10 Most Essential Firefox Add-Ons

Flagfox

Flagfox displays the location of the current website you are on. It also will display the sites IP address when you hover over the flag. Useful for many things.

Foof

Are you tired of annoying ads on websites. Well Foof will get rid of them for you. Despite its silly name, Foof will get rid of about 95% of all ads on websites.

Before:

After:

FoxTab

If your like me, you’ve probably been in a situation where you have just too many tabs to easily manage. Well FoxTab can help. It arranges all of you tabs into a Flip-3D type of stack. In addition to the stacks view there are Page Flow, Wall Grid, Row and Carousel view modes. FoxTab also has several theme and 3D view options.

Tab Scope

Speaking of tab management, here is another great way to easily manage your tabs. Its called tab scope. When hovering over a tab, it provides a live preview of the site. This helps allot when you have several similar named tabs open at once, because you can visually pick which one you want to open. In addition to the live preview Tab Scope has simple site navigation tools, so you can go back a page, or stop a page from loading without opening that tab

ImTranslator

It’s becoming more common for people to stumble upon websites written in a language they do not understand. This is where ImTranslator can help. When coming across a website in a foreign language, simply select the text you want to translate, right click and select ImTranslator. You are then given several language options, select the one of your choice and enjoy.

McAfee Site Advisor

There’s no denying it, there are several dangerous websites on the internet. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could simply have something tell you when your about to stumble onto a bad site. Well, Site Advisor does that. It adds a green, yellow or red symbol beside search results to tell you if the site your about to go to is dangerous. It also adds the same symbols to the bottom of the browser.

RamBack

What I’m about to say is going to upset some Firefox users. Firefox is a ram hog! There have even been some reports of Firefox using up to half a gigabyte of ram at any time. Wouldn’t it be nice to get some of that ram back. Well as the name implies that is exactley what RamBack does. This add on runs innocently in the background, with no hint that it even exists. RamBack works by causing Firefox to issue an internal notification to free up memory that is otherwise held for performance purposes.

TwitterBar

This is for all you Twitter addicts. You know who I’m talking about. TwitterBar will allow you to write any tweet (106 character or less) in the address bar, and to post it with a single click. Its that simple.

SmarterFox

Save time - get faster downloads, save Web videos, infinite pages, quicker searches, shortcuts for favorites, auto copy & paste, SmarterFox does this all in a single package for you. SmarterFox has several features built in.

SmarterFox adds a "related articles" sidebar to the left side of Wikipedia.

Popup bubble

The popup bubble appears when you select (or "highlight") some text on a web page. Clicking on it will take you to the Wikipedia article for that term or if no such article exists, a Google search for that term. You also have the option of using the right-click context menu.

Tip

You can disable any aspect of SmarterFox by going to Tools -> SmarterFox

Enhanced Awesomebar

SmarterFox extends the Awesomebar (also called the URL bar) so that Google search results automatically appear as you type. This way you do not have to click though to Google in order to search.

qlauncher

The qLauncher allows you quickly visit your favorite webpages. To invoke the qLauncher press Ctrl-Space. If you are using a Mac or Ubiquity, you might need to change the shortcut since Ctrl-Space might already be in use. (Do so by going to Tools -> SmarterFox). After the qLauncher panel is open simply press another key to open the corresponding site. qLauncher's settings integrate right into Firefox's bookmark system so it will be backed up alongside your other bookmarks if you use something like Xmarks. The bookmarks for qLauncher are included in the folder named "qLauncher" on your bookmarks menu. To add a bookmark to qLauncher simply click on the + button on the qLauncher itself or copy it into the folder. To assign a shortcut key, tag the bookmark with "qlauncher:k" where k is the key you want to use. You do not have to do this however: qLauncher can pick one for you automatically. If you find the bookmark folder obtrusive you can disable the qLauncher and delete it.

SmarterFox can also convert text urls into clickable links and automatically copy on select or paste on right click (NOT enabled by default).

The Tenth Add-On

The tenth add-on will be the one that YOU the reader recommends. Yes I’m looking at you. Post a comment about your favourite add on and it may be added to the list.

European Union Demands that Windows 7 Comes With Browser

European competition officials said that they were unimpressed by Microsoft's move to ship a version of Windows 7 without Internet Explorer or any other browser.

"If the commission were to find that Microsoft had committed an abuse, the commission has suggested that consumers be offered a choice of browser, not that Windows should be supplied with no browser at all," the European Union's European Commission said in a statement.

Microsoft on Thursday said that it would release a version of it’s next operating system called Windows 7 E, which would not include Internet Explorer. The firm said that it would be up to consumers and PC manufacturers what internet browser they install. The EC said that it could do more harm then good.

"Given that over 95% of consumers acquire Windows pre-installed on a PC, it is particularly important to ensure consumer choice through the computer manufacturer channel. Microsoft has apparently decided to supply retail consumers with a version of Windows without a Web browser at all. Rather than more choice, Microsoft seems to have chosen to provide less," said the EC.

Earlier this year the EC said that Microsoft’s bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows violated European anti-trust laws (funny that they don’t fine Apple). The EC has also find Microsoft with $1 billion in the past.

"Given the pending legal proceeding, we've decided that instead of including Internet Explorer in Windows 7 in Europe, we will offer it separately and on an easy-to-install basis to both computer manufacturers and users. This means that computer manufacturers and users will be free to install Internet Explorer on Windows 7, or not, as they prefer. Of course, they will also be free, as they are today, to install other Web browsers," wrote Dave Heiner, Microsoft's deputy general counsel.

