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!

Tonight I finally was able to test a new web app by the name of Wetoku.com.  Wetoku.com is in the process of making video interviewing amazingly simple for the everyday blogger (like myself!).  They are still in private beta but I asked them nice and they gave me an invite!

In the video you’ll find myself (the interviewer) and a long time geek-friend of mine Abelardo (the interviewee) talking about various topics.  You’ll also notice that my volume is way too low which I believe is my fault but bear with me and turn up the volume.  AND I noticed that the timing is off.  Other than that, let me know what you think of the interview, the discussion AND the technical quality, in the comments.

Some of the topics discussed:

1. Safety on the Internet (specifically for kids)
2. WordPress and other blogging stuff
3. Social Networks (Facebook, Twitter, and hosted possibilities such as Drupal and BuddyPress)
4. Data backup (blog and otherwise)
5. Opera, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Safari (some more than others)
6. AND my blog design and a new css option

I believe the chat went well.  It usually does with a good friend, right?  There are a few options I’d like to see added to Wetoku like some editing abilites and the like, but all in all the service is a great idea!  Will I use it more?  Definitely!

Thanks, Abelardo, for the time and the chat!

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?

A few Firefox Friday posts back I wrote an article about an easy way to personalize the look of Firefox with Personas.  I also mentioned that I tried my hand at designing my own and had submitted it to the gallery.  Well, yesterday was my lucky day!  I received an email indicating that my Persona has been added!

This means that you can head over there and choose the Timmyjohnboy.com Persona to decorate your Firefox!  Not only will your browser look cool, you’d be helping me get the word out, and remind yourself, about Timmyjohnboy.com!

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?

I heard a rumor, from a friend, that Roadrunner only supports Internet Explorer issues and would not support Firefox users because of security issues. This rumor made me VERY curious. SO, I did what any down-to-earth Firefox fan would do. I emailed Roadrunner support to get to the bottom of it. Here’s the gist of what happened:

My email to them: “I heard that Roadrunner does not support Firefox because of security issues. Is this, or something similar, true?”

Their response to me: “Tim, I would like to inform you that Road Runner offers best effort support to Firefox browser in order to access the Internet.”

My question to them became: “Can you define “best effort support” for me?  Thanks!”

The answer: “Best efforts means installing and any other issues such as connectivity with Firefox are best resolved by Mozilla as they have right tools and resources.”

So I guess that’s the answer. I didn’t get any fear of security issues or any such thing. They just think Mozilla would be better suited to answer installation and connectivity questions because they have the resources. My guess is that they get support calls from people trying to install Firefox or are having trouble connecting because of issues not having anything to do with Roadrunner.

Have you heard anything different? Pass on the link. I would love to know the details of any issues! Oh, and if you’re having trouble installing Firefox, don’t call your ISP! Ask Mozilla! They have all kinds of cool answers for you!

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!