Hide a Site in Google Page Creator

If you want to create pages or edit them, without anyone even suspecting you have a site at Google Page Creator, you have to go to "Site settings" and check "Hide this site". This way, none of your pages will be visible until you uncheck that option.

It's also a good replacement for "Delete this site", because your uploaded files will be unavailable too.

You can create four more sites, using one account. This feature was initially experimental, then it wasn't available, and now it's back.
google, Google Page Creator, tweaks,

Mobile Versions for the Major Search Engines

I rarely do a search on my mobile phone, but when it happens, I want simple information. All the major search engines have a mobile version, so I decided to compare them.

TGoogle ( google.com on your phone, google.com/xhtml on your computer)

Google offers links to Gmail, Personalized Homepage and Google News and has mobile versions for web search, image search, local search, mobile and news search. Unlike the standard Google search, the mobile optimized version shows smaller snippets, adds numbers in front of the search results so you can use it as shortcuts, and renders the pages using a transcoder.

Windows Live ( mobile.live.com/Portal )

Microsoft shows you information about weather, stock quotes and news. Instead of showing more types of searches, Windows Live has an universal search that groups web search, local search, news search and Space search (Microsoft decided to search only the blogs created on its platform). The result page shows you at most 2 results from each type of search, even if a search for "flowers" shouldn't trigger news results.

Yahoo ( wap.oa.yahoo.com )

Yahoo lists a lot of links on its homepage, including a link to Yahoo Search. Here you can find local search, image search and web search (in this order). Yahoo shows fewer search results and combines searching web pages with mobile web pages. When you click on a search result you get a warning that says "External web pages may not work with your phone" and this is quite true.

Ask.com ( m.ask.com )

Ask shows links to its services, including its various search types. While featuring fewer search results than Google, Ask shows options that can help you expand or narrow your query and more OneBox results at the top of the page. Ask also shows numbers next to the search results and has shortcuts. Ask is also the only search engine (from the four analyzed here) that includes a mobile version for blog search.

Google and Ask.com have the most easy to use mobile versions for their search engines. Google has the best search results, but Ask has many smart answers that can help you a lot.

searchbox, mobile, free,

Universal Extractor

Universal Extractor is an application that lets you extract files from all kinds of archives and installers. You can use it to extract resources from Windows Installer files, Inno Setup and NSIS executables,
InstallShield packages, MHTML files, Microsoft Compiled Help files, any archive type that can be extracted with WinRAR (rar, zip, ace, cab, 7zip, etc), CD-ROM images, Linux packages and more.

I find this useful because it provides a consistent way to see files that contain other files. You may need to extract the files from an installer to create a portable version of an application (like this portable IE7), to read the help file before installing it or to get a file. Instead of using the command-line and different small utilities, you can try Universal Extractor, an open-source Windows application.
tweaks, freeware, free, Extractor

All Rapidshare Tools - Find everything inall free hosts servers

Here's a collection of all rapidshare tools wich enables you to search the rapidshare websites for any type of files (games,movies,images,etc..), well, everything that it is shared.

there's also other great tools to help you download all the files from all the well known fre hosts servers (not only rapidshare and megaupload) using proxys, so, you just have to update the proxy list, get it?!

Enjoy this great collection of usefull free hosts servers tools!


Download:

Gmail Skin For firefox Users

Ever wished that, it would have been very attractive if you can change the gmail look and differentiate yourself profile with different colours with suits your personality. The add-on called Gmail Skins does this job for you. As its Firefox dependent add-on, get the Firefox installed if you don’t have one.

Gmail skins provide you the opportunity to fulfill your wish. Though, it does not provide flexibility as yahoo manager or rediff manager allow, but you can always have different colour combination look. So experience the things and share your story with me.

Important Notes:
* To access the settings panel you must change the language on your gmail account to EN-US - This is because of how tightly gmailskins integrates in to the Gmail interface. You can change your language back again afterwards and the settings will still be applied, although "your mileage may vary".
* Some features will be added to your account, please do not mistake these for beta features rolled out by google like this guy: http://www.digg.com/links/Gmail_New_Features.
* Incorrect preview colours (eg: blue instead of brown) is a bug in Firefox (with 16bit colours). This does not affect the applied skin.

