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6 New Year’s Resolutions to Keep with Firefox Add-Ons

under Firefox, Firefox Add-Ons

What are your resolutions for 2012? Ours are to keep putting you and the good of the Web first. So whether you’re looking to lose weight or stay out of debt, we want to help! (You weren’t thinking of giving up already, were you?)

We wish we could send you a cute red panda to give you a stern look every time you reach for a cookie, but here are a few fantastic add-ons to help you with your goals instead:

Things to Start:

  • Saving Money — Stopping for takeout four times a week can be pricey. If you’d rather opt for home-cooked meals, Grocery List Generator will make sure you don’t forget to pick up that crucial ingredient.
  • Traveling — You’ve talked about going on a trip so often that it almost feels like you’ve already done it. Get yourself on the road (for real) with TravelScout’s convenient deals and price comparisons.
  • Learning a New Language (kinda) — Maybe you don’t have time to learn an entire new language this year, but this is almost as good! Use Im Translator to translate foreign language websites and emails into your language.

Things to Stop:

  • Overeating — Kick your holiday gorging habit with the Calorie Count Toolbar, which logs your caloric intake throughout the day.
  • Stressing Out — We know you’re busy, but taking a few minutes every hour to stretch and look at something other than a computer screen will do wonders for your stress levels (not to mention your joints). Try out StretchClock for useful reminders!
  • Smoking — Ready to put down those cigarettes for good? Try using Quitomzilla for incentives right in your browser.

And if your plans fall through despite all of this awesome motivation, don’t worry, we’re not here to judge. Cheer yourself up with a new Persona!

6 Ways Firefox Makes Tablet Browsing More Awesome

under Firefox for Mobile

Let’s talk tablets – because that’s what everyone else is talking about these days. It’s tablet this, and tablet that, but with the latest version of Firefox for Android, we think that the conversation just got more interesting!

With the new version of Firefox for Android (you can download it from the green button on the right of the blog or also download it right here!) the browser works the way you do on a tablet. Here are a few of the reasons that Firefox for Android makes tablet browsing more awesome:

  1. Tablet tabs are terrific! – You use tabs on your desktop, why not on your tablet? In the past, tabs on a tablet  have been a little clumsy, though. Not anymore! Tabs now appear more streamlined – as thumbnail Web pages in the left panel of the tablet screen, so you can easily switch between them with your thumbs (which works well with the way you hold your tablet.) Should you want to hide the tabs for a full-screen experience, just swipe to the left and they disappear from few. It’s like magic!
  2.  It’s built for two-handed browsing – Depending on what you’re task is, you hold your tablet differently. Or, for some, they just have a preference for one direction or the other. The latest Firefox for Android maximizes your browsing experience no matter which direction you choose. In portrait mode, tabs are listed at the top, rather than the side when you’re in landscape mode.
  3. You control your own experience – Firefox is made for you – the user – and no one else. Using the new Action Bar (next to the Awesome Bar) you can access your preferences, add-ons, downloads and everything that makes your Android browser, well, YOURS! You can add the back, forward and bookmark buttons for easy access, or hide them again.
  4. One-touch bookmarks give easy access  – Located in the Action Bar, you can activate one-touch bookmarks. An icon appears on your Android home screen which is where your favorite Websites and Web apps live, making them as easy to find and use as native apps.
  5. Your desktop “stuff” follows you wherever you go  – Because we know it’s sometimes a pain to type on mobile devices, the tablet experience also incorporates Firefox Sync, so it’s easy to access your browsing history, open tabs, bookmarks and saved passwords from any of your devices. Type less, browse more, is the secret to tablet happiness.
  6. Developers have cool new functionality – For developers, there is just too much awesome in the new Firefox for Android to mention them all in one blog post. But you can visit the Firefox for Developers page to read all about the new tablet goodness that you can enjoy.

 

Tablet users finally have a reason to enjoy browsing the Web. And non-tablet users? We think these reasons might make everyone run out for a new Android tablet purchase! To get more information, check out the video, below.

10 Reasons to Upgrade to the Latest Firefox Version

under Fast Firefox, Firefox, Firefox Upgrade, Mozilla

Firefox

*Updated: January 26, 2012

When there’s a new version of Firefox, some people rush right out and get it to make sure they have the latest and greatest! They want to take advantage of the advanced features, the security fixes, the blazing speed, the customization… well, you get the idea.

For some folks, however, upgrading takes a bit more thought and consideration.

