we used to have a FF thread on the old forum that went so ...
Stumbled upon this site - as always, use them/it at your own risk but have tried a few and so far no FUBAR's
For example, i have never liked using Adobe Acrobat with FF (too much bloatware) but FoxitReader (http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader_2/down_reader.htm) and he suggested it too
The Firefox Extension Guru (http://www.ffextensionguru.net/tweaks/)
/edit - correct link
AdBlock Plus - blocks adds on most pages (uses less bandwidth and makes pages very fast to load)
FoxMarks - (recently renamed XMarks) saves all your bookmarks to a central site and can be syncronised on all your machines anytime anywhere - never lose your bookmarks list again.
Been using these 2 automatically on all new machines from home or at the computer shop where I work. I personally have used them for years and do recommend them.
Good tips guys.
I use Flashblock to save a lot of sanity/time/CPU on some sites I visit.
I also use ChatZilla, which is a neat IRC client.
Of course, I always install the English (Aussie) dictionary for every FF install. My grammar may suck big ones but I do like to spell this nonsense correctly :wink
As a part time web designer I couldn't live without the Web Developer Toolbar :)
But I also run Adblock Plus and Flashblock mentioned by others
My favourites are FireFTP, Inspect, CSS Viewer, CSS Editor and FireBug, . Just wish I could get the HTML Editor working as well as the CSS Editor.
As well as (most of) the above (like Adblock Plus, Chatzilla, always the Oz spell check -the OOo one is great) i also use Forecast Fox, Session Manager, MIME Edit and Sxipper.
WebDev Toolbar, HTML Validator, Flashblock + Adblock and Net Usage Item (http://netusage.iau5.com/) are my favourite ones for me.
Has anyone seen this Addon in their FF?
It's a little hard to read but is a FF Addon that the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 update, pushed through the Windows Update service to all recent editions of Windows in February 2009, installed without asking - it's called the M$ ".NET Framework Assistant" firefox extension.
I didn't get the Addon but did get a bit of M$ crap scattered around.
Read more and remove here (http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article08-600) and a msdn blog about it here with same remove instructions (http://blogs.msdn.com/brada/archive/2009/02/27/uninstalling-the-clickonce-support-for-firefox.aspx)
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Yeah I have it on my home FF. I haven't tried removing it but thanks for the pointer to those instructions.
I better get removing it then thanks for that. Its nice to know M$ is sabotaging the competitions product so its no longer better.
Yeah, I'm not a lawyer, but the silent modification of a competitor's product behaviour has to be a questionable practice. For now I've just ticked the box to "prompt before running ClickOnce apps" and have also disabled the plug-in.
@ WW & Mr Clownius - wise choices :worship - it still amazes me the stuff that Bill's old crowd still wants to foist upon us - some people there get it, some still don't!!
Anyway, rant off and during the meanwhile... today's quite important news...
Please note: If you're still using Firefox 2.0.0.x, this version is no longer supported and contains known security vulnerabilities. Please upgrade to Firefox 3 by downloading Firefox 3.0.9 from getfirefox.com. (http://getfirefox.com/)
Firefox 3.0.9 security and stability release now available - posted by ss on Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 at 4:08 pm
As part of the Mozilla Corporation's ongoing security and stability process, Firefox 3.0.9 is now available for Windows, Mac, and Linux users as a free download from getfirefox.com.
We strongly recommend that all Firefox users upgrade to this latest release. If you already have Firefox 3, you will receive an automated update notification within 24 to 48 hours. This update can also be applied manually by selecting "Check for Updates..." from the Help menu.
For a list of changes and more information, please see the Firefox 3.0.9 release notes. (http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/3.0.9/releasenotes/)
[edit] - corrected links
Hey Vajras, don't know if you'll know this... I just checked my FF version and I'm still on 3.0.1. I have auto-update selected in options. I'm about to test this but I think it's because I don't run as an admin on this machine, so it doesn't have permission to install updates (and is not prompting either). I wondered why it had been so quiet lately! Do you think that's the reason?
EDIT: Just confirmed that if I log on as an admin (this is on Windows Vista) then I receive the FF updates as expected. I might check their support site re that issue. I'll have to watch that in future :furious:
or couldn't you change the user account permissions to reflect what you want to happen or not?