Download: Gmail Skin- A Firefox add-on

gmail, latest Features, skin, themes, firefox2, plugins,

Show latest comments on your sidebar

It’s another beautiful feature that Ramani provided this time. Well, I had thought of trying it out, but was unsuccessful due to lack of Knowledge. This article explains why you must show the latest 5 comment in your sidebar and how to use it effectively.

How can I show the latest comment in blogger beta sidebar?

The atom comment feed is itself solution for this query. Just follow the simple steps to show latest comment on your blogger beta Sidebar.

1. Just logon to blogger account and navigate to layouts
2. Select the add page element option from sidebar menu.
3. Select allow feed option
4. Select your Blog feed URL in your sidebar.
5. For Example: http://yourblogname.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/full
6. Just save it and you are done!

How it will help me?
Well comments are the most common way to increase your blog popularity and with this move you can encourage your readers to comment. Readers do make comment to keep their name at top, so that they may get traffic out of it.

blogger, beta, hacks, comment, blog promotion

Google Total: A better experience of Google search

Ever thought of searching with Google in different way OR wished that all Google services such as Answer it, Ask me, Images, Alerts, etc. to be available at a single click. Goggle Total provides the solution. Now let’s see what is Google Total is all about. Google Total is not new kind of service that Google™ is going to offer in future. Anil has created it and getting popularity day by day.

The interesting services I found about it are:

1. Definitely new look and faster loading ( boon for dial-up users)
2. Relatively faster
3. Ability to search two things simultaneously.

Example: You can search for Mona Lisa’s pictures and her history simultaneously. Isn’t great!

Fiends, share your experience with me. Tell me what really you thought about Google Total.

Link back to my article if you like it and bookmark me for this article.

google, latest Features, searchbox,

Web Based/Online/Offline Virus Scanners and Help

Well, often we search for free anti-virus that might help our computer Virus Free. I searched a bit and found very good quality of anti-virus.Well most of them are provided by my friend Bone.Try them and tell me you experiences about it.

Trend Micro
A very good scanner. You can use it with both Firefox and IE. For Firefox, use the java plugin and for IE use the kernel plugin.

Symantec security.
Has two options,

security check-checks your systems integrity against

* Hacker Exposure Check

* Windows Vulnerability Check

* Trojan Horse Check

Virus Scan-the usual.
Instructions and tools for virus removal.

A-squared virus scanner and anti dialer (free and versatile)



bit defender offline scanner - free and versatile

Sophos Anti-rootkit.

The 46 Best-ever Freeware Utilities

online scanner.

Windows Live Onecare.

Stinger Standalone specialized virus remover.

anti-virus,freeware, latest,

Windows Xp New theme By Microsoft

As promised by Microsoft team , Xp-expert team has relesed the lastes theme and avilable for download for Genuine users. Well Microsoft is busy with all new realese of Zune, lastes theme from them concentrate on Zune style.

Since the dawn of the Luna UI style in Windows XP, Microsoft had promised a variety of colorful themes to replace the stock three it shipped in the first version of the OS. It even toyed with graphics-based themes for holidays like Halloween before abandoning the project due to its complexity. Since then, only one new theme--Royale, part of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005--has emerged. But this week, Microsoft shipped what we might assume to be the last official XP theme: Zune. As its name implies, the Zune theme is based around the Zune MP3 player, which is unfortunate. But it's pretty attractive looking, with black window, Start Menu, and taskbar treatments, and an orange Start Menu. And you can replace the lame Zune desktop wallpaper easily enough. You can download the new Zune XP theme from the Microsoft Web site.

Download: Official Theme From Microsoft Zune

Well, friend comment on this new realese from M$ and tell me what did you liked and missed in this new Dream.

Realted Post:
Blogger Beta Templates
Portable and LOW memory consuming Media Player


free, latest Features, microsoft, themes, new  

Google Search History Records

Google Search History records the queries and the search results you've clicked on. How would you use this service? It is yet another Google new features. For using this services all 
you have to do , just login to google account and rest leave to Google.  


1. Search History Trends tells you statistical information about your Google searhes. For example, you can monitor your daily search activity.



