Now that Firefox 3 is available, it’s time to install add-ons. Add-ons add on (duh) features to Firefox. Seriously, add-ons permits Firefox to be a fairly minimal browser, avoiding software bloat (think IE), yet be extensible and allow users to add the features they want. More on those features in a moment.
Since Firefox 3 is so new, you can’t use a number of add-ons since they are not yet compatible with Firefox 3. Fortunately, Firefox 3 will not let you install an incompatible add-on. Firefox 3 also will disable existing add-ons (ported over from your upgrade from version 2) which are not compatible with version 3, though first it will search for updates that would make the add-on compatible.
The Firefox Add-Ons site enables you to search for add-ons based on their name, functionality and so forth. This site also tells you which add-ons are compatible with version 3. But still, “so many add-ons, so little time.” My wife tells me this saying is safer (for me) than “so many women, so little time.” But I digress.
I used GottaBeMobile‘s post Favorite Firefox Add-Ons as my primary reference to identify which add-ons I might find useful. I’ll start the ball rolling by listing in the following table some add-ons I’ve installed so far. The name of the add-on also is a hyperlink to the page on the Firefox Add-Ons site (or the developer’s site) since I’ve found that the search feature on the Firefox Add-Ons site doesn’t always seem to find the add-on even when you type in the exact name of the add-on!
| Adblock Plus | Blocks those annoying ads and banners. |
| All-in-One Gestures | Use gestures instead of browser buttons for commands. Sort of like Pen Flicks. Version 0.19 is FF3 compatible. |
| Ctrl-Tab | Enhances Ctrl + Tab navigation |
| DragDropUpload | Drop files into attachment boxes instead of having to browse for them or type in the filename. |
| FireFTP | An integrated FTP client. |
| Forecastbar Enhanced | Get your weather report! Some report less issues with the more basic Forecastfox. |
| Gesso | Enables the Tablet Input Panel (TIP) within FF on a Tablet PC. Still a bit of a beta. See also GeckoTIP. |
| Grab and Drag | Enables grab and drag scrolling. |
| IE Tab | Enables opening IE in FF (e.g., if Active X controls involved). |
| Image Zoom | Permits zooming of images. |
| NoScript | JavaScript, Java and other executable content may only run from sites you trust. |
| PDF Download | Manages downloads of PDF files that too often crash your browser. |
| QuickPageZoom | Adds + and – icons so you can zoom in or out using your pen or finger. Need to log in to obtain. |
I also have the Google Toolbar for Firefox. The version is 3.1.20080605W. I can’t easily find a link to download it. (I didn’t have to since FF3 updated my prior version). The Google Toolbar for Firefox site refers to “FF 1.5+” so I’m not 100% positive this is the right place. There also are other Google FF add-ons for GMail, Google Reader, Google Notebook and so forth that I haven’t yet explored.
Please post a comment on your favorite add-ons that work with FF3! I’ll update the table based on your suggestions + my further discoveries.
thanks for a great article!
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