ath3na's talking points

Description: I recently clean installed Windows XP on my laptop, and this meant that I had to re-install all the essential software that I use. It also presented an opportunity to write a posting about how you can outfit your computer with all the essential (and non-essential) software you need using strictly 100% freeware and/or open source titles.This posting could have been titled any of the following:

• How to never use a paid program again (aside from Windows).
• 53 essential freeware programs that can take care of the majority of your computing needs.

I am writing this from the perspective of myself clean-installing Windows and re-installing all the software I find to be essential afterwards. Read More >>

Many of these apps I have never tried, but there is at least one that he left out... Firefox! I couldn't live without it.

Has your Internet seemed slow?
Ever seem to take forever to load up that favorite site of yours?
Get tired of staring at adds upon banner adds upon sidebar adds?

Me too. That's why I'd like to share my new discovery with you. It's called Adblock Plus and can be found at adblockplus.org. This is a Firefox extension that block's eliminates most of the blinky, flashy distractions, allowing you to more quickly navigate Web pages. Using this extension, in combination with Firefox (really, if you aren't using it yet, then why the hell not?) can help make your Interneting experience a more civilized, quieter, and less commercial place. This not only eliminates most of the adds, but reorganizes the page so you'll not even know they were there. How great is that?

If you ask me, the best way to use this extension is by subscribing to a couple of lists that have pretty much figured out what you don't want to see. I subscribed right away to EasyList and EasyElement, they both can be found at easylist.adblockplus.org.

And really, I shouldn't even have to be saying this but... for some of you less techy friends of mine, I'll say it once more... Get Firefox!!

In this Lifehacker download of the day article the extensions FEBE and CLEO were introduced...

"Windows only: The Firefox Extension Backup Extension (FEBE) lets you backup all of your extensions, themes, bookmarks, preferences, and even cookies (you can pick and choose if you don't want to backup everything), while it's counterpart, CLEO (Compact Library Extension Organizer) bundles everything into a single .xpi file that you can install on any installation of Firefox."

Since I had been in search for an end-all backup solution for Firefox myself, especially seeing as that It takes me a while to set it up just how I like it, I downloaded it and tried it myself. I LOVED IT! As a matter-of-fact, right after installation I had a little bug in a test-run extension and had to completely uninstall Firefox, and decided to do a clean-sweep, including all bookmarks, preferences, the user chrome and all. Since I had FEBE and CLEO, I didn't have to worry about loosing any of this good stuff. I simply uninstalled it all used the FEBE and CLEO duo to reinstall all of my preferences, bookmarks, extensions, and themes. My Firefox installation went from taking me an hour or more to install and tweak, to a mere 5 minutes. Sweet!

Below is a list of Firefox extensions that I couldn't live without. You should definitely check 'em out! I recommend you download my own personal Firefox collection, which can be found here, and includes all of the below extensions, or just follow the individual links to download them individually.

// "rainbowCipherFFcollection.xpi": CLEO Version: 2.0
//
// ColorfulTabs{1.6}.xpi
Colorful Tabs
Version: 1.6
By: Shivanand Sharma AKA Varun
Colorful Tabs colors every tab in a different color
and makes them easy to distinguish while beautifying
the overall appeal of the interface.
For Firefox versions 1.0 to 2.0.0.*
Homepage: http://varun21.googlepages.com/main.html

// CompactLibraryExtensionOrganizerCLEO{1.0RC1}.xpi
Compact Library Extension Organizer (CLEO)
Version: 1.0 RC1
By: Chuck Baker
Create multi-extension install package For Firefox
versions 1.5 to 2.0
Homepage: http://customsoftwareconsult.com/extensions

// CompactLibraryExtensionOrganizerCLEO{2.0}.xpi
Compact Library Extension Organizer (CLEO)
Version: 2.0
By: Chuck Baker
Create multi-extension install package
For Firefox versions 1.5 to 2.0.0.*
Homepage: http://customsoftwareconsult.com/extensions

