002|title=Mozilla 1.1 Alpha ist da}}</ref> The search engines is compatible with the Mycroft project and is located in the sidebar providing more features.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/5413?page=0,1|title=Browser Comparison|access-date=29 January 2011|date=1 March 2002|first=Ralph|last=Krause|magazine=[[Linux Journal]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.beonex.com Beonex]
* {{Freshmeat|beonex-comm|Beonex}}
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/49332462@N06/sets/72157625968797122/ Beonex Communicator Screenshots], [[Flickr]]

{{E-mail clients}}
{{gopher clients}}
{{Internet suites}}
{{Mozilla}}
{{Timeline of web browsers|2000s}}
{{web browsers|desktop}}

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