FireFox 4 Browser is Out!

Since abandoning Internet Explorer, I always had a thing for Firefox. It opened my eyes to the world of internet browsers. When I was a budding computer geek, I used to think that Internet Explorer is the only browser available. For the information of everybody, I did not have a formal training about computers and I was only introduced to the tech world by my father who studied programming. It was love at first sight and so I continue to expand my interest and knowledge about computers until today. 


A friend had recommended Firefox to me and I was open to the idea since Internet Explorer doesn't really offer the flexibility and security I need when it comes to Internet. But after a while, I have come to realize that Firefox is really not that special specially after discovering Google Chrome which what I am using now. Firefox can't really beat Chrome when it comes to speed and convenience. So not long ago, I switched yet again. So to try to entice us back to Firefox, they released the latest version which is Firefox 4 with added features and plug-ins/add-ons to make or enhances its functionality. These are some things that you may want to look at and consider Firefox once again:

Custom Tab Width 1.0.1
It's a simple modification in the browser interface. Custom tab width simply lets you determine how wide or slim you want your tabs to be. This is really not much but for those who are frequent tab users this  a convenient feature that will give you the option on what tab width you are most comfortable with. By default though, Firefox puts a limit on your options from a maximum of 250 characters to a minimum of 100 characters.

FabTabs 1.4
The feature is fairly simple, it makes a tab look distinct from other tabs. This is convenient for those who uses tabs often as you will be able to visually distinguish the sites you opened from other sites. This is also due to the fact that tabs become smaller as you open a lot of tabs and makes the text unreadable. The different color or appearance can easily help you sort that problem out.


Fab Tab does this wonderful feature by taking a screenshot of the site you are viewing and associating it with the color most prominent in the website. Although this seems foolish, it actually works. Like for example the website CNN was colored red although most of the site is colored white.

Tab Badge 1.2
As we open and explore a lot of sites all at the same time. It is fairly common to miss out things that are happening to one of the sites you opened. So it is important that there are notifications available of the internet browser. 


Tab Badge simply adds a small bright red visual notification on open sites of social networking and email sites. This add-on works on Facebook, Twitter, Gmail and more.


Easy App Tabs 3
One of the new features of the browser is the 'App Tab'. This is a small tab that is used to mark websites that you want to use but doesn't devote an entire tab to. By default, app tabs are placed by right clicking and selecting Pin as App Tab from the menu, but Easy Tabs lets you do this by simply double clicking on a tab. It's quicker and easier.

Movable Firefox Button 1.3
This simply makes the Firefox button movable. By default the button is seen on the upper left  hand corner of the browser in lined with the other tabs. This feature lets you move the button elsewhere giving you more space for your tabs to appear.

Vertical Toolbar 0.2
Opera users might like this one. Vertical Toolbars conveniently add a toolbar placed vertically much like Opera does but Firefox is really not Opera so there is a limit on what things you can put on the toolbar by default. You can access your bookmarks, browsing history and download manager at the top while you can find full screen view, printing and refresh buttons at the bottom.


What's more interesting is you can go to the Firefox button, then select Options, then go to Toolbar Layout. You can add more toolbar functions here that are not included in the default toolbar. If you installed the Movable Firefox button, you can also put the button in the Vertical Toolbar.


Instant Preview 3
This feature, once installed shows pages while you are typing in the search bar. The pages will automatically load as you type. When you click on them, the page is already partially or fully loaded. However, this will only work on websites that you already visited.


Conclusion
This add-ons are actually only few of the several add-ons that you can install. As Mozilla, Firefox's developer, is developing more innovations and more people learn of the latest browser, the list of add-ons available may well be multiplied. So you may want to check up their sites often to be updated of new things they release.