Ten extensions that add Firefox power

• Tags:
• Performance,
• Extensions,
• Browser,
• Firefox

Jack Wallen

Published: 17 Jul 2009 12:14 BST

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...and not exit the browser? Instead of navigating through the menu structure, you can add this simple extension. It provides a button that gives you complete cache clearing with a single click.

7. TimeTracker
TimeTracker is not really a tool that will improve your browsing experience. In fact, this extension just reminds you how much time you have spent browsing.

I have found this little gem useful in a number of circumstances. Whether you are in need of a quick five-minute break from number crunching or just want to know how much time you have spent on a specific website, TimeTracker will record how long you have been browsing.

What is nice about this tool it that it times across sessions. So when you close the browser, the timer stops; when you reopen it, the timer starts again. You can reset the timer by right-clicking the status bar timer and selecting Reset.

8. iMacros
This extension automates almost anything you do in Firefox. From opening sites to filling out forms and even administration work, you can automate it with iMacros.

The iMacros extension has a sidebar that shows favourite macros. It also has a record feature that allows you to create macros by simply clicking Record, going through the motions of the macro to be created, then clicking Save.

These macros can be as complex as you need them to be. When you want to run them, simply navigate to the macro in the iMacros sidebar and click the Play button. The only disadvantage I have found with this tool is that you cannot assign key combinations to run macros. Other than that, this extension is a must-have for power browsers.

9. Fasterfox
Fasterfox does one thing: it makes Firefox load pages more quickly. The speed of page loading can be increased by allowing simultaneous connections and pre-fetching.

This extension is in the experimental stage because of the release of Firefox 3. To install it, you have to log into a Firefox account to download, but it is worth the hassle. The speed increase is noticeable.

10. BlogRovR
We all read blogs, which takes time. Instead of wasting time going to the blogs, though, this handy extension can fetch them for you. You have to sign up for an account using this extension — they promise they will not spam you. You will be asked to install another sidebar called Stickies, which is not necessary.

Once you have this installed, simply enter the blog URL and BlogRovR will begin fetching the information. Be warned, though: if you have NoScript installed, you must allow the BlogRovR page to run scripts or it will not be able to fetch pages for you.

Your own discoveries
So that's my list of the various types of extensions that will make your Firefox experience better. Some of these are for power users and some are for everyone. What extensions have you found that make your daily browsing better?

Credit: 10 Firefox extensions you can't live without from TechRepublic.com

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