Netscape skips CDF for Netcaster

Netscape Communications today snubbed Microsoft by taking a rain-check on support for its arch-rival's channel definition format (CDF) as it took the wrapping off Netcaster, the 'push' broadcast element of its Communicator Web client software.

Instead of CDF, intended by Microsoft to be an open standard for push, Netscape has opted to use its own Channel Finder TV tuner-like console. Mimicking Microsoft's tie-up with PointCast, Netscape will also bundle Marima's Castanet client software for receiving pushed content with Netcaster, as well as offering remote access, offline browsing and subscriptions to content so that selected data is delivered at set times.