Tuesday Tech Tip
By no stretch of the imagination am I a tech savvy person. If I were I would have created my own website without having to rely on blogger for a template. That having been said, I do manage to get by with lots of trial and error. And I guess because of that and my never-ending pursuit of good freeware and other bits of software that make life easier, I’ve found a lot of good stuff online that I like to use and I wanted to share with you.
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So If I can keep this going, every Tuesday I want to share with you something I find valuable.
My first tip to you would be to get yourself a real browser. Honestly, why are so many of you using Internet Explorer? It’s not that I wanted to leave IE, but after using Firefox, I just couldn’t go back. Once you use it, you’ll realize how stagnant IE is also.
Microsoft Internet Explorer, whether it be 6.0 or 7.0, is dead. It’s your granny’s browser (no disrespect to your granny). Trust me on this one, if there is one bit of sound advice I can give you, it’s to download Mozilla Firefox 2.0 (Yes, you 1.5ers, 2.0 is available). You Internet Explorers, have no idea how much you’re missing. Do you know Firefox even spell checks for you while you type in form fields including e-mail and blog posts and comments?
By far the greatest thing about Firefox is that it allows individual coders to develop extensions for its browser. Which means, if you have talent and an idea, you too can develop a useful add-on. It also allows coders to develop theme so you can get your browser they way you like it. Most extensions are really tiny and take seconds to download. Themes are larger but rarely do they cross the 5mb threshold.
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| Gmail Manager Screenshot |
I think my favourite extension (and the one I use the most) is the Gmail Manager, which allows me to see whenever I get new mail to my Gmail account and also delivers the subject line and a snippet of the mail. Definitely get that. No more opening up the page to an empty inbox. You can set it to how often it checks for new mail and you can even set it to play a sound when new mail comes in. My currount audio clip is from the movie “Napoleon Dynamite” Where Napoleon shouts out, “Tina, come get some Ham”. But I digress.
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| Internote Screenshot |
Another great extension is Internote that allows you to put virtual Post-it® notes on web pages you frequent. Even when you close the page the note stays there until you move it. In the options you can change the size and colour of the notes as well as the fonts. I use it a lot to remember things I need to remember to do on my site. It helps a lot also as reference notes.
So there they are my two tips for today (the Firefox one was a gift).
9 Responses to “Tuesday Tech Tip”
By IZATRINI.com on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Nice tip about Internote, I started using it already. Great plug-in.
Don’t forget about the IZATRINI.com Soca Music Toolbar for both Firefox and IE. You get live access to tons of Trini Radio stations and you can even add on your own station.
Check it our here http://www.izatrini.com/toolbar
Later!
By nandi23 on Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
“Do you know Firefox even spell checks for you while you type in form fields including e-mail and blog posts and comments?”
yeah i saw this one, IE explorer does always encounter some kinda problem and need to close unexpectedly, but thank goddness firefox does check my spelling, now my blog have less spelling mistakes , although when I trying to talk trini like now all i does see is a buncha squiggly red line all over d damn page:P
By ttfootball on Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
i like the example of the Internote
By Vami on Jan 25, 2007 | Reply
Mani, I hear you on this one. I’ve been using firefox for almost 2 years now, problem free. Internet Explorer always “encounters some problem and needs to close”….aggravating!!!! Firefox is way way better and it never has problems loading the pages, etc.
By Lilandra on Jan 25, 2007 | Reply
I think I was using firefox when it was phoenix…and then for a couple months it was firebird (maybe i exaggerate)
oh well
By Chennette on Jan 26, 2007 | Reply
I use firefox for everything but Flickr, and that’s only because I maintain different yahoo accounts in different browsers…I like Firefox whether or not I use the helpful addons
By TriniOne on Jan 26, 2007 | Reply
** IE Tab extension **
I agree totally. But as someone with a website for over 10 years (www.TriniBase.com), there is absolutely no getting away from the fact that most people really do not care and they just use whatever is presented in front on them when they are on this ‘thing’ called the Internet. Ha ha ha.
As a developer I need to be honest and accept that fact and live with it.
The good news is that up to as recently as 2 years ago, that my stats had IE accounting for 92% of visitors! Now, that number is 78% so FireFox has made an impact for sure.
So, what do I do… I use FireFox AND a great extension called “IE Tab”. What this extension does is use the IE ActiveX control to load the page/site in an IE window WITHOUT opening IE.
Oh, and I still use Windows 2000! I got fed up of all the BS from MS with how great the next great PURCHASE would help me out in life! Now I see they have Vista or something and are trying to dip their hands into my pocket for no good reason again!
TriniOne
By Mani on Jan 26, 2007 | Reply
Thanks to you all for your comments. I still have IE but I hardly ever use it. trinione yuh bussing meh files boy, lol. That IE Tab thing was the subject for another post. It helps a lot. I use it because I have two gmail accounts. Chennete, you might want to think about getting that extension.
Izatrini, i promise i will feature your toolbar soon.
By Atasha on Jan 30, 2007 | Reply
Ah, get de word out Mani! I switched months ago and will never go back. I was tired of “encountering problems” with IE and it cause meh to say a lot of nasty words within earshot of my son. I love Firefox, plus I can view everyone’s blog with it. It was not so with IE. When IE came out with their new thing I couldn’t believe the similarities to that of Firefox. They thief all the good ideas.
Why ah always late posting boy?