No Script has to be my favorite plugin not yet mentioned.
Adblock Plus and Flashblock are right up there too (ForecastFox is nifty too).
I have had no problems using Firefox 3.1 Beta 3. Though some plugins aren't compatible, most of the good ones are (lots of developer ones aren't though).
MUST HAVE addon that hasn't been listed here is: Read Me Later (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/7661). Not to mention that is has won alot of awards (http://www.ideashower.com/blog/read-it-later-wins-mozillas-extend-firefox-competition/). Very useful! Whenever I read up on Digg I can easily save the pages I'm interested in, and... wait for it... Read it Later :)
Keeps my bookmark bar free for sites I often visit, instead of those sites that I still want to read
Australian dictionary is the only critical one! :aus1:
Auto Refresh Blocker
Have always been annoyed by web sites auto refreshing. You know the type, newspapers like the Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian.
Not being a web master person, i have often wondered how i could stop them doing it esp. when i'm running low on the monthly download limit.
Just now, i've found and installed a nifty little "add-on" called.... wait for it .... RefreshBlocker (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/992?application=firefox&id=992) - Home page (http://www.vakuumverpackt.de/refreshblocker/) - so far, so good. No auto refreshing this morning and am going thru my bookmarks and adding them to my White/Black lists :dance2:
[PS - just noticed his site name is roughly called a vacuum-er packet - that would that be a"Hoover", no? biggrin]
It works! After testing all day, no web site that defaults to an "auto refresh" every ...x mins/secs (generally 240 secs) has done so.
RefreshBlocker has both a white and/or black list that you can edit/add to and, if you also know enuf about regular expressions, you can customise those entries further.
I've downloaded it but will wait until I finish doing what I am up to at the moment then I'll reboot Firefox and see what it is like. If it's any good, I'll give you a plus one. :wink
Save your plus Mike, am not happy
here's what i posted to its site
"unfortunately, this started well but has deteriorated as time passed.
three websites that were successfully blocked have now, somehow, got past this add-on and it's only been 48 hrs since installing.
not quite what i had expected to happen but do look forward to a more complete version in future. "
Oh well, these things take time to refine.
Have installed Adblock Plus and Flashblock after reading this thread. Very good.
Thanks to Vajras for starting the thread and everyone who posted.
I was already using English (Australian) Dictionary and also FX Currency Converter 1.3 for looking at goodies on Newegg. Most items from the Egg are still too expensive after agent's fees and international shipping are added but pricing trends show up there earlier than here.
Been reading this topic with interest..... and as most of the add-ons mentioned are in my Firefox... thought I'd add one more for those of us (you) with bad memories or just plain old furgetful.
ReminderFox
On the bottom right of lower bar, shows up as a blue ribbon when no appts or biils to be paid...... and red when they are due. Can also be set to pop up from 5 days out so you don't forget paying phone or rent *grin*.... or going to bloody dole office to hand in the damnable form. You'll find it (I think) under calenders, and there is also one available for Thunderbird as well. (Would be nice if they were linked in some way... but can't have everything.)
Recently posted Useful Firefox Shortcut Keys (http://maketecheasier.com/browse-the-internet-with-your-keyboard-firefox/2009/05/05)
and Complete Firefox Shortcut Keys Cheatsheet Download (http://download.maketecheasier.com/Firefox_shortcut_keys.pdf)
VERY handy Vajras ... +1
Firefox and security certificates
The right way to handle encryption with Firefox 3
Mozilla has revised the way Firefox 3 handles certificates. All sorts of information – even critical stuff like passwords and account information – is commonly sent over a connection in the clear, but if you want to keep eavesdroppers at bay, you have to use encryption. Encrypted web sites can be recognised by the "https" ("s" for "secure") instead of "http" in the URL.
How do you know for sure that the correct addressee is actually at the other end of the line? Complying with the advanced encryption standard (AES) in 256 bits is useless if some crook is sitting there, because you're giving information away at no charge. A server operator can have his identity confirmed by a reliable Certificate Authority (CA), so that your browser can check his digital signature and tell you if you're at the right place.
