7/27/2005 05:39:00 PM|||my moustache|||I find myself doing a lot of fresh firefox installs, on either new or reformatted boxes. To save frustration (or to ease the transition for someone else) I immediately head to mozilla update and grab a few key extensions. The following is a list of those key extensions, followed by an expanded list of additions I include on my personal systems.
Almost Necessary Firefox Extensions
Tabbrowser Preferences
One of Firefox's more enchanting features is the ability to browse in multiple tabs. This extension adds additional control over the behavior of those tabs. I use it to pop-under URL entries and search results, but it also traps javascript pop-ups and keeps all of your browsing in a single window. Very tweakable.
Disable Targets for Download
Firefox has the annoying habit of popping up a new window (or tab, depending on your configuration) when opening a link requiring an additional program (audio/video files, office docs, etc) This extension fixes that.
OpenDownload
Firefox also prohibits opening executables directly. This extension fixes that by adding an "Open with Default Application" option to the existing download dialogue box.
PDF Download
Whenever a link to a pdf is clicked, this extension gives the option of opening it with Adobe Reader, viewing a converted HTML version (!) or saving the file to your computer. If nothing else, it saves older systems from struggling through the (evidently) strenuous reader load, and notifies unaware users that they have, in fact, clicked a pdf.
UndoCloseTab
Self-explanatory. Adds a context menu option to undo a the closing of a tab, up to three tab-closes back. Saves quite a bit of frustration; it's easy to go a little middle-click happy, then close that email that was almost done. Fixed. Edit: This extension also works when you middle-click on either the close tab button or an empty area of the tab bar. Edit #2: Evidently the link I originally posted (to the mozilla update site) was out of date. The newest version, which I use with 1.0.6, is here. Original link has been changed as well.
IE View
This one I've been leaving off of my systems as of late, but it helps ease the transition for most users, especially when they encounter substandard sites with IE-only features.
Highly Recommended Firefox Extensions
These extensions add a little bloat and might not suit as wide a variety of users as those listed above.
ForecastFox
Although it's a bit of a statusbar hog, I am fond of this extension for saving me the trouble of looking away from the monitor long enough to gauge external conditions. With the sudden thunderstorms and heat advisories of the last month or so, this extension is unobtrusive and informative.
FoxyTunes
Another potential statusbar hog, foxytunes is provides controls for just about any media player software you might be using. For many of the more popular players (winamp, wmp) the program itself runs transparently, trading your status bar space for taskbar space.
Stock Ticker
Tiny text-only stock ticker, with customizable color coding. Disable the toolbar portion unless you're running 1600x1200.
Image Zoom
Adds customizable context menu commands for controlling the way firefox displays images within a page. By far the killer feature is the ctrl+scroll wheel image zooming.
Gmail Notifier
Everyone's got one (or fifty), keep track of your inbox with this tiny statusbar notifier. No multiple accounts, but it takes two clicks to sign out of one account and into another.
EggOn
Hungry? Put a pot of water on to boil. When it's really rolling, drop a couple of eggs into it, activate this extension, and resume your browsing. You will be notified when your eggs are ready.|||112250127476269205|||Almost Necessary Firefox Extensions7/28/2005 11:48:06 AM|||laus|||the gmail notifier is good but im not sure about the egg timer
www.greenportal.blogspot.com7/28/2005 11:48:38 AM|||Photar|||LAME! No mention of the ad block extension. And what about the bookmark syncronizer extension. This stuff is fluff.7/28/2005 11:59:44 AM|||Anonymous|||I think many of the extensions you mention (eggon, foxytunes, forcastfox etc.) are better as widgets as used with konfabulator (widgets.yahoo.com).
However, there are some "necessary" extensions you forget to mention. By FAR the most useful is
* Greasemonkey (http://greasemonkey.mozdev.org)
Find script for GM at www.greasemonkeyed.com
Other great ones are:
* Bookmarks Synchronizer
* CustomizeGoogle (www.customizegoogle.com)
* Windowsupdate
* BugMeNot (www.bugmenot.com)
Just my two cents7/28/2005 12:43:10 PM|||Eric|||The AdBlock Extension is wonderful. Some of my pages that I go to a lot are entirely ad-free because of it.
http://brittanderic.blogspot.com7/28/2005 12:46:04 PM|||Daniel|||I find the new Tab Mix extension a wonderful replacement for Tab X, Undoclosetab, and Tabbrowser Preferences. It has all their functionality and more in one package that seems to be much more compatible with other extensions that TbP is.7/28/2005 12:48:58 PM|||spinninnzen|||Everyone's a critic lol. I dont see photar's gmail recom's. At least anonymous had constructive info. Although I dont agree with Konfab. although cool I think some of the widgets done by others are a bit of a resource hog. And its not free this is. I think all these are pretty decent extentions whether its useful or just fun. (I think I'll try the Egg timer one at my home comp). One thing I think should be added definetley is All in one Gestures. Never having to go up to the back or forward button is a nifty feature. Thanks for the advice!7/28/2005 01:16:02 PM|||Anonymous|||Right click to open a link from the coral cache.
http://www.coralcdn.org/plugins/7/28/2005 01:24:42 PM|||James|||Sorry about the old version of UndoCloseTab. I fixed it in the post, and you can download the newest version, which is not available through the mozupdate site, at http://mozilla.dorando.at/readme.html. Enjoy.7/28/2005 02:31:50 PM|||Tim|||great post, sir.
Disable Targets for Download is one I really needed.
I would add the Web Developer Extension. I can divide my life into BWDE and AWDE (Before Web Developer Extension and After Web Developer Extension) it's THAT kind of tool.
and noscript.
I also have one that I can right click on an amazon page and it brings me to the page at my local library for the book I was looking at. I use it all the time.7/28/2005 02:57:45 PM|||Anonymous|||I like book burro - http://bookburro.org7/28/2005 04:51:00 PM|||Anonymous|||Tabbrowser Extensions has the Undo Close Tab feature built-in. You don't need to download a separate extension.7/28/2005 04:58:07 PM||||||scrapbook is nice -- captures pages and stores text clippings: http://amb.vis.ne.jp/mozilla/scrapbook/7/28/2005 06:03:33 PM|||Francesco Passantino|||the best firefox extension7/28/2005 06:04:55 PM|||Paul|||I have to agree with Tim - the Web Developer toolbar has totally transformed (in a very positive way) the ease with which I can create new sites, pages and styles.7/28/2005 09:40:53 PM|||lepton|||Nobody's mentioned All-in-One Gestures which gives Firefox Opera-style mouse gesture capabilitiy.. once you've used this one it's hard to go back.7/29/2005 04:56:40 AM|||shaner|||personally, i find tab x to be a great extension. have it installed in work, but not at home (yet) and every time I go to close a tab at home I need to pause before remembering to hit Ctrl-W.
check out my post here for firefox shortcuts
thanks for the great article.
shaner
http://coupleofdonkeys.blogspot.com/7/29/2005 07:15:14 AM|||PC|||More Essential Firefox Extensions.7/29/2005 12:44:53 PM|||ronsta|||you're glib. what about downTHEMall? you're glib just glib.7/30/2005 03:08:22 AM|||Anonymous|||Thanks for the article.
Here's my list of essential firefox extensions:
1. keyconfig
2. web developer7/30/2005 03:45:20 AM|||Francesco Passantino|||Useful Mozilla Firefox Search Plugin