Choc Chip multimedia | Small business website design specialists

12 Firefox addons Mike can't live without

Submitted by James on Mon, 14/09/2009 - 3:24pm.
in

If you live online you're probably using Firefox, arguably the best browser around and the world's second-most popular after Internet Explorer.

People love Firefox because it is free, open-source and very customisable.

Mike at SeeCure IT is a power user of Firefox as well as a friend of mine. He uses Firefox with all sorts of customisable addons, and he recently wrote an article about 12 of his favourites. Here they are.

  1. Tab Kit - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5447
    Tab Kit allows you to move tabs around, easily duplicate tabs, protect tabs so they will not moved even if you reset all your data and group related tabs.
  2. Autopager - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4925
    This module preloads the next page of a paged set into the bottom of the current page, making browsing sites like Google or Flockr much easier.
  3. Google Preview - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/189
    Google Preview adds a thumbnail image of the page in Google and Yahoo search results, allowing you to easily see what the site looks like before you go to it.
  4. Google Toolbar - http://www.google.com/tools/firefox/toolbar/FT3/intl/en
    If Tab Kit is the king of Firefox add-ons then the Google toolbar is the prince. This increases your productivity when searching and integrates Google right into your Firefrox browser.
  5. Download Accelerator Plus (DAP) - http://www.speedbit.com
    DAP locates the 5 main sources of any new download and grabs your file from these sources simultaneously.  It also allows you to pause, stop or cancel the download and come back to it at a later date.
  6. Boost For Facebook - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3120
    Mike is a HUGE facebook addict...
  7. Cooliris - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5579
    Once in a while you come across an internet gadget that screams cool on major levels.  Cooliris is one of those gadgets. Completely unnecessary but really great to impress your friends with. It takes all the photos on a specific major site (e.g. google images), takes your search results and displays them on a HUGE wall.  You can then move the slider across to view the images.
  8. All-In-One Sidebar - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1027
    With almost 7 million downloads I am not the only fan of this simple but essential add-on. What it does is take the five major bits of Firefox and put them into a side bar.  You can then auto-hide the bar to view it when you need to.
  9. Cool Previews - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2207
    Made by the same people who brought you Cooliris, this neat little add-on allows you to preview any link with a little magnifying glass.
  10. Realplayer - http://real.com.au
    I can hear a collective sigh of “why?” I only use realplayer for one feature and that is for it’s movie downloading feature. This includes Youtube and all the Youtube variants that are on the internet.
  11. Tiny Menu - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1455
    A Very small and simple Firefox add-on that moves the file menu (file, edit, view ... ) from across the top of the browser to a column very similar to the start menu in Windows.
  12. Download Helper - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3006
    44 Million people can’t be wrong can they? I have included this tool for you to be able to download any assets like pictures, movies, and sounds.

Check out Mike's full article for more details, or let us know if you've found any addons that you think should have been included.

If you're not using Firefox yet then download it here or browse the addons list.

Other Recommendations

Submitted by Tim Cinel (not verified) on Mon, 14/09/2009 - 10:01pm.

I couldn't help but notice some Add-ons missing:

AdBlock Pro

After having this installed on your computer(s) for a month you'll look at somebody else browing a news site and think "Oh yeah, ads! I forgot about them." (Except ABC News, of course)

FlashBlock

Can block flash from loading automatically - load selective components optionally by clicking on the flash placeholder. This will stop multiple videos loading at once, pesky and intrusive ads from loading, and will save you SO much bandwidth if you're using 3G or a slow connection.

FireBug

Web Developer's front-end swiss army knife

LeechBlock

Spend too much time on HackerNews, Reddit, Facebook or any other sites? LeechBlock will help you curb your addiction to procrastination

Regular, helpful, free advice

Sign up to our monthly newsletter for practical, meaningful advice to gain your business the competitive edge online.

 

What Clients are Saying

"We're getting a lot of compliments on the site - everyone we've spoken to is very impressed... I can't even begin to emphasise how amazing a job you've done."

- Travis Lee, Cursions Pty Ltd

"I cannot thank you enough for your professional and patient assistance with this website. The proof is there, the endless applause continues. We can only look towards a very bright future."

- John Kovacs, NMD Data

"You sure offer the fastest turn around time in the business! ... What a pleasure to work with you!! ... It is getting better and better all the time!! Thanks."

- Carl Ahlers, Prof Bunsen Science

Happy small business ownerBe as happy as these small business owners - click here to choose a website package

 

Member of Geelong Chamber of CommerceMember of Tourism GeelongIndividual Member of the Drupal Association