In its  latest versions, Firefox has begun sporting a new tool called Private Browsing.  It’s really a great tool and it really has more than one use!  Basically when you are in Private Browsing mode, Firefox will not remember the following:

• browser history,
• search history,
• download history,
• web form history,
• cookies, or
• temporary internet files

You’re basically browsing the Internet anonymously.  Its really easy to do, just go to “TOOLS” and then “START PRIVATE BROWSING” (or CTRL-SHIFT-P) and you’re in.

Well, many people on the Internet seem to be highlighting one particular use for such an option and I just wanted to come out and say that there IS more than one use for it!  Basically people are saying that it is a great way to cover your tracks if you have been browsing some less than desirable websites and you don’t want other people to see your browsing habits.  That’s the nice version.

Let’s see if we can list some other uses or reasons we would want to use the Private Browsing feature in Firefox.

1. Gift buying – Christmas is coming soon and it would be nice to shop online on the family computer without ruining the suprise, right?
2. Online banking (and other financial stuff) – If you are using a computer that other people are using, keep your finances to yourself!
3. Other personal sites (email, etc.) – Similarly, Private Browsing does just that, it keeps your personal interactions like email, etc. private
4. Internet caches don’t build up – As you may know, as you browse the Internet, your browser saves files from website to aid in the reloading of the site the next time you visit the site.  Well, these files can build up and eventually bog your computer down if you’re not careful.  Private Browsing mode is another way to help here.

Can you think of some other uses for Private Browsing mode?  Let us know in the comments!

I ran across this cheat sheet the other day.  It was a PDF file and all it contained was plain text, Courier I believe.  There were no graphics, no fancy fonts, and no fancy introductions.  However, what it did contain will probably change the way you use Firefox, forever!

All it contained was 3 full pages of keyboard shortcuts for Firefox!  Memorize these and become a really amazing Firefox power user of sorts!  You’ll learn the quick way to do tasks such as opening, closing and navigating tabs; using bookmarks; and navigating the current page.  Amaze your family and friends with your new-found Firefox keyboarding genius!  All of this is made possible by my friends over at MakeUseOf.com!  They put it together and offer it as an incentive to subscribe to their feed (it’s worth it, I believe).  Once you’re subscribed to the feed, look for a message similar to this:

Check it out and see what you think!

Welcome to another Firefox Friday post!  Today I want to introduce you to Firefox’s Twitter feed.

Surely you’ve heard of Twitter before, right?  Twitter is an awesome way to keep up with the latest and greatest!  Well, I use it to keep up with a few friends, but also some other technology related tweeters for the cool links they enjoy sharing.  I basically use TwitterFox and then I am notified whenever someone I’m following tweets something.  I then only waste a second or two checking it out.

Today I want to introduce you to Firefox on Twitter.  They’re constantly posting links and tweets about Firefox and Mozilla.  Just take a look at a few of the links (fresh off the Firefox Twitter press as of the writting of this post):

• More thinking on the next million Mozillians
• For Mozilla and Google, Group Hugs Get Tricky
• Robot Love is Infectious!

They also post links to the latest updates to Firefox so it’s really a great way to stay informed.  Drop by Twitter.com/Firfox and follow them!  You won’t regret it!

This Firefox Friday I want to share a fun part of Firefox.  Since the release of Firefox 3.5, the fastest version yet, Firefox has been encouraging the community to submit videos of your fastest talent to help “prove” how fast Firefox 3.5 really is.  I’d use the word “demonstrate” but either way, these videos are really interesting to watch.

Some of them include the fastest clapper, the fastest banjo player, the fastest cup stacker, and the fastest talking female.

AND, for your viewing pleasure, here’s a compilation of some of the submittals:

Would you have had the confidence to submit a video?  If so, what’s your fastest talent?

How can it be?  Is it finally Friday once again?  Well, this time an add-on has combined my favorite browser with my favorite morning beverage!  This Firefox Friday is an introduction to the very handy add-on Morning Coffee.

Morning Coffee is an add-on that makes your morning online routine a little bit easier to snap into.  I don’t know about you, but I have several websites that I automatically visit each morning while getting ready for work.  I check my email(s), my website stats, my adsense, and my RSS reader.  On weekends, I add a few more but that’s the general gist.  As you probably know, it can be a chore opening each one, but Morning Coffee changes all that.

With Morning Coffee, I can add all of the sites I want to open and they’ll open with a click of the coffee cup icon.  Very cool, and very easy!  The other cool thing is that you can add different sites according to the day of the week.  For me, my routine is pretty much the same but I know other people are different.

Check it out!  I’m sure it will make at least one thing about your morning that much easier.

I upgraded Portable Firefox to 3.5 this weekend and I immediately noticed a few differences.

First thing I noticed was that a few add-ons were not yet compatible, including WeatherBug, which I quickly looked for an upgrade which fixed the issue.  I found an indispensable link which includes two lists, one of add-ons that ARE compatible and another of add-ons that ARE NOT compatible.  Check it out here.

Another difference I noticed immediately was the “open a new tab” button which appears to the right of the tabs area.  Other browsers, such as Internet Explorer, have been sporting a similar button for quite some time and Firefox has followed suit.  Personally, I use the “cntrl-t” key combination to open new tabs so this new button doesn’t do anything for me.  How about you?

