Filed under: Features, Mozilla, Browsers, Lists
Five essential addons for new Firefox users (Happy fifth birthday, Firefox!)
If Firefox users were a country, they'd be the third most populous in the world - behind only China and India - at 330 million people! 2009 has certainly been a big year for the Fox.
Mozilla's add-on site reports 4.3 million registered users using nearly 164 million add-ons. That's a lot of people using a lot of add-ons. If you're a new Firefox user, you might be having trouble deciding which are worth installing.
Since this is Firefox's fifth birthday, here are five add-ons that can make browsing better for just about anyone!
The most widely-known (and used) Firefox annoyance-buster is AdBlock Plus. But the plain truth is that ads power the Internet. They allow sites like our to keep producing new content and serving it to readers like you!
Flashblock is a good alternative. Instead of blocking anything which resembles a sponsor message, you'll be taking bloated Flash elements to task - including oversized ads. It's a good way to speed up page loading while still giving sites a chance to generate much-needed revenue.
Greasemonkey
Userscripts are incredibly handy bits of code which allow you modify web pages in all sorts of different ways. They can do everything from changing links which point to PDF to zip you over to Google's web-based viewer to giving Twitter's web interface superpowers.
We've covered loads of Userscripts before. To find some good ones, check out:
- 10 Greasemonkey scripts you shouldn't browse without
- Ten great Greasemonkey scripts
- 10 handy Userscripts for Google Chrome (these work in Greasemonkey, too!)
- Eight great Userscripts for Twitter users
Just about everyone likes to customize their browser's appearance. With Firefox, there's no easier way than the Peronas add on. Pop over to the Mozilla Gallery, and you'll have thousands of new looks to pick from.
Unlike traditional Firefox themes, switching Personas doesn't require you to close and restart Firefox - and who doesn't want to restart less often?
If you use more than one computer and always run Firefox as your web browser, Weave is a must-have. Not only does Mozilla Labs' synchronization add-on keep your bookmarks up to date across all your systems, but it also handles your passwords, history, personas, open tabs, and more.
It's also going to work with Fennec, Mozilla's mobile version of Firefox -- allowing you to keep even your smartphone in sync. Weave is still under development, though the beta release of version 1.0 is on the way very soon.
If you're the social networking/sharing type, you'll want to take a look at Shareaholic. It makes posting web pages you find interesting to sites like Digg, Twitter, Facebook, Stumbleupon -- and just about everywhere else -- a simple task.
Shareaholic even allows you to email pages to your friends. Even with all the fancy web 2.0 options out there, email is still one of the most popular ways to share.
There are loads more great add-ons available (like the ones in this other list). Once you've gotten your feet wet with Firefox, there are thousands of others to explore.
Got a few favorites to share with new users? Post 'em in the comments!
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The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tech-Mike said 1:15PM on 11-09-2009
Everyday Use:
Adblock Plus
Download Statusbar
ChatZilla
Just For Fun:
Cooliris
Not Sure:
SmarterFox / FastestFox
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Jakurb said 2:45PM on 11-09-2009
I've never found Greasemonkey all that useful, to be honest. I can see how it could be mildly handy, but not essential (at least for me).
I've found Linkification, TinyMenu (or Personal Menu) and Tab Mix Plus to be more essential. Also, SecureLogin is another one I'm finding very useful.
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Josh said 3:19PM on 11-09-2009
It's completely essential to me. I've written/downloaded scripts for just about every site I frequent to tweak them to be more usable and better looking in general. For example, the below script makes YouTube about the videos (as opposed to the ads, comments, and descriptions that pollute the videos most of the time), with the video being made full-width and taking up my entire window, rather than just a small chunk.
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/13333
Pudge said 3:02PM on 11-09-2009
#1 Use Adblock Plus despite what the blog says. He was paid to say that. There are more then enough soccer moms to give the advertisers money.
#2 When using Greasemonkey, never be without Greasefire, which notifies you of userscripts on the site you're browsing.
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Lee Mathews said 3:10PM on 11-09-2009
No, I was not "paid to say that." Technically, yes. AOL does pay me to write what I write, but no one calls me and says "Don't write about adblock."
I've written about it before, as a matter of fact. It's just that now I find FlashBlock suits me - and I'm not the only writer/publisher who thinks FlashBlock is a more ethical choice.
As for your comment on soccer moms, do you really, honestly think there are a lot of soccer moms reading DS? I'm thinking Omniture would disagree with you.
Pudge said 4:08PM on 11-09-2009
No I don't think a lot of soccer moms read Download Squad I'm talking about in general. And IMO, if you do a must have Firefox extension list, AdBlock Plus is number one every time. I'm sorry to assume you were pressured into saying it, that's what it sounded like to me.
kojo87 said 3:04PM on 11-09-2009
i use Xmarks to keep my bookmarks synchronized. works quite well. i also am i big fan of All-in-One Sidebar. doesn't really add a lot of functionality i just like how it reorganizes downloads, bookmarks, history, etc
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Josh said 3:20PM on 11-09-2009
DownloadStatusBar. Besides ABP and GM, it is the absolute essential add-on.
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Josh said 3:50PM on 11-09-2009
Check out The Cavern Links Checker. Its a greasemonkey script that highlights links green if they are good and red if they are dead. Works with Rapidshare, MegaUpload and so many more.
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/29222
The Cavern Links Checker for Greasemonkey
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0ldfart said 4:09PM on 11-09-2009
Adblock Plus
Skipscreen
WOT
Autopager - this is a MUST-HAVE add on - now that Ive tried it I wouldnt browse without it. Highly recommended. saves heaps of time and clicks!!
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Mason said 5:12PM on 11-09-2009
Few addons I currently enjoy.
#1 AdBlock Plus: Although revenue IS generated on most sites through ads as a lifeline, bottom line is that I don't want to be pestered. Annoying placement and quite frankly often inappropriate advertisements are easily taken care up with the AdBlock.
#2 KeyScrambler: Using AES encryption, I feel safer with my sensitive information. Albeit my system is well protected with AVG "paid" and OS updates, you never know. Effective against keyloggers, packet sniffers though, eh...
#3 Finjan Secure Browsing: With AVG's link scanner being blacklisted, which I never liked linkscanner, being slow as it is, finjan is another way I can make sure I'm safe online.
#4 Last Tab and about:me and Tab Progress Bar
#5 SearchPreview: To get a page thumbnail preview in search engines.
#6 DownloadHelper
#7 Vacuum Places
#8 ShoIP and Flagfox
#9 Surf Canyon
and #10 is my Real Player Media download option. (I only like DownloadHelper for Youtube videos I like, nothing more.)
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idodialog said 8:07AM on 11-10-2009
Worst list for beginners I've seen. Greasemonkey would be SO obscure to a starter. Newbies to FF need some basics like:
LastPass - save logins, login automatically - anywhere. Secure, reliable.
TabMixPlus - make tabs work the way it makes sense to you. Elegant, solid.
Download Statusbar - nice visualization for downloads.
FEBE - Back everything up. Safe, solid, easy.
KeyScrambler - Really Useful Security. Seamless.
Easy DragToGo - forget the Ctl-Click and the Middle click. Dragging a link makes sense to the brain.
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Bernie said 9:15AM on 11-12-2009
How is Ubiquity never mentioned?
As far as productivity goes it's one of the best ad0ons I have.
And new users need forecastfox/forecastbar enhanced. Probably saved me ten hours not looking up the weather.
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