Category Archives: Firefox

Redesigned Skin Graduates from Better Gmail 2 Extension [Better Gmail]

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008
Posted by Gina Trapani from Lifehacker.

Hey, Gmail Redesigned fans! Your favorite skin is no longer included in the latest version of the Better Gmail 2 Firefox extension—to get it, download and install the official Google Redesigned extension instead.

It makes more sense to get the goods straight from the horse’s mouth. Special thanks to Redesigned makers Globex Designs for their generosity, for letting us keep the style in our extension for this long. Better Gmail users, a new version is now available with updates and fixes and Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 compatibility. Download the latest version of Better Gmail 2 now.


Filed in Better Gmail, Exclusive Lifehacker Download, Firefox, Gmail, How To, Lifehacker Code Update, in brief | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

Multitouch Gestures Added to the Latest Firefox 3.1 Beta [Beta Beat]


Posted by Adam Pash from Lifehacker.

One under-the-radar feature that came along for the ride with the recently released Firefox 3.1 Beta was multi-touch support for the latest generation of MacBooks. If you’ve got a new MacBook, the latest beta release supports swiping, pinching, and twisting your way through Firefox history, tabs, and more. [via]


Filed in Beta Beat, Firefox, Firefox 3.1, How To, Mac OS X, Multi-touch gestures, in brief, multi-touch | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

Better GReader Extension Gets New Features Plus Fixes [Exclusive Lifehacker Download]


Posted by Gina Trapani from Lifehacker.

All platforms with Firefox: Just uploaded new version 0.5 of the Better GReader Firefox extension, which includes new features and fixes to all the stuff that Google’s recent Reader redesign broke.

In this new version you’ll find Dustin’s popular Absolutely Compact skin, plus the Remove Unread Item Count, and Mark Until Current As Read scripts. The Minimalistic skin has been fixed (thanks Scott!) and the extension is now compatible with Firefox 3.1 Beta 2.

The only sad news is that we lost the excellent OS X skin, which hasn’t been updated to work with Google Reader’s redesign. I’m also hearing reports that the Preview button script isn’t working, but it is in my tests; if it isn’t for you in version 0.5, please post what version of Firefox you’re using on what platform (XP, Vista, Mac, or Linux) and I’ll continue to try to get to the bottom of the problem. Update: The Preview button is now working; Automatic Preview only works in list view, not expanded.

Click here to read more.

Filed in Better GReader, Downloads, Exclusive Lifehacker Download, Firefox, Firefox Extensions, Google Reader, How To, Lifehacker Code Update, Skins, Top | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

Google Reader Minimalistic Trims the Fat from Reader [Featured Greasemonkey User Script]


Posted by Adam Pash from Lifehacker.

Firefox with Greasemonkey: The Google Reader Minimalistic Greasemonkey script streamlines Google’s popular newsreader by removing unncessary images and links while also shrinking the text. Once you’ve installed the script, just tap ‘w’ on your keyboard to toggle between the default view and the Google Reader Minimalistic view. Google Reader’s recent redesign may have been an improvement, but between the previously mentioned Absolutely Compact script and this one, it’s clear that users still want to fit more content on Google Reader. For a better idea of what you can expect, check out the before and after screenshots.

Here’s Google Reader pre-minimalistic:

Here’s the Reader layout with Google Reader Minimalistic installed and enabled:

As you can see, the top row of links, the reader logo, and all of the friends, trends, and other non-feed subscription links are gone—leaving you with your feeds and feeds alone. Google Reader Minmialistic is a free download, requires Firefox with Greasemonkey.

Google Reader New Style Minimalistic [via Userscripts Download Squad]


Filed in Downloads, Featured Greasemonkey User Script, Firefox, Firefox Extensions, Google, Google Reader, Greasemonkey, How To, RSS, User scripts | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

Latest Firefox, Chrome Builds in Dead Heat for JavaScript Speed [Browsers]


Posted by Kevin Purdy from Lifehacker.

CNET put the just-released Firefox 3.1 beta 2 and its speedy TraceMonkey JavaScript engine up against the most recent developer build of Google Chrome. The results from a SunSpider test were Firefox edging out Chrome by the teeny-tiniest of margins, making it basically a tie if you give any room for error. [Chart and data via WebWare]


Filed in Browsers, Firefox, Google Chrome, How To, JavaScript, firefox 3, in brief | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 Now Available for Your Testing Pleasure [Beta Beat]

Monday, December 8th, 2008
Posted by Gina Trapani from Lifehacker.

All platforms: Hot off the press, the second beta of Firefox 3.1 is now available for download. In addition to Private Browsing Mode, tab tearing, and the speedy TraceMonkey Javascript engine turned on by default, the release notes list what else you get:

  • This beta is now available in 54 languages.
  • Added functions to make it easy to clear recent history by time as well as remove all traces of a website.
  • New support for web worker threads.
  • Improvements to the Gecko layout engine, including speculative parsing for faster content rendering.
  • Removed the new tab-switching behavior based on feedback from users
  • Support for new web technologies such as the <video> and <audio> elements, the W3C Geolocation API, JavaScript query selectors, CSS 2.1 and 3 properties, SVG transforms and offline applications.