We totally understand that. Hey, change is hard! But sometimes, change is also good, once you have all the information.

So here is a list of reasons that addresses some of the most-voiced concerns from our users and covers why you should upgrade to the latest version of Firefox.

10 Reasons to Upgrade to the Latest Firefox Version

1. It’s free! Many people are concerned about the cost of upgrading. You can take that worry off your plate right away. We don’t charge for Firefox. Not now. Not ever. The best things in life are free!

2. It’s easier than you might think. A lot of folks don’t want to upgrade because they think they aren’t tech-savvy enough or they might hurt their computer by doing something wrong. Some just plain don’t know how. Let us show you how easy it is! It only takes two minutes — heck, you can finish off that email to your mom while we work in the background to give you the latest Firefox.

  • Visit http://mozilla.org/firefox/speed/
  • If you have the latest version, the speedometer will show you how fast your browser is.
  • If not, download the latest version for free. (Only download from a Mozilla site to avoid scams.)
  • Play on the Internet for two minutes while Firefox loads on your computer lickety split!

3. It’s fast. Browser speed is super important to just about everyone. That’s why with each upgrade, we make Firefox faster and faster. Faster than a speeding bullet! Able to leap tall buildings… you get the point. But just how fast is it? Our latest version is up to 7 TIMES faster than Firefox 3.6. That’s a lot of ticks on the speedometer! How fast is your Firefox?

4. It’s more stable. When your browser doesn’t work the way you want, it slows you down. It’s frustrating. It makes you grumpy. We don’t want grumpy users — we want happy users! That’s why we continue to make Firefox more and more stable. Older versions of Firefox crash more often. Upgrading is the way to go! See how much happier browsing can be with the newest version.

5. It’s more secure. Not every update is about new features alone! With each passing day, online tricksters get smarter and more proficient at hacking into your computer to get to your private information. Firefox is an awesome line of defense — and with each upgrade, we include the latest security features to keep you as safe as possible.

6. You can keep all your bookmarks! Firefox automatically creates backups of your bookmarks and saves the last 10 backups for safe keeping. We’ve got your back — and your backups! Journey to a faster Firefox by taking your bookmarks and browsing history with you.

7. Improved memory usage. The latest Firefox version includes improvements for memory usage — you could see up to 50% improvement. This means that Firefox and the websites you use will be snappier and more responsive and that Firefox is less likely to crash because of memory use. You’ll especially see these improvements if you keep Firefox open for a long time, have a lot of tabs open at once or use Firefox on Windows.

8. It’s easy to search with Firefox. Lots of folks have told us that they don’t upgrade because they can’t use their Google Toolbar in the newest versions. While Google discontinued support for the toolbar, we haven’t left you to float in the wind. There are other options, like GoogleBar, while many of the functions of the original toolbar have been integrated right into the browser. We also have integrated search choices, including Google, Bing, Twitter, Amazon, Ebay and Yahoo! Plus, you can easily customize your search preferences at any time.

9. You’ll join 100 MILLION people on the most modern version of Firefox. They already upgraded and are enjoying all the awesome the latest version of Firefox has to offer. So can you!

10. And the best reason is . . . you’ll be supporting the Mozilla mission. We are different by design. As a non-profit, we’re free to innovate on your behalf without any pressure to compromise. You’re going to love the difference. Happy downloading!

Shop Online with Firefox and Beat the Crowds

under Firefox, Firefox Add-Ons, Online Shopping with Firefox, Shopping Add-Ons

Shopping BagSuccessful shopping takes focus and a plan. That’s why Firefox is the perfect shopping companion. It lets you choose where you want to search, be it Amazon, eBay, Google, Bing or others. All you have to do is pick from the drop-down menu in the search bar at the top right of your browser.

To make it even easier, we have an Online Shopping add-on collection for you. It features 11 add-ons for Firefox that not only enhance searching, but also help you find the lowest price on exactly what you’re looking for.

Here are a few of the highlights (check to make sure add-ons are available for your locale – there are choices for all!):

InvisibleHand helps you find the lowest price when you’re shopping online or searching for flights by displaying a discreet notification when it finds a better price.

Boo.ly Shopping also helps you save by letting you compare prices and find coupons and offers. It works with Amazon, Google, Yahoo, Bing and thousands of online retailers.

Amazon Assist is the official Amazon.com add-on. It lets you access product details, ratings and the latest prices from anywhere on the Web.

Unfortunately we can’t help you with any bills or buyer’s remorse. Luckily there are plenty of online cat videos to help distract you from that kind of thing.

