Mozilla's Firefox is at version 2.0.0.3 right now, proving extremely popular with Linux, Mac and Windows users. I've been a Firefox fan for several years now, but have only recently discovered the usefulness of its extensions:
- Bookmark Sync and Sort - allows you to store your bookmarks on a webserver having them synchronised to your PC every time you use Firefox. I find this extremely useful and essential for my web browsing, as my bookmarks are stored centrally on slickhouse.com - so that if I open Firefox at work, I'll be presented with the same bookmarks that I use at home, or even out and about with my laptop. If I come across a webpage that I want to keep for future reference, I simply bookmark it as usual and once I close Firefox, that bookmark is synchronised with the web server. If I later decide to delete it, then the bookmark disappears from the web server. Simple. There's plenty of options within the extension, allowing you to adapt it to your specific needs. I'm aiming to go one step further in the near future though - by creating an online bookmarks CMS, allowing me to access my bookmarks from any browser in the world, but for now this extension is perfect.
- British English Dictionary - is ideal for me as a blogger and regular forum user. Firefox was recently blessed with a built-in spell checker feature, which checks your spelling in real-time. There's not much else to say, but it's helped me out numerous times in the past. Of course, there are plenty of other dictionaries available, but as I'm British, this extension is ideal.
- Web Developer - is one of the most popular extensions. Designed with Web Developers in mind, it has many functions built-in. The extension is both a menu and toolbar, allowing you to access the various options quickly and easily. It also comes complete with an icon for integrating with your current toolbars, allowing you to hide the toolbar itself for more screen real-estate. With the Web Developer extension you can disable various elements of a web page; outline elements; resize the window; validate code; view and edit source code and much more. I'm only just scratching the surface of it in my day-to-day usage. If you design and code your own websites, then this extension is a must.
- Domain Details - is perhaps the simplest of my favoured extensions. It allows you to find out various pieces of information for the domain you are currently viewing - such as whois and IP address info. It's another must-have for Web Developers or those interested in delving a bit deeper into a website.
Edit: Since writing this article, I've stopped using the Bookmark Sync and Sort and the Dictionaries have moved.