The Firefox and Extension Thread

[AYHJA]

If speed and ease of use is what you need when you want to save images, nothing beats this:

Extension: Easy DragToGo

Version: 1.1.2.4

Author/Extension Homepage: http://addons.sociz.com/firefox/700/

Mozilla Download: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6639

Description: Allows you to open a new tab, save an image, etc all by using simple mouse gestures...

Notes: Left click on an image and make a slight drag down, and the image is automatically saved to a folder...Leftclick and a slight drag left will open up the 'Save As' menu...Left click and s slight drag up will automatically save it to your 'Vintage Folder', etc...Easy to customize, even easier to use...Its a must have IMO...

[buttsie]

Theres a page on mozilla.org which highlights most of the known issues with add-ons.
Worth perusing before downloading any add-ons imho.Hopefully 3.5 fixes most of them

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Problematic_extensions

Maybe a bit dated but this list is far more user friendly than the search engine on the mozilla.org add-on page

http://www.econsultant.com/i-want-firefox-extension/


KeyScrambler Personal encrypts your keystrokes at the kernel driver level to protect your information from keyloggers.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3383

Various versions of Error Zilla which gives you a legible error message rather than the usual
technical speak that you usually get

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fir...rzilla&cat=all

[sdfrzutred]

Extension: ScrapBook+

Version: 1.6.12.22

Mozilla Download: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/8186

Description: Helps you to save web pages and organize the collection. ScrapBook+ is a modification of Gomita's extension named ScrapBook (v1.3.3.7).

[DigitalSin69]

It has been a while since I was on this board, but found this thread straight away.

No discussion of FireFox extensions is complete without NoScript.

While there are some issues that the author had trying to raise funding for his endeavors, it is still one of the best ways to secure the web browsing experience from rouge scripts... far and away, evil scripts the most prevalent infection vector out there...

[Darth Incubus]

Originally Posted by AYHJA

Extension: ImageHost Grabber

I thought I'd update this a bit as there are a few key wrinkles for users who want to stay current as image hosts change their sites.

Version: 1.5.9

Author/Extension Homepage: imagehost-grabber.com

Direct Extension Download Link:imagegrabber-1.5.9.xpi

I'm sure AYHJA already knows this, but I figured I'd add these two key points for ImageHost Grabber users.

Less Current Version Now Available via Mozilla
The extension is now available on the Mozilla page but is still considered experimental.

Mozilla Download: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/12249

You'll note that the current version on Mozilla.org is only 1.55, while the version at imagehost-grabber.com is 1.59. It pays to go to the source.

Updated hostf.xml Available at Author's Site
THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART!

The author seems to be updating the xml file for the various hosts more often than the extension itself. The current hostf.xml was updated in October, while the 1.59 version was updated in July.

I suspect that removing and then reinstalling the extension will get you the updated hostf.xml, but for those who would rather just download the new xml file, you can find the link at imagehost-grabber.com/.

The direct link is hostf.xml.

Just right click on the link, select save file as, and then save to the appropriate folder in your Firefox Extensions folder (you'll probably need to use the Windows search function for this) which will be located in:
C:\Documents and Settings\***\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\***.default\extensio ns\{***}

You'll have far fewer difficulties if your extension version and your hostf.xml are updated. Don't count on Mozilla.org if you want to remain current.

[zab79]

Extension: FireGestures

Version: 1.5.4

Author/Extension Homepage: http://www.xuldev.org/firegestures/

Mozilla Download: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6366

Description: A customizable mouse gestures extension which enables you to execute various commands and user scripts with five types of gestures

Notes: Possibly my favorite firefox addon of them all. I started using this about a year ago and haven't looked back since.

If your not familiar with how a mouse gestures program works then i'll quickly explain. Simply you make gestures with your mouse ie: hold right click then move left-right or up-down then assign that gesture to a function in firefox such as reload page, close tab, undo close tab etc. Once you've assigned your gestures with ff functions not only will your browsing speed greatly increase but you'll feel like a artist painting on a canvas.

FireGestures in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrETM...eature=related

[zenkarma]

Can I play?

Extension: SkipScreen

Version: 0.3.20091214_AMO updates frequently

Author/Extension Homepage: http://skipscreen.com/

Mozilla Download: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/11243

Description: Skips unnecessary pages on sites like Rapidshare, Megaupload, zShare, Mediafire, and more.

Notes: Important don't click on any of filehosts buttons.
Automates the wait period and starts downloads automatically. Works perfectly with RapidShare. Some of the other DL sites I've had problems with in various versions. Extension can be disabled for problem sites in options.



