Microsoft has alerted consumers that Netscape's latest browser appears to break the XML rendering capabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Dave Massy, a senior program manager for IE, warned users in a blog posting that after installing Netscape 8, IE will render XML files as a blank page, including XML files that have an XSLT transformation.

Microsoft did not make clear what versions of IE were affected, but a user of the DeveloperDex forum said he experienced the problem on version 6 of IE, which had been patched with Windows Service Pack 2.

Microsoft said it is investigating the problem and will work with Netscape to resolve it. It advised a "workaround" of uninstalling Netscape 8 and editing the registry settings.

One reader of the blog said the rendering problem could be a problem with IE, rather than Netscape. He suggested that such a feature could be useful for Microsoft as it would deter users considering a migration from IE to Netscape.

But another reader, Chris Beach, came to Microsoft's defense. "Cue endless conspiracy theories about Microsoft's 'dirty tactics.' Honestly, the rubbish you (Microsoft) have to put up with...my heart goes out to you guys. Keep up the good work with IE 7," he said.

This issue could be another blow to Netscape, which released Netscape 8 only two weeks ago. Just a day after launching Netscape 8 and touting the browser's security features, the company released an update to fix several serious flaws.

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News source: ZDNet News

Actually, I had this blank page rendering problem AND currupted downloads problem BEFORE I had installed netscape 8. These problems came after some sort of update that was automatically installed. Even after uninstalling ALL recent updates, I continued to have this problem. This was the reason why I had installed Netscape to begin with. After Installing the browswer, my problems went away. So the problem is with Microsoft.NOT netscape.

Doesn't AOL own Netscape? I seem to recall they bought it a while back during one of their (bite the hand that feeds you)piss in Microsoft's eye fits.

AOL screwing something up is hardly shocking, shit they're like the "short bus" of the internet...

@Phonics Monkey: Yes, AOL does own Netscape.

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In any case, I honestly don't see the point of using the bloated Netscape when one can just use the original Mozilla (Firefox).

i use NS8.0.1,the dual rendering mode is nice but as time goes on more and more sites will work with the gecko engine rather than the ie engine,for once aol has made at least a decent product,not really bloated or so.

@soldier1st: AOL didn't "make" Netscape. They only bought it. It had long since been created by then.

Also, it is bloated compred to Mozilla (Firefox), but to each his/her own.

i know that just this time netscape does seem more decent than previous versions.

Nutscrape has sucked since version 3.04!!

They have since updated the work around. You have to remove all 3rd party accounting programs, media players, games, web browers, office suites, mice, keyboards and any thing else that Microsoft hasn't made ;-)

thats about it man Microsoft is somuch B$ !