In Europe Microsoft offered a version of Windows called Windows N, which did not include Windows Media Player. Windows N was highly unpopular with consumers.

Heiner said Windows 7 E will be available in 23 European languages and will ship the same time Windows 7 is delivered to the rest of the world " Oct. 22.

Who Wins with a Browser-less Windows 7

Microsoft has made a move to include a version of Windows 7 without any browser to make the EU (European Union) happy, but it may make life difficult for Europeans, particularly those who want to upgrade from Windows Vista.

As reported by CNET News there are plans to ship Windows 7 to both consumers and computer manufacturers without Internet Explorer.

Now, most people will get Windows 7 on a new PC. Presumably, in that case, the computer maker will chose to add back Internet Explorer, include one or more rival browsers, or do both.

"Microsoft recommends that OEMs pre-install either IE8 or at least one other browser of their choice before distribution. If you do this, your end users in the European territory should be able to access the Internet without any additional steps or inconvenience.” Microsoft said in a memo to PC makers.

The real hassle is for people who want to upgrade to Windows 7.

Upgrading from Windows 7 from Vista c an normally be done by simply be done by placing an upgrade disk in the computer, which would preserve the users data. However, because it removes the browser, moving to the "E" version of Windows 7 can only be done with a clean installation.

Because of that the users have no browser, therefore no way to download anything, including web browsers. So if they want to upgrade to Oprah or Firefox there is no easy way to do it. For its part, Microsoft plans to make it as easy as possible for them to get IE. It will offer it via CD-ROMs at retail stores and via FTP, an old file downloading technique that has been largely sidelined due to modern browsers.

So who benefits from a browser-less version of Windows? The PC manufacturers do! They now have a more valuable piece of real estate to sell. In the past, they could offer deals to include rival browsers as the default on a new PC, but they were still shipping a PC with Internet Explorer. Presumably now, a browser maker could strike a deal to be the only browser on a machine.

An expert said that he expects most computers to come with Internet Explorer even though the PC manufacturers will have an option.

As for Microsoft they plan to offer an Internet Pack Internet Explorer and its Windows Live programs.

Windows Update Quietly Installs Firefox Extension

A routine update for millions of Windows based PC’s has quietly installed a .Net Framework Ad-On for Firefox.

Earlier this year, Microsoft shipped a bundle of updates known as a "service pack" for a programming platform called the Microsoft .NET Framework, which Microsoft and plenty of third-party developers use to run a variety of interactive programs on Windows.

The .Net update, like other updates, where pushed out via. Windows Update. A number of readers had never heard of this platform before Windows Update started offering the service pack for it, and many of you wanted to know whether it was okay to go ahead and install this thing.

The .Net update in the Firefox Add-Ons window has a greyed out uninstall button, therefore you may not uninstall it. The reason this is such major news is because this makes Firefox less secure, by allowing websites to install software without permission. Removal instructions are here.

How to Block Tracking Cookies

Some people seem really concerned about cookies. The worst offenders, they argue, are so-called “tracking cookies,” which supposedly allow companies like Doubleclick to track your movements on the Internet.

If you think this is a big deal, fine. You don’t need anti-spyware software to get rid of these cookies. Instead, take the following two steps:

1. Delete all currently saved cookies from your computer. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, Internet Options and then click the Delete Cookies button on the General tab. In Firefox 1.0, click Tools, Options. Click the Privacy icon in the sidebar and then click the Clear button to the right of the Cookies heading.
2. Specify that you want to block all third-party cookies. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, Internet Options. On the Privacy tab, click Advanced. Click to select the Override automatic cookie handling check box, and then click Block under the Third-party Cookies heading. In Firefox 1.0, click Tools, Options. Click the Privacy icon in the sidebar and then click the plus sign to the left of the Cookies heading to expand your list of options. Click to select both options: Allow sites to set cookies and for the originating web site only.

There. You’re done. You’re completely protected from “tracking cookies.”

But (I can hear you asking) what about first-party cookies? Well, if you’re visiting a Web site, they already have your IP address, and they have a record of every page you visit on their site and everything you type into a form. If you’re really that concerned about a Web site, you might want to avoid visiting it. But if you’re really worried about first-party cookies, open Internet Explorer’s Advanced Privacy Settings page and then click the Prompt option under the First-party Cookies heading. With Firefox, you can use an extension or set the ask me every time option. After you save these settings, you’re in complete control.

Here’s what your IE options should look like:

And here’s what Firefox options look like:

Now can we agree that there’s no need for an anti-spyware program to do something so simple?

When a Cookie is blocked you’ll get this alert:

Is Internet Explorer 8 Really the Worlds Fastest Browser?

Internet Explorer 8 is Microsoft's newest version of the popular browser. For a few years now Mozilla’s Firefox has been claiming that it is the worlds fastest browser but it now looks like Internet Explorer 8 has stripped the title from Mozilla.

When Internet Explorer 7, and Firefox 2 were released in 2006 the speed difference between the two browsers where only a few milliseconds. Both companies where determined to create the fastest browser. Firefox 3 and Internet Explorer 8 released within weeks of each other with both having many innovative features, and both having an incredible speed increase.

The video below shows how you need a high speed camera to catch the speed difference between Firefox 3, Chrome and Internet Explorer 8.

The results show that Internet Explorer 8 loads fastest on:

• 5 of the top 10 most popular websites
• 12 of the top 25 most popular websites
• 3 times as fast as Firefox
• 1/3 times as fast as chrome

 

Safari, Oprah and other browsers where not shown because they are no where as close as fast as Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome.

It seems like Microsoft has beaten Firefox this time, but lets see how secure these browsers are.

Tripp Zao

May 5 2009