Currently your most used Windows browser?customer adventures, add-ins and toolbars — by TDavid @ 11:31 am PST
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While doing this morning’s reading I realized over the last couple weeks I’ve been using the Firefox browser more than Internet Explorer on Windows. I still use both, but Firefox has clearly become the dominant browser of choice for my daily usage. This prompted me to hit the current site meter browser stats for Hmm to see where readers are at:
April 2006
Only a 3% increase in 8 months for visitors to Hmm while Firefox is still gaining. I think what has propelled me to use Firefox more than IE are some really useful extensions.
Firefox Extensions
Some extensions I’ve been using include:
- This morning I added the Google Bookmarks button extension which creates a handy starred Google bookmark icon for the toolbar area.
- I also like the Performancing for Firefox blogging extension with version 1.2 just released
- Site Advisor adds some colorized info to identify potentially good and bad website neighborhoods (phishing, scams, etc).
- ShowIP identifies the IP address of the website in the toolbar
- Oboe allows me to load any linked mp3 file in my sideload locker. I’ve been using this to (slowly) build a library of Creative Commons licensed music which can legally be used in podcasts.
- Signature lets me use the context menu to quickly copy/paste preformatted text in text area forms
Back to IE7?
If IE7 hopes to return to being my browser of choice they need to have/add a vibrant extension-like community surrounding them like Firefox. Live.com and MicrosoftGadgets might not be enough, but we’ll see.
I’ve even begun using Firefox on the Mac. Still using IE primarily on the Tablet PC, though, and that’s one area where Firefox is weak.
What is your current Windows browser of choice? Any favorite useful Firefox extensions to share?
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I don’t have access to a tablet PC and am wondering what weaknesses Firefox has in the Tablet PC arena.
Would you mind expanding on that a bit?
Comment by Chuck — April 19, 2006 @ 1:14 pm PST
I personally use and love Firfox…..one more FF hit added onto your statistics there. I use it exclusively now, IE is only there because I find it critical to my Windows operation.
Comment by WOM — April 19, 2006 @ 1:25 pm PST
Hi Chuck - Most integration with TIP (Tablet PC Input Panel) and other in browser objects work primarily with Internet Explorer. The TabletPCBlogs.com site is one example of several that doesn’t have full functionality in any other browser than IE.
I suppose one could install the Firefox ActiveX extension and hobble some or most of this functionality together, but it’s currently an advantage for Microsoft that it’s already baked in. Anti-IE folks might call this “lock-in” so your mileage might vary.
Comment by TