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Google Chrome 4 “stable” release
January 26th, 2010 Posted in Technology, Tools
Jan, 26 2010
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5 Reason We Like Chrome
November 4th, 2009 Posted in Technology, Tools
Nov, 04 2009
Several months ago Google released a new browser. We have been using and testing Chrome at SmartTSG since the release and here are five of the reason we like it:
- Fast — Chrome is fast. The developers at Google built Chrome to compile JavaScript code on the fly. JavaScript is used on many website to validate forms, create dynamic content and in general create a richer experience. In all other browsers JavaScript is interpreted which is slow. Chrome compiles JavaScript into the 1’s and 0’s that a computer needs to execute so JavaScript code. Performance test show that Chrome displays and executes webpages several orders of magnitude faster than Firefox or Internet Explorer.
- Clean Interface — Chrome does away with the menu bar and most of the other “busy” elements found in most web browsers. This maximized the area available to viewing the web page.
- Combine Address & Search — Unlike IE and Firefox the address bar in Chrome is also the search box. This may seem like a minor point, but this is one of our favorite features.
- Gears Built-In — Google Gears allows you to synchronize your local computer with a Gears enabled website, which means that you can interact with the website even if your computer is not connected to the Internet. This is particularly useful for sites like Gmail and Google Apps. Gears is available for Firefox and IE, but it requires installation
- Single Application Web Pages — Chrome allows you to create single application web pages. With a simple click of the mouse you can create an application shortcut dedicated to a particular web site. Again something which is very useful for sites like Gmail. This functionality is also available via Firefox Prism, but that is in beta and requires the extra effort of installing the Prism plug-in
Firefox Add-Ons We Recommend
November 3rd, 2009 Posted in Tools
Nov, 03 2009
Mozilla Firefox is a great browser (although we are big fans of Google Chrome). One of the great features of Firefox is the ability to extend the functionality with browser add-ons. Here are some of the add-ons we use and recommend:
- Add-Art (http://add-art.org) – Replaces advertising on the web with curated art images. Not only does Add-Art speed up your web browsing experience it also improves the aesthetics.
- Xmarks (http://www.xmarks.com) – Bookmark synchronization. Xmarks synchronizes your bookmarks on multiple computers.
- Greasemonkey (http://www.greasespot.net/) – Allows you to customize the way a webpage displays using small bit of JavaScript. On its own Greasemonkey does not thing, but coupled with the hundreds of scripts available on the web (check out http://www.userscripts.org) Greasemonkey can tweak the look and feel of various websites. Users have written scripts that:
- Auto fill forms.
- Alter the formatting of text, borders, graphics, etc. (For example, highlight first-run programs in a TV listing.)
- Remove specific content, such as advertising, popups, even whole sections of a page. (For example, filter specific posters from a message board site.)
- Alter content and layout beyond that which the page author considered. (For example, add floating elements, make elements collapsible, etc.)
- Add links, buttons, or any other type of HTML element anywhere on the page. (For example, embed Google Reader into Gmail, thus providing an RSS feed option.)
- Enhance the content of pages by retrieving correlating information from related pages on the same site, or other sites. (For example, list the prices of competing retailers’ for the same product.)
- In general, take advantage of extended JavaScript behavior to add previously non-existent functionality to pages. (For example, collate RSS feeds on the current page into a floating panel.)