In addition to the many bug fixes, new features and user interface changes include:

• HotJava Includes Java Runtime Environment
  This means you no longer need to download the Java Developer's Kit (JDK), and that you no longer need to set environment variables to tell the HotJava Browser where to find the JDK. This makes for a much simpler installation process.

• HotJava Installation Simplified on Win32 Systems
  In addition to not having to download the JDK or set environment variables, the Windows NT and Windows 95 installation is a script that automatically places the HotJava Browser on your Start menu.

• Can Now Save Images
  The HotJava Browser now provides a pop-up menu when the pointer is over links or images. This menu provides shortcuts for opening and saving links and images, so it is now possible to easily save an image from a Web page you're viewing.

• Character Set Enhancements
  The View->Character Set menu now displays a darkened checkbox to indicate the currently selected character set, and provides Chinese and Korean character sets. In addition, a new option is provided to automatically detect the correct Japanese character set.

• SSL Enhancements
  HotJava now ships with a default set of verified certificates for completing connections to secure HTTP sites. (This is the SSL feature, available only on the U.S. and Canada release.) Certificates must be verified before they can be marked as trusted. User interface improvements make it easy to see if a certificate is verified. A key is now displayed next to the Place field when you are connected to a secure HTTPS site.

• Reloading Cached Web Pages
  The HotJava Browser now asks caching proxy servers to verify that cached pages haven't been updated on reloads. If a cached page has been updated, the server should return the updated page, not the cached page. Most servers comply with this request, though some may not.

• Can Now Rename Bookmarks
  The Rename menu item in the Remembered Places window now lets you rename saved URL's, as well as folders and lists.

• ISINDEX User Interface Improvement
  The HotJava Browser now provides a search field on the page when displaying Web index pages (pages that use the ISINDEX tag). Previous versions of HotJava activated an item on the Edit menu, which was often missed when index pages were displayed.

• Navigation Buttons "Push" instead of "Pull"
  The Beta HotJava navigation buttons looked as if they were being pulled out when they were clicked on. The buttons now look as if they are being pushed in.

• HTML Errors Button Option
  There is now an option on the Display Preferences page to display the HTML Errors Button. In the Beta release, you needed to add this button to your properties file by hand.

• General User Interface and Documentation Improvements
  The user interface and presentation has been refined in many areas of the HotJava Browser, particularly in the Edit->Preferences and User's Guide pages. For example, Apply and Reset buttons are now always visible on the Preferences pages, and Help buttons have been added which take you directly to the appropriate section in the User's Guide.

• HotJava Browser Icon
  A new HotJava Browser icon shows Duke welcoming one and all to come explore the World Wide Web with the HotJava Browser.