Up to version 2, Firefox did this by colouring the complete address line yellow and displaying a padlock icon. This, as long as you knew what it meant, was hard to miss and its omission was a clear indication of an unencrypted site. Since version 3, Mozilla, like Microsoft with Internet Explorer 7, has been concentrating on extended validation (EV) certificates. With these Certificate Authorities give an assurance that the identity of the applicant has been checked more thoroughly.
Technically, however, EV SSL (secure socket layer) certificates don't differ from conventional SSL certificates...
... and some more stuff regarding "You can improve this slightly by calling up the JavaScript pseudo URL about:config."
The rest is here (http://www.h-online.com/security/The-right-way-to-handle-encryption-with-Firefox-3--/features/112797)
I don't know if this one has been mentioned before, but Flagfox is handy. Shows the flag of the country where the server you are talking to is located, and allows you to do whois etc if you have any doubts about the site.
(One of the first sites I checked out for this was Politico..... a presumably non-party aligned news source in the States. Trouble was that it came up with an Aussie flag.... and told me it was being hosted by Rupert Murdock.... via The Australian LMAO)
Interesting - I might look into that one. I've had ShowIP for quite a while which shows the IP of the server but any further info needs to come from a whois.
Clear Cache Button (http://clearcachebutton.mozdev.org/)
Add this neat add-on to your tool bar - after installing (and restarting FF), right click the menu bar (the top one) and select "customize"
Haha at the little popup, "The cache has been cleared". Good one, thanks.
I installed Fasterfox Lite the other day, seemed to speed things up a bit.
Here's another handy little add-on, this time for speeding FF startup time:
[taken from: Speed Up Firefox 3.5 Startup - Extension Guru's Blog (http://ffextensionguru.wordpress.com/2009/07/11/speed-up-firefox-3-5-startup/) amended Nov 17
Vacuuming Your Databases (All Platforms + Firefox 3.0/3.5/3.6)
Much like your hard drive when adding and removing content, your Firefox databases can become fragmented resulting in both bloated database files as well as slow access times. places.sqlite can come become quite bloated with the recent changes to the default history time span, being raised from 9 to 90 days. This can be fixed very quickly and easily by vacuuming your Firefox databases.
Update: There is a now a Firefox Extension which does this for you. Vacuum Places Improved will allow you to vacuum your places.sqlite databases from within the browser. Plus it can be configured to automatically vacuum after a given number of starts or remind you (displays a vacuum in the status bar) after a given number of starts.
You should notice several things:
* Reduction in the size of your .SQLite database files
* Faster cold start up
* Faster warm (restart) start up
* Better performance from the Awesome Bar
It is recommend you vacuum your databases every few weeks or if you cleared out some of your browsing history. Mozilla is looking at way to make this an automated process. Part of the issue is Firefox needs to be closed in order to vacuum the database files. For this reason it may be become part of the update process. Once the Firefox updated is downloaded and installed the databases will be vacuumed during the restart process.
Does it work?
I can say for sure vacuuming the databases made a huge difference when I restart Firefox. All my tabs loaded nearly instantly. A couple days ago I removed the Internet Explorer Temporary files, but at time I couldn't figure out how to access my Temporary Files folder on Vista. While writing this post, I found out how to (and) remove the Windows Temporary files. I shall see next time I do a cold start up.
Also, simply disable all Firefox auto updates in the options. Of course one has to manually stay on top of updates henceforth.
Thanks Vajras ! my main rig has been going slow on occasions , in firefox, and annoying me very much..
just added Vacuum and BANG ! straight back to normal.
Will have a look at configuring it later, but just adding it made a huge diff straight away .
Great find. :thumbsup:
Great find indeed +1
Makes an incredible difference to pages loading, AND FF opening itself, even on a hot re-boot
Just have mine set on "factory" options.... so will have to do it manually every so often, but it is so easy to press the icon LOL
Thanks Vajras. I have vacuumed the fox. +1
URL Link (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/403/) is a Firefox Add-on that adds a right click option for you to open selected text in a new Firefox window or in a new tab.
I haven't used it much yet but the few times I have it is handy and works well.
I added www.*.&com.au to the configuration options so now I can right click any selected text (*) and open it:
Unaltered
with www.*
with www.*.com
with www.*.com.au
with www.*.org
with www.*.net
with ftp.*
In Google
In Wikipedia
Foxtester (http://forum.boinc-australia.net/index.php?topic=864.msg18978#msg18978)