2. Google Recommendations is a gadget that lists searches, web pages and gadgets recommended for you.



3. Browse the Search History and bookmark interesting sites. Just click on the small star next to search result.



4. Find how often you search for something.



5. If you know you visited a sited found using a Google search, you can use the Search History to find it.



6. Go to a certain day in Google Search History to see what searches you performed that day. It's like going back in time.



7. How many times did you visit a site from Google search and when was the last time? Search its web address and you'll see the answers next to the title.





8. Grab a feed of your latest queries: https://www.google.com/searchhistory/?output=rss. Note that your feed reader needs to support SSL.



9. If you search for sensitive information or you don't want to include certain queries in Search History, either pause Search History, or remove the sensitive queries and search results.



10. Google Desktop extends this concept of history to all the websites you visited in your browser, but you are able to search this history only from your computer or from all your computers if you enable Search Across Computers.
 google, searchbox, latest Features,

All new Gmail features

And Hats OFF to Google team, they have added all new  uncommon Features to gmail. Now gmail is going to be better with all new features.

Gmail keeps getting and better. And in an attempt to try and drive even more people away from using dedicated e-mail programs, they decided to include new features. Some are more useful than others, but they're all welcome.

Reply on top

No more scrolling to the bottom of a long message to find the “Reply” link. Now there's a Reply button right on top, along with a lot of other options under the little dropdown arrow.

Embarassment-reducing new message notifications

Ever replied to a message only to find out that someone sent a better, smarter reply right before you? Now, if someone sends a reply while you're in the middle of reading a conversation (or replying to it), you'll get a notification that a new message has arrived. Click "update conversation" to see what you’ve missed.

Forward all

When viewing a conversation, use the new “Forward all” link on the right if you want to forward the entire conversation instead of just one message.



Chat even when your friends are offline

Chatting in Gmail just keeps getting better. Now, if you're chatting with a friend who goes offline, your friend will be able to see whatever you were typing the next time he or she goes online.



Get Gmail on your mobile phone

It's new and it's fast. To try it for yourself, point your phone to gmail.com/app

All this and 2783 (and still growing) Megabytes of mail space, who needs another mail client? Or another mail account, as a matter of fact!

gmail, google, latest Features
 

Orkut With Google talk

Hey most awaited feature is here, as Google team found that many Orkuttinace use their 
account for just chatting and they find very difficult to scrap to their friend. So Orkut and Gtalk
team worked together to integrate Gtalk with Orkut. Orkut's integration with Google Talk is also live. You just have to go to settings and click on "enable Google Talk". You can automatically add your orkut friends or only some of them. You also gain new options in Google Talk for orkut contacts.An here is the proof for this.

I've noticed there are already some messages that talk about an orkut integration:

45901, "orkut"

45902, "New feature! Chat with your orkut friends."

45903, "View orkut profile"

45905, "Change how your orkut friends are shared with Google Talk."

45906, "Send scrap"

From the other side, here's an example of mail invitation from orkut.



Your orkut friend, [email], would like to chat with you using Google Talk.



Google Talk is a downloadable Windows application that lets you chat, make free voice calls, and share files with friends inside and outside your orkut network.



Now, it's easy to add your orkut friends to your Google Talk friends list. You'll see their chat availability in orkut, and you can even send scraps (and get scrap notifications) right from Google Talk!


But if you want, you can disable Google Talk's integration with orkut.
gtalk, google, orkut, latest Features
 

Portable and LOW memory consuming Media Player

Well everyone wants low consuming media player but often left with
empty hand. Then I tried SK Media Player V.5.0 by Safwan and was amazed with its cool
new look and better features than Windows Media Player 11. I will advise you to download it
and give me a response about it.

Key feature Of SK Media Player are:
Key features:-

* takes up very little system memory!

* plays almost all the common formats(excluding rm)!

* allows playback speed variation!

* opens video files in a separate independent window!

* minimizes to system tray!

* very easy to use one-stroke keyboard interface!

* maintains playback history!

* remembers favourites!

* can set/delete ID3 tags for MP3 files(track name,artist,genre,track# & other info)!

* can record WAVE format sounds with automatic microphone configuration!

* fully customizable visualizations included!

* 11 cool built-in glow style colour schemes!

* individual media profiles on a single pc only for those users who use the player at least once!

* very low memory usage for audio files(as low as 1.7MB)!

* 30MB max RAM usage(temporary) for 800*600 MPEG videos and even above!