Oh and one thing the release notes don’t include: an awesome welcome screen with a new robot.

Here’s what pr0n mode, that is, “Private Browsing” looks like:

You can also clear all your private data:



Or just your history from today’s secret browsing, or the last few hours, in case you forgot to kick into Private Browsing mode earlier:



Intrepid testers, be warned: most of your extensions will probably not work with beta 2, unless you use an about:config trick to force compatibility. The Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 is a free download for all platforms; if you decide to test it, be sure to back up your Mozilla profile just in case (or maybe wait for the portable version release).

Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 [Mozilla]


Filed in Beta Beat, Downloads, Featured Download, Featured Early Adopter Download, Firefox, Firefox 3.1, How To, Top | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

Integrated Gmail Loads Any Google App Inside Gmail [Featured Firefox Extension]


Posted by Adam Pash from Lifehacker.

Firefox only (Windows/Mac/Linux): Firefox extension Integrated Gmail creates collapsible groups in your Gmail account that integrate all of your favorite Google apps directly inside Gmail. That includes access to Google Reader, Calendar, Notebook, Maps, Groups, and Picasa. As if that wasn’t already good enough, Integrated Gmail can also embed custom pages and Google Gadgets. Granted, Google has started integrating gadgets into the Gmail sidebar if that’s up your alley, but if you want full access to different apps without leaving the comfort of Gmail, the Integrated Gmail extension does exactly that. Keep reading for a closer look at Integrated Gmail in action.

Google Calendar in Gmail

Google Reader in Gmail

Lifehacker in Gmail

As you can see, you can even embed a favorite site within Gmail.

Click here to read more.

Filed in Downloads, Featured Firefox Extension, Firefox, Firefox Extensions, Gmail, Google, Google Apps, Google Calendar, Google Maps, Google Notebook, Google Reader, How To, Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, google groups | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

Google Reader Absolutely Compact Gets More On-Screen [Featured User Style]

Sunday, December 7th, 2008
Posted by Gina Trapani from Lifehacker.

Firefox with Greasemonkey or Stylish: Google Reader’s recent redesign did streamline its interface, but ever-resourceful reader Dustin wants to maximize the feed reading area even more with his new “Absolutely Compact” user style. Google Reader Absolutely Compact packs even more text onto the screen than Google’s new default look. Be warned: you’ve got to be a heavy keyboard shortcut user to enjoy this one, since the style strips away much of the interface. It also kills much of the whitespace in headline-only view, which can make scanning a bit harder on your peepers. Before you go install Greasemonkey or Stylish to try it out, compare before and after screenshots.

Here’s Reader’s current default look:

And here’s how it looks with Absolutely Compact enabled:

As you can see, with Absolutely Compact enabled, more than double the number of headlines fit into the same exact screen space.

Click here to read more.

Filed in Downloads, Featured User Script, Featured User Style, Feed Readers, Firefox, Firefox Extensions, Google, Google Reader, Greasemonkey, How To, RSS, User scripts, User styles, stylish | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

KLS Mail Backs Up Your Browser, Email, and Contacts [Featured Windows Download]

Friday, December 5th, 2008
Posted by Adam Pash from Lifehacker.

Windows only: Despite what its name would imply, free application KLS Mail Backup backs up popular Windows web browsers and address book apps in addition to email applications—including Mozilla Firefox, Thunderbird, and Seamonkey; Windows Live Mail, Contacts, and Messenger; along with Windows Mail, Windows Contacts, and Internet Explorer. Backups are automatically zipped, can be stored locally or on a networked hard drive, and are kept under version control. Apart from the backing up, the application also restores any of your archived backups. According to the Download Squad post, it can also run off a portable device, so you can make and restore backups from your thumb drive.

Click here to read more.

Filed in Address Book, Backup, Contacts, Downloads, Email, Featured Windows Download, Firefox, How To, Internet Explorer, Top, Web browsers, Windows, Windows Live | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

OpenXML Viewer Opens Word 2007 Docx Files in Your Browser [Featured Firefox Extension]


Posted by Adam Pash from Lifehacker.

Windows/Linux only: Firefox extension OpenXML Viewer opens Microsoft Word 2007 DOCX files directly in your Firefox browser. Granted, Gmail and Google just started converting DOCX files to HTML for easy viewing, but if you don’t use Gmail or you stumble onto a lot of DOCX files linked elsewhere, this extension is a winner if all you want is a quick way to view a DOCX file. OpenXML Viewer is a free download, Windows and Linux with Firefox only. Be sure to check the README for instructions on how to enable OpenXML once it’s installed.

OpenXML Viewer [via Digital Inspiration]


Filed in Clips, Conversion, Downloads, Featured Firefox Extension, File Conversion, Firefox, Firefox Extensions, How To, Linux, Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Word 2007, Windows, docx | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off