Extension: Thumbs

Version: 1.01

Author/Extension Homepage: https://www.squarefree.com/extensions/thumbs/

Mozilla Download: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/234

Description: Shows the first thumbnail from each linked gallery. After installing, use Customize Toolbars to add the Thumbs toolbar button

Notes: Nice for sites that don't use thumbnail gallery previews. Just drag and select a bunch of url's and hit the Thumbs button and instant tgp.

[buttsie]

Fair to say 3.5 had some serious performance issues when released

Most if not all tried and proven solutions to the browsers problems can be found here
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Knowledge_Base

I dont think running a huge number of extensions is as much of a risk as downloading seperate programs from individual software developers would normally be because its under the firefox
umbrella but it does increase the chance of conflict & puts more burden on your computer

Less is always more and judging by the 5000+ extensions available,
I do wonder why they dont cull a lot of them as many overlap or do exactly the same thing
which makes choosing a bit of a nightmare at times



One site I found had tried to pick extensins from the point of view
what do you want to do/see.....maybe useful...a to z format

http://www.econsultant.com/i-want-firefox-extension/



Heres a novel one but a very useful one all the same

ColorfulTabs is an add-on for the popular browser Firefox. Firefox is known for its tabbed-browsing feature(s). ColorfulTabs takes the experience to the next level. ColorfulTabs colors every tab in a unique color and makes them easy to distinguish while enhancing the appeal of the Firefox interface.ColorfulTabs is the favorite of the Firefox users. In the words of one of the million users…

ColorfulTabs 4.1
by Shivanand Sharma http://www.binaryturf.com/free-softw...s-for-firefox/

comments from users
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1368

[horatio]

Extension:Zoom toolbar 0.8

Version:0.8

Author/Extension Homepage:http://www.splintered.co.uk/

Mozilla Download:https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6118

Description:Adds zoom buttons to the toolbar

Notes:

I would imagine many here at VEF , like myself , no longer have 20/20 vision. Last week i replaced my old CRT monitor with a 1600 x 900 Dell. I could hardly see anything. But with this extension you can magnify & decrease the size of any page in Firefox. Clicking the icons in the Toolbar is far simpler than holding down Control+ to get the same result.

[Darth Incubus]

Following are two programs as opposed to extensions, but as the applications are geared for Firefox only, I think they probably belong here more than in the Useful Programs thread. I'm reasoning that as the Flashgot extension actually contains an executable, making it a Firefox only program then I should probably follow suit here. If a moderator disagrees I'd ask that it please be moved to the Useful Programs thread if that's more appropriate.

Here are two stand alone programs which allegedly optimize different files involved in Firefox start-up and the handling of cookies etc. The proof is in the pudding -- having tried both of them, I do notice some improvement on Firefox 3.6 on one of my older PC's.

PROGRAM: SpeedyFox

Version: 1.4

Author/Program Homepage: http://www.crystalidea.com/speedyfox

Program Download: http://www.crystalidea.com/download/speedyfox.exe

Description:
The program claims to defragment the SQLITE databases which contain Firefox cookies and other profile settings which apparently get fragmented over time.

Notes:
Download the stand alone program, then exit Firefox. When Firefox is no longer running (better check the Task Manager for this, as Firefox.exe sometimes lags a while when closing), start the application. Choose the profile to be defragmented, run, exit the application, and restart Firefox.

I balk at the claim that it speeds start-up by a factor of three, but there was undeniably some improvement. CCleaner has an option which claims to compress the SQLITE database (which I haven't used), but it sounds similar so if you are using that CClenaer option you might not notice much if anything.

PROGRAM: UPX (Ultimate Packer for eXecutables)

Version: 3.04

Author/Program Homepage: http://upx.sourceforge.net/#download

Program Download: http://upx.sourceforge.net/download/upx304w.zip

Description:
The program claims to compress executables (*.exe and *.dll files) so they load faster.

Notes:
I saw some improvement in load time on an old machine.

Directions:.
From Gizmo's Freeware at TechSupportAlert.com -- always a good place to look for freeware fixes.

You can slash Firefox's slow load time by compressing the DLLs and executables. There are many choices for compression but I suggest you use UPX which is free, efficient and time proven.

1. Download UPX from http://upx.sourceforge.net/#download

2. Unzip upx.exe into your Firefox installation folder which is normally C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox.

3. Make sure Firefox is not running then shell to a command prompt in the Firefox installation directory.

4. Type in the following command in a single line and hit return:

for %v in (*.exe *.dll components\*.dll plugins\*.dll) do upx "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\%v"

5. If on some later occasion you want to unpack the files, just type in the command above but add the decompression switch "-d" after "do upx."

Unfortunately you'll need to repeat this procedure with every Firefox version update.