// DownThemAll{0.9.9.7}.xpi
DownThemAll!
Version: 0.9.9.7
By: Federico Parodi - Stefano Verna
The mass downloader for Firefox.
For Firefox versions 1.5 to 3.0a1
Homepage: http://www.downthemall.net

// Fasterfox{2.0.0}.xpi
Fasterfox
Version: 2.0.0
By: Tony Gentilcore
Performance and network tweaks for Firefox.
For Firefox versions 1.5 to 2.0.0.*
Homepage: http://fasterfox.mozdev.org/

// FirefoxExtensionBackupExtensionFEBE{3.0RC1}.xpi
Firefox Extension Backup Extension (FEBE)
Version: 3.0 RC1
By: Chuck Baker
Create backup of installed extensions, themes and more
For Firefox versions 1.5 to 2.0
Homepage: http://customsoftwareconsult.com/extensions

// GoogleBrowserSync{1.3.20061031.0}.xpi
Google Browser Sync
Version: 1.3.20061031.0
By: Google
Synchronize settings between browsers
For Firefox versions 1.5 to 2.0.*
Homepage: http://www.google.com/.../browsersync/

// GoogleToolbarforFirefox{2.1.20060807W}.xpi
Google Toolbar for Firefox
Version: 2.1.20060807W
By: Google Inc.
Take the power of Google with you anywhere on the Web!
For Firefox versions 1.5.0 to 2.0.99
Homepage: http://www.google.com/

// Greasemonkey{0.6.6.20061017.0}.xpi
Greasemonkey
Version: 0.6.6.20061017.0
By: Aaron Boodman; http://youngpup.net/
A User Script Manager for Firefox
For Firefox versions 1.5 to 2.0.0.*
Homepage: http://greasemonkey.mozdev.org/

// IEViewLite{1.2.5}.xpi
IE View Lite
Version: 1.2.5
By: Grayson Mixon
Cut down version of IE View by Paul Roub.
For Firefox versions 1.5 to 3.0a1
Homepage: http://www.graysonmixon.com/extension/

// Microfirefox{1.7}.jar
Microfirefox
Version: 1.7
By: Alfred Kayser
MicroFirefox, for Firefox
For Firefox versions 1.0 to 3.0a1
Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/.../themes.htm

// PDFDownload{0.7.6}.xpi
PDF Download
Version: 0.7.6
By: Denis Remondini
Allows to choose if you want to view a PDF file inside
the browser (as PDF or HTML), if you want to view it
outside Firefox with your default or custom PDF
reader, or if you want to download it!
For Firefox versions 1.5 to 2.0.0.*
Homepage: http://www.pdfdownload.org

// TabMixPlus{0.3.49.061028}.xpi
Tab Mix Plus
Version: 0.3.49.061028
By: (Author unknown)
Tab browsing with an added boost.
For Firefox versions 1.0 to 3.0a1
Homepage: http://tmp.garyr.net

// TinyMenu{1.2.4}.xpi
Tiny Menu
Version: 1.2.4
By: Anthony Lieuallen
Replace the standard menu bar with a tiny menu popup.
For Firefox versions 1.5 to 2.0.0.*
Homepage: http://firefox-extensions.../tiny+menu

// TinyUrlCreator{1.0.2-FF20}.xpi
TinyUrl Creator
Version: 1.0.2-FF20
By: Jeremy Gillick / modified by bzn
Convenient tool to create small url redirects from
longer ones.
For Firefox versions 0.7 to 2.0.*.*
Homepage: http://mozmonkey.com/

// VideoDownloader{1.1.1}.xpi
VideoDownloader
Version: 1.1.1
By: Javi Moya
Download videos from Youtube, Google, Metacafe, iFilm,
Dailymotion... and other 60+ video sites ! And all
embedded objects on a webpage (movies, mp3s, flash,
quicktime, etc).
For Firefox versions 1.5 to 2.0.0.*
Homepage: http://videodownloader.net/

Also, for further Firefox tweaking, check-out:

• Top Firefox 2 config tweaks
• Customize Firefox with userChrome.css