I also noticed the speed!  Firefox has upgraded its java engine making many websites a lot faster.  Those of you who have upgraded to 3.5, have you noticed a speed difference in the loading of timmyjohnboy.com?

I’ll share more about 3.5 soon.  Meanwhile, what are your thoughts on the new Firefox version?

Welcome to Firefox Friday where we keep the discussion all about Firefox, the browser.

Today I want to give a bit of an introduction to Personas.  When I ran into this, I fell in love.  They’re lightweight “skins” that give Firefox a different look.  I’ve messed around a bit with themes but I never really got into them.  Personas, I think, are a lot easier.

Head over to GetPersonas.com and see what they’re all about.  Basically, once you download the add-on, you will be presented with a small fox head at the bottom left of the browser window.  Click on it and you have a menu full of different personas.  As you move your mouse across the options, the browser will change along with them.  It’s that easy to use.

They are basically made up of three components:

1. A header image – shows up behind the buttons, address bar, and toolbars
2. A footer image – shows up behind the bar at the bottom
3. Custom font colors – the colors can change in order to make words readable

These components make designing them very easy.  In fact, there are even instructions on the site th.at show how to design, test, and even upload and share your own personas.  I’m working on getting a Timmyjohnboy.com persona approved so stay tuned!

Check them out!  When you do, come back and tell me about your favorite persona!

I was browsing around looking for something (I forget what) and a fell upon this site full of cool Firefox helps, tricks, add-on suggestions etc. and I knew I had to share about it!  I know there are many MANY Firefox sites out there but this one is worth a check-see.

The site’s called FirefoxFacts.com and it’s run by a guy named Mitch Keeler and he seems to know his stuff.  He is a self-proclaimed “average web hosting worker turned writer turned worker and writer again.”  The site was originally put together to promote an eBook but it has apparently turned into quite a collection of Firefox wisdom.

The site is made up basically of these categories all about Firefox:

1. Add-ons
2. Themes
3. Support
4. Hacks
5. News
6. Security
7. Interviews
8. Best of Firefox

I guess you can say the site is Firefox Friday EVERYDAY!  Check it out!  What other Firefox sites have you come across that you enjoy?  Share them in the comments!

Firefox Friday is here once again to help fulfill your Firefox needs!

I found a neat little tool from Firefox’s website that helps match add-ons to the type of Firefox user you are.  The page is called “Fashion Your Firefox” and here’s the down low!

Check out the page (Fashion Your Firefox) and read the introduction.  You are immediately introduced to a list of 9 different types of Internet users:

1. Finder and Seeker – offers some add-ons that may help in conducting searches
2. Social Butterfly – offers some add-ons that aid in social networking
3. Shutterbug – offers suggestions for photo-related add-ons
4. Digital Pack Rat – has add-ons that help you keep track of things like favorite sites. blogs and bookmarks
5. Rock Star – as much as I dislike rock music, this category is focused on music-based add-ons
6. Decorator – there are add-ons dedicated to decorating your browser in this category
7. Shopaholic – shop online?  find some add-ons that help in this endeavor
8. News Junkie – if you love news sites like I do, you’re sure to find an add-on you like here
9. Executive Assistant – get more organized with this category of add-ons

Obviously, the first step is to decide what kind of Firefox user you are.  You may find that you fall into several categories.  It only took seconds for me to decide which categories I fall into:

1. Finder and Seeker – This is defenitely me!  I love researching questions and problems and I get joy when I find answers that are clear and concise.  If a few add-ons can help me, what a blessing it would be!
2. Shutterbug – I love aids and tools that help organize and share my personal photos.  Sometimes I can be disorganized but there are add-ons that can help people like me!
3. Digital Pack Rat – Digitally?  I fit this category both in my digital life AND in real life!  I am always coming across sites and articles that I want to come back to eventually.  There are so many tools, articles, and sites that I would love to use and share with others but I need tools to keep them organized for me so I can actually find them again.
4. News Junkie – As I mentioned earlier, I love reading the news and I do most of my news reading online.  Tools that help with RSS reading, helping to keep me updated with new content, are imperative to me information consumption.

OK, I was open enough to share what kind of user I am.  Now it’s your turn!  What kind of Firefox user are you?

Welcome, friends, to today’s version of Firefox Friday.

This time I think I’ve come across a tool I’m really going to enjoy! It’s and add-on called “Fotofox.” Follow me and see how it works!

First, visit the add-on page: Fotofox and click the “Add to Firefox” button:

When the window pops up, click “Install Now”

Restart Firefox and click the camera button:

A sidebar should appear to the left asking you to login or create an account:

Chose which service you use (I’ll use Flickr for the sake of this tutorial) and hit continue.   Sign into your Flickr account, click the “OK, I’ll Allow It” button.  Now you ought to be ready to drag and drop photos into the box:

Notice the options at the bottom where you can set the title, tags, etc.  That’ll help organize the pictures in your Flickr account!

This plug-in is one of the coolest photo plugins I’ve seen so far!  Sometimes I find the Flickr interface cumbersome but this’ll make life a LOT easier!  Let me know what your thoughts are.  Do you know of a better plugin that does a similar task?  Share it with me and it may end up the focus of another Firefox Friday!