Firefox for Mobile – Type Less, Browse More

under Android Home Screen, Firefox for Mobile, Firefox for Mobile Features, Master Password, Online Shopping with Firefox, Sync, Uncategorized

There are two great new features in Firefox for mobile to tell you about this month. Just make sure you’ve got the latest version to take advantage of them.

The first is Master Password Support, which lets you encrypt saved usernames and passwords for better security. It also means you only have to remember one password yourself. That’s especially helpful if you’re the kind of person always looking for their keys (by the way, do you know where they are right now?) You’ll find the “Use Master Password” checkbox under Preferences.

You can now also bookmark any website and add it to your Android Home Screen. From there, you can access it with just one click. We think that’s going to come in handy in lots of ways, especially with shopping season on its way (in a big way). Combined with Sync, search, security and tabs, you’ve got a powerful little shopping tool in your hands. And with great power comes great savings. Or something.

Firefox with Twitter Search Built In

under Firefox, Firefox Features, Twitter Search

Twitter birdTwitter, meet Firefox. Firefox, meet Twitter. Everyone else, meet Firefox with Twitter built in to the search bar. To use it, all you have to do is click on the search icon at the top right of your browser and select Twitter from the drop-down. Then you’re all set to search Tweets, find friends or look up trending topics. You can even use @ for people and # for hashtags to make it easier. There’s just one small catch: You need to most recent version of Firefox to take advantage of it, so if you haven’t already, download it now. Which really isn’t a catch, come to think of it. It’s more of an added bonus.

Twitter in Firefox Search Bar

Firefox Affiliates – They’re Back!

under Firefox, Firefox Affiliates

Affiliates MoeIf you’re anything like us (and seeing as you’re reading a blog post about Firefox, you probably are), you do what you can to get the word out about your favorite browser — you tell your friends, you get your family using it, you install it on random computers — but with the launch of the new Firefox Affiliates program, it’s easier than ever to share the browser love. You can host download buttons on your site and join the leader board for your chance to win great prizes. Learn more or sign up today! It’s everything you need to share Firefox with the world.

Protect Yourself from Email Phishing

under Firefox, Firefox Keeps You Secure, Mozilla, Phishing

Another great way to stay secure on the Web is to make sure you know who’s asking for your personal info before sharing it with anyone. Mozilla will never ask for anything like that by email — or any other method — so if you see anything claiming to be from us, it’s a scam. Please help out by letting us know.

In fact, if you see any suspicious online behavior, Mozilla-related or not, you should do your part to report it. There are a number of anti-phishing and law enforcement groups that can help in such cases: You can send an email to the FTC in the United States; file a report with the Anti-Phishing Working Group on their website or by email; submit a report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, co-sponsored by the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center; or find the correct reporting address in your country.

6 Ways to Stay Secure with Firefox for Desktop

under Anti-virus, Customize Firefox, Firefox, Firefox Keeps You Secure, Instant Website ID, Passwords, Phishing, Plugin Check

There are two ways to stay secure using Firefox. OK, I know we just told you there are six, but they’re split into two camps: three things that Firefox does for you, and three things you can do to protect yourself. So we did some simple security math (and checked our work) to bring you six great tools and tips!

First, here’s how Firefox has your back:

Instant Website ID
Easily see which sites you can trust and which you might need to be suspicious of with a color-coded system. Green is all good, while grey is more shady. Learn to read the signs.

Anti-Phishing & Anti-Malware
Trojan horses, spyware, fraudulent sites — these are all real online concerns, but Firefox helps warn you when you’re in danger. Go to the Firefox menu, select Preferences, click on Security and make sure that the “block reported web forgeries” checkbox is checked. Or test out your own phishing detection.

Anti-Virus Integration
If your computer gets a virus, it’s not something a little lie-down and a bowl of chicken soup is going to fix (liquids and computers generally don’t mix well). That’s why your computer’s anti-virus software integrates with Firefox to scan your downloads.

And now, a look at how you can have your own back:

Plugin Check
Plugins like Flash, Quicktime and Java can make your computer vulnerable if not up to date. Check and update them regularly with our Plugin Check for happy computers and safe browsing.

Customized Security Settings
Dial the level of scrutiny you want Firefox to give sites up or down to match your tastes, from fairly lax to ultra paranoid.

Secure Passwords
Hopefully none of your online passwords are “password.” And hopefully you didn’t just answer, “why not?” And hopefully you’ve chosen as strong a password as possible. Here’s how.