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userscript posts

Filed under: Utilities, Video

YouTube Auto Buffer: how did I ever watch YouTube without it?

YouTube Auto Buffer is a userscript that fixes a lot of the things that annoy me most about YouTube. It's a beefed up version of the barebones one Lee wrote about last December. Instead of autoplaying a couple seconds of video and having to stop and start because nothing's buffered, this script turns autoplay off and clips fully buffer before playing.

I don't know about you, but I was doing that manually whenever I loaded a YouTube vid anyway. On top of that, it also turns HQ/HD on by default, so you're watching the best available version of each video, and hides the in-video ads that YouTube occasionally shows.

You'll need the Greasemonkey add-on to run YouTube Auto Buffer in Firefox, and the equivalent in other browsers (for Safari, it's GreaseKit). If you don't like all three of Auto Buffer's features, you can turn any of them off in the script's preferences. They're hiding in plain sight underneath YouTube's search box -- not in the Greasemonkey menu as you might expect.

[via Lifehacker]

Filed under: Design, E-mail

Shrink your Gmail layout with Gmail Compactor

It seems like Gmail users are always hungry for new ways to tweak Gmail's appearance. One trick that will save some space in your sidebar is the Gmail Compactor script. If you have Greasemonkey or a similar userscript engine installed, just download Gmail Compactor to turn the text links in your sidebar into space-saving icons.

The icons aren't the only space-saving feature of Gmail compactor, though. It alos shrinks Gmail's built-in search bar down into the sidebar, and eliminates the Gmail logo. It's up to you whether you think this look feels less cluttered. It does offer the same functions in a smaller space, but the icons also feel a bit a crowded to me compared to the text links, and they take some getting used to.

[via Lifehacker]

Filed under: Design, Developer, Internet, Utilities, Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Productivity, Freeware, Browser Tips

Facebook Profile Cleaner Greasemonkey script

Facebook Profile CleanerUgh - just as fast and hot as the love affair started, it is starting to fizzle. Facebook opened its doors to add-on apps, and while we just can't wait to be invited to become a zombie, pirate, or post on YAFW (yet another Facebook wall), enough is enough already.

If you're feeling Facebook App Overload (we're thinking of copyrighting that term... no, not really), then you need the Facebook Profile Cleaner Greasemonkey script.

In our testing, the Facebook Profile Cleaner does a fantastic job of getting rid of all of the gunk. Maybe, in fact, too good. It seems like some parts of Facebook itself are also getting blocked (most notably the mini-feed), but if you're like us and totally overwhelmed with nonsense on Facebook, maybe this "less is more" approach is worth considering.

Thanks to Lifehacker for pointing out this lifesaver.

Filed under: Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Productivity, Web services, Mozilla, Freeware, Browser Tips

PageAddict: Stern Firefox taskmaster

PageAddict
Today's Download of the Day over at Lifehacker is a keeper. PageAddict is a an add-on for Firefox (also available as a Greasemonkey script) that watches your browsing behavior and makes a log of how much time you spend at each site. All of the information is stored on your computer, not transmitted anywhere, so your time-wasting secrets are kept between you and your browser (and, well, any snoops you foolishly let use your browser). Once it's collected some information, PageAddict gives you a breakdown, and you can use tags to categories sites as "work," "play," or whatever you like. It seems to me like a good way to guilt yourself into getting more work done, but if you want to go hardcore you can also restrict sites to a certain number of minutes each day.. One caveat: PageAddict is smart enough to know which tab is active and if the browser is currently in focus, but if you, say, leave Cute Overload in the active tab and then go on your lunch break, your logs are going to be skewed.

Filed under: Fun, Web services, Google

Google Dark: Insert moody music here

Google Dark
Do Google's bright white background and big, colorful logo offend your more somber sensibilities? Google Dark might be the cure for what ails you. It's a Greasemonkey script that replaces the Google home page with a darker, and some might say a little more slick, version. In addition, it makes the logo a little smaller and gives it an updated look, and makes the fonts a big bigger. All very Web 2.0. Unfortunately, Google Dark only transforms the Google home page and not results pages or any other Google sites. I would love to see a more complete version of this script that does all of the above, but I realize that might be asking a bit much.

Featured Time Waster

The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do. Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game. The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

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