* plays audio CD's(under testing right now)!

* background click sound events(optional beeps on the pc speaker as well)!

* password protection!
So download it today


free, freeware, media player, portable

Yahoo Messenger Virus Detected

Well, It's been official now that some virus have targeted the Yahoo messenger this time. Yahoo messenger this time has been affected by some virus . And this virus is sending the text message to all IM clients.
Type rest of the post here

The possible reason/ detection found by the Abhishek is given here.
Conclusions (Confirmed)
1. It uses msinet.ocx and web browser control for communicating with websites or downloading more file.
2. It begins by adding an unusual taskkil.exe in your System32 directory, which is a program to kill System Processes.
3. Creates a batch script located at C:\killav.bat to kill antiviruses.
4. It accesses XXX, where the developer may enter commands for the application to update itselves.
5. It then begins access to XXXX, which shows adbrite ads when opened in Firefox, maybe there is an autoclicking feature encoded.
6. It downloads the executable from YYY which it then renames to svchost32.exe
7. It also downloads the executable at YYYY

The developer seems to want this trojan to be termed “Termex” since he owns the domain Mytermex(dot)com (Donot Visit this Site) and has directories named “Termex” on the server where he hosts his Executables!

The code is no doubt a good one, but I’d have preferred if he must’ve used this knowledge for good. Now apparently this doesn’t seem to affect FireFox/Mozilla and Opera Browsers (Note the apparently) but IE users are doomed.

I am Infected! Now what ?
Don’t Panic Tech Guru has written a nice tutorial to save yourself from this Trojan, I haven’t tried it yet, but from the look of it ,it appears that it’ll work. So go ahead and find it here
http://www.newsfactor.com/blog_article.php?aid=305161

How does this spread ?
I am not aware of the other mediums but yes, I mselves have witnessed this propogating through Yahoo Messenger, and there is a possibility that it may send your Yahoo ID/Password to the attacker.
Possible PMs that you may get are

Quote:damn, she is so cute hxxp://nsl-school.org?id=miss_world (Donot Open this URL in your Browser)

[php]have you ever seen such a silly man like this ? hxxp://nsl-school.org?id=stories[/php] (Donot Open this URL in your Browser)

Quote:Download Free MP3s at hxxp://nsl-school.org?id=mp3 (Donot Open this URL in your Browser)

These Message are generally very tempting and make you click on the link, but once you do, You’re doomed!

!!!WARNING DONOT OPEN THE URLS BELOW IN YOUR BROWSER OR YOU MAY GET INFECTED!!!
XXX = hxxp://giftshop.vn/update.txt
XXXX = hxxp://www.myglobal-news.com
YYY = hxxp://italiandirectory.com/termex/host2.exe
YYYY = hxxp://italiandirectory.com/termex/host.exe

Possible Domains Owned by the Developer of this Trojan
hxxp://www.nsl-school.org
hxxp://www.giftshop.vn
hxxp://www.myglobal-news.com
hxxp://www.italiandirectory.com

yahoo, tweaks, virus, latest

Orkut Tips and Tricks

                 Are you real Orkut Freak and want to have fun with Orkut then you must have good Orkut Tricks with you , so I am Presenting all new Orkut tricks. Share them with your Orkutians and If you love them , link back to me.

All of the Orkut Tricks are just java script so, follow the Simple rules to apply them .

1) Go to Orkut account and login.

2) And go to page where you want to apply these tricks.

3) Copy the code and past them in address bar of that page.
 

Type rest of the post here
Orkut Tricks:

Guys try these scripts and tell me how they work for u.

Note : To Stop the scripts just REFRESH the page.

javascript:R=-1;DI=document.links;DIL=DI.length;function A(a,b,c){return Math.sin(R/350*6.28*b+a)*c+c}function B(a){DIS=DI.item(a).style;DIS.position='absolute';DIS.left=A(5,100,500);DIS.top=A(5.6,60,150)}setInterval('R++;B(R%DIL)',15);void(0)
__________________
javascript:R=-1;DI=document.images;DIL=DI.length;function A(a,b,c){return Math.sin(R/350*6.28*b+a)*c+c}function B(a){DIS=DI.item(a).style;DIS.position='absolute';DIS.left=A(0,7,300);DIS.top=A(1.6,6,150)}setInterval('R++;B(R%DIL)',15);void(0)
_________________
javascript:function flood(n) {if (self.moveBy) {for (i = 35; i > 0; i--) {for (j = n; j > 0; j--) {self.moveBy(1,i);self.moveBy(i,0);self.moveBy(0,-i);self.moveBy(-i,0); } } }} flood(6);
_________________

javascript:function reverse() { var inp = " ! dekcah si tnuocca tukrO ruoY "; var outp="";for (i = 0; i <= inp.length; i++) { outp =inp.charAt (i) + outp;}alert(outp) ;}; reverse(); _________________ javascript:a=0;x=0;y=0;setInterval("a+=.01;x=Math.cos(a*3)*2;y=Math.sin(a*2)*2;moveBy(x,y)",2);void(0) _________________ javascript:a=0;x=0;y=0;setInterval("a+=.01;x=Math.cos(a*3)*200;y=Math.sin(a*2)*2;moveBy(x,y)",2);void(0) _________________ javascript:document.images%5B2%5D.src%3D%22http%3A//i%6Da%67es3%2Eor%6But%2Ecom/i%6Da%67es/%6Dittel/62/164%39762%2E%6A%70%67%22%3Bvoid%280%29

Use Ur Gmail Effectively

I’ve been using GMail since 2004 and have always thought it was the best email service. With the large amount of space it offers, and the amazing features the possibilities are endless. The filter feature is easily the best feature of GMail. You can use it for its purpose - to filter spam and other unwanted emails. Or use it in some unique ways such as bookmarking, and storing recipes. Here are some nifty hacks/tips that allow you to get the most out of your GMail account.

1. GMail based blog - Fix for it
   • This is an awesome idea to allow you to blog via GMail. Who needs an SQL database when you can save your posts to GMail? .
2. Encrypt all GMail traffic
   • This is just a simple tip allowing you to encrypt your whole session. When you go to GMail.com only the login is encrypted. When you go to GMail.com. At https://gmail.google.com the whole session is encrypted.
3. Make a GMail partition
   • This is a simple yet brilliant idea to make use of that 2.7 gigs and counting of space GMail allows. This will create a new partition� in explorer. You can then save files/folders to your GMail account via the explorer interface. Create one simple filter so none of the files clutter up your inbox and you’re set. I believe this is against the GMail terms of service, but I’ve been using it for a while with no problems.
4. Linux on GMail
   • This awesome hack allows you to have a Linux file system installed on your GMail account. It will give you basic *nix commands such as cp mv rm and ls. This is by far the neatest of all these.
5. Use GMail as notepad
   • It’s such a simple yet effective idea. Using GMail’s ability to save drafts you can edit and save text just like notepad. There are actually more advantages to using GMail as a simple notepad such as spell check and the fact that you can access the documents from anywhere.
6. GMail skins
   • Tired of the same old default GMail theme? Not anymore. Use this simple firefox plugin to change the color and basic layout of your GMail account.
7. GMail manager
   • This firefox plugin allows you to manage multiple GMail accounts from firefox. It will give you basic stats about all your GMail accounts, and can check for new mail at a user defined interval.
8. GNotify
   • This one is actually by Google. It’s a simple yet totally needed plugin. It tells you when you have mail with a very unobtrusive notify box in the lower right hand corner of your screen. It also opens a new tab in your browser with the email and subject already filled out when you click a mailto: link. This is a must have for people who depend on their email.

Fun with Google Search

Bug In GOOGLE SEARCH ENGINE I got This while searching for the article

I got the following error while searching for

100000000..10000000000

Is it a bug? I dont think so.

Just look at the URL.. Its starts with a sorry .

Anyone with a specific reason why it happened.

google, tweaks, searchbox,

Rapidshare All in One tool

All-in-One RapidShare Leecher Pack is a set of RapidShare tools.
List of Rapidshare tools in the pack:
» RapGet
» Hide IP Platinum
» Rapid Leecher
» RapidHarvest
» US Downloader
» Renew IP
» MegaUpload Premium
» Free 2 days Premium
» Internet Download Manager

Download at your own risk, I did not test the software personally

Found Via LiewCf

Rapidshare, premium accounts, free, tool

Free Rapidshare Premium Link Maker

          How many times have you searched for Rapidshare Premium account and got nothing left with. Well i have the solution for this problem well you can always use the alternate download mirror site Or you can choose to have a Rapidshare Premium Link maker.

Features Of Premium Account Links:
1) Its supports Multiple Custom Channels
2) Supports multiple RapidShare files at once
3) Supports Download Managers and resume Downloading Feature.

I used it very often now to get Rapidshare Premium Link maker and often I miss thier service. They have limited Fund so donate it some bucks for running it smoothly.

Rapidshare, premium accounts, free

Create A Custom Google Search Engine For Ur Website

                      Well that's true, Google Co-OP now support the Custom Serch Engine for your webpage. It's just like the adsense but it's free , and does not reuire any adsense account for the Serach bar.
             I found it a very good because it's give you to try for lot's of option and well I am going to have it very soon.
Referral Link:
Create Your Search Box with google

google, searchbox, webpage, free

Adding Google sitemap to blogger account

Many of Us must be teling you that main limitation of blogger is that you can submit a sitemap using blogger.Well, it's not true at all submitting a site map tp blogger is as easy as to submit it to normal owned sites. so don't worry now.

The following method is well tasted and results are very good so far.Just folow the simlple methods:
Well, blogger has already powered with Atom feed for keeping track of your post and feed. So we can use that facility to submit a sitemap to google.
1) log in to your google sitemap account and submit ur site. Ex: http://frankytips.blogspot.com

2) Verify your site:
Well, google sitemap provides you two ways to verify your site.You can either upload html file or by adding Meta tags.As uploading a html file at blogger is not possible as yet but you can add meta tags. refer following tutorial.

3) Go to your blogger.com and login to your account. Goto your blog > Click on Template
Paste the META tag code after section/ Go to templates > HTML & Paste the META tag code after section:

Save the template and rebulish it for the changes.
4) Return back to Sitemap account and click to verify

5) Now you will a message that the site has been added and now submit a sitemap to lets us know more about your site.
6) Submit a sitemap:
You can submit a sitemap for your account now, for blogger users there is arrangement of feed
so, give a adress of you feed. Paste url of your Atom feed: For example http://frankytips.blogspot.com/rss.xml and click on Add Web sitemap:

7) It's done. You will get confirmation:

You have added a Sitemap to http://cyberciti.blogspot.com/. Reports may take several hours to update. Thank you for your patience!

And you are done and your blog will be now index very fast (depend upon your posting and content).
blogger, sitemap, google, submit

Make old Extensionc Compitible in Firefox2

                        Well, Now the real problem starts. After upgrading to Firefox2, we might have noticed that some of your Firefox extensions are not working well or they might have been already disabled.
      I have found a solution to this , if you like me bookmark it.

Let's go!
Quick 'n Dirty Quick Hack, a step by step:
           1- download the extension
           2- change the .xpi into .zip
           3- extract the .zip
           4- open the extracted install.rdf
           5- replace the string 1.5.n where n is some minor number in the maxversion tag
           6- save the .rdf file
           7- put the modified .rdf back into the .zip
           8- change the .zip back into .xpi
           9- Install .xpi file from the open file menu
           10- enjoy...


Also I found , MR Tech’s Local Install extension Power tool as the solution for this problem.
                  Now , this tool provided by MR Tech’s converts your old Firefox extensions to new firefox2 add-ons. go ahead and have Power-surfing.

Download: MR Tech’s Local Install extension to Convert Old extension to Firefox2 Compitible


firefox 2, tweaks, extainsions, not compitible

Firefox2: A must have Browser

                 "Enhancements to usability, security and customization make Firefox 2 a must-have upgrade for all Web users" this is what they said in press for official release of firefox2.

                 Well, I must say that Firefox2 lovers will not have to wait for new generation technology Power surfing, it available it's there, now go and get the firefox2 Today. And dont foreget to try All new tweaks for Firefox2 fore Power Surfing.

                 Well, while taking a close look at our Firefox2 features, I found that they have made significant changes in this revolutionary browser and released it before proposed time( firefox2 was about to release on 20th Nov.) In less than two years, tens of millions of people worldwide have discovered the easier, faster and safer online experience that Firefox provides. Translated into more than 35 languages at its release, Firefox 2 is available in a native language version for more people around the world than any other Web browser. This is the biggest factor which makes the Firefox native in comparison with others.

             Now, We will take a close look at its feature; unlike Firefox (1.5+) all the features are available with some up gradations.

What’s New in Firefox 2

Improvements to the user interface, security tools and options for customization, combine to deliver a rich, engaging, safer and more productive Web browsing experience for all.

Tabbed browsing. Firefox popularized tabbed browsing, enabling multiple Web sites to be viewed as separate tabs contained within a single browser window, and improving people’s efficiency by helping them better organize their desktops. In Firefox 2, tabbed browsing has been further improved with the addition of individual close buttons on each tab, enhanced tab navigation features, and a session restore system that automatically restores previously-open windows and tabs when a new browsing session is started.

Spell checking. Modern Web sites are increasingly complex with the rollout of new, rich Internet applications, such as word processors, spreadsheets and blogging tools. Inline spell checking in Firefox 2 automatically checks for spelling errors and suggests corrections as users interact with Web sites, bringing a common desktop feature to the Web.

Search. Search is one of the most frequently used features of the Web. With Firefox 2, Mozilla improves the browser’s integrated search capabilities, making it even easier for users to find the information they are looking for. The new Search Suggestions feature dynamically updates a drop-down list of suggested search terms as users enter text into the search bar for Google, Yahoo! or Answers.com search engines.

Web feeds. Firefox users can now take better advantage of the frequently updated content offered by Web sites, with increased options for handling Web feeds. Users now see a preview of the content being offered and are given the option to subscribe to a feed as a Live Bookmark, using a Web service such as Bloglines, My Yahoo!, or Google Reader, or with a desktop application.

Identity theft protection. In addition to its award-winning safeguards for blocking drive-by installation of spyware and unwanted pop-up windows, Firefox 2 helps protect users from identity theft by quickly informing them when they surf to a questionable Web site. To protect users’ privacy, Phishing Protection is active by default with a local blacklist that updates hourly, rather than sending information to an external online service. An enhanced mode is available where users may optionally elect to have Firefox check the validity of Web sites with a third-party Web service, such as Google, prior to loading the site. Phishing Protection provides warnings, advice and guidance when Firefox encounters a Web site that appears to be fraudulent or malicious.

Proven security model. Mozilla’s open and transparent community-driven security model helps ensure Firefox provides the safest possible online experience. Thousands of security experts and technical contributors from around the world examine and analyze the Firefox source code, uncover potential threats and vulnerabilities, and work together to quickly identify and address emerging threats. This open, distributed, innovative approach to security puts people’s interests first and delivers the safest Web experience possible.

Customization. No other browser can be customized like Firefox 2. With thousands of add-ons that enhance the browser’s functionality and features, Firefox lets users personalize their Web browsers to fit their interests and style.

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# All new Firefox2 Tweaks: A power-surfing Experience

firefox2, tweaks

  

Firefox2 Tweaks: Power-Surfing Experience

In honor of the Firefox 2.0 release yesterday, today we'll dive deep into the bowels of the fox's config with a handful of my favorite Firefox 2 (and older) tweaks.

The Firefox homepage calls the web browser "fully customizable to your online life," and that's not just marketing claptrap. Beyond the extensive options available in its menus and dialogs, there's a lengthy set of advanced Firefox preferences that can customize the browser to your specific needs. Sure, your brother-in-law's not likely to edit Firefox's default configuration, but you? You're a power surfer and you want your web browser your way.

How to modify Firefox's configuration (about:config)

All this "advanced config" talk got you worried? Fear not, my friend. Here's the deal: Firefox's configuration is a long list of keys and values. To view this list, type about:config into the Firefox address bar. Then, enter the name of the key you want to update in the "Filter" field. The list will narrow to only the entries that match your keyword as you type, as shown.



To modify the value of a key, double-click on the value field and update the entry. To see your changes, restart your browser. Isn’t Easy .
Got it? Good. Let's get to tweaking.

Session restore

Fx 2.0 only: As a blogger and web mail user, it breaks my heart to recount how many times I've composed a long post or email message, then accidentally closed the tab or browser and lost all my work. No more! With Firefox 2, set the browser.startup.page key to 3 to restore your browsing session - with form entries intact! - every time you start your browser or undo close tab after a wayward click. Note: By default, Firefox 2 automatically restores your session if your browser crashes - but this does it every time you restart your browser normally. Thanks for the tip, Arun!
Key: browser.startup.page
Modified Value: 3
Default: 1 (open your specified homepages)

Update: Ryan points out that doing it this way is like swatting a fly with a sledgehammer. To do it the normal person way, from the Tools menu choose Options, and in the Main area, select "Show my windows and tabs from last time" from the "When Firefox starts" dropdown. D'oh! Thanks Ryan!


Tab width before scrolling kicks in

Fx 2.0 only: The biggest interface changes in Firefox 2 involve tabbed browsing. Power surfers who open more than a dozen tabs will notice that Firefox 2 minimizes tabs to a certain width, then sets the excess to scroll off the tab bar with left and right arrows. As someone who often has more than a dozen tabs open, not being able to see them all made me crazy. One solution is to reduce the minimum tab width so that more tabs fit in the bar before the scroll kicks in. The default is 100 pixels; I found that 75 worked better for me - page titles were still readable, but more tabs could fit. Compare 100 width, which fits 7 tabs across at this size (click to enlarge):



To disable tab scrolling entirely, set the value to 0.
Key: browser.tabs.tabMinWidth
Modified Value: 75 (fit in more tabs before overflow enables scroll)
Alternate Modified Value: 0 (disable scroll entirely)
Default: 100


Tab close buttons

Fx 2.0 only: Another tab interface change in Firefox 2 is the addition of a close button on each individual tab. I happen to love this, but some hate it, saying it causes them to accidentally close a tab when just trying to switch to it. If you're a hater, revert to the Firefox 1.5 behavior by changing the browser.tabs.closeButtons value to 3. This will not display close tabs on individual tabs, and turn on a single close tab button at the right end of the tab bar.
Key: browser.tabs.closeButtons
Modified Value: 3 (revert to Firefox 1.5 behavior)
Alternate Modified Value: 2 (don't display any close tab buttons)
Default: 1 (display close buttons on all tabs)


Fetch only what you click

Fx .6 and up: Firefox has this wacky little feature that downloads pages from links it thinks you may click on pages you view, like the top result on a page of Google results. This means you use up bandwidth and CPU cycles and store history for web pages you may not have ever viewed. Creepy, eh? To stop that madness, set the network.prefetch-next key to false.
Key: network.prefetch-next
Modified Value: false


Limit RAM usage

All versions: Goodness knows I've done a good amount of belly-aching about Firefox's voracious appetite for RAM. (It's consistently the most memory-intensive process on both my PC and Mac.) Happily a simple config tweak got Mem Use right back down to a more comfortable number. Along with the previous prefetch mod, set your browser.cache.disk.capacity to a value that fits your total RAM.
Key: browser.cache.disk.capacity
Modified Value: Depends on your system's total memory. According to Computerworld:

For RAM sizes between 512BM and 1GB, start with 15000. For RAM sizes between 128MB and 512M, try 5000.


Turn off chrome tooltips



All versions: I have an irritating Firefox problem on my Mac. When I try to drag a bookmark into one of my bookmark toolbar folders, the tool tip gets in the way and prevents the drop from working. Argh! Like you, I already know what all the buttons on my browser chrome do, so the tool tips aren't necessary. To turn them off, set the browser.chrome.toolbar_tips key value to false. Bonus is, it solved my Mac's bookmark drag and drop problem.
Key: browser.chrome.toolbar_tips
Modified Value: false



Lastly, though 2.0's default value is a lot more reasonable than 1.5's, you can use about:config to put off that annoying Unresponsive Script dialog on Javascript-heavy web pages.

Update: From the comments, a few more good about:config tweaks:
layout.spellcheckDefault = 2 turns on Firefox 2's spell-checking in input fields as well as textareas. (That means no more typos in Lifehacker post headlines!)
browser.urlbar.hideGoButton=true turns off the rarely-used Go button at the end of the address bar, for more room to see long URLs. Thanks, sister-ray!

See the MozillaZine about:config wiki page for the exhaustive list of Firefox preferences keys, their possible values and effects.

What are your favorite Firefox about:config tweaks? Post 'em up in the comments.
firefox2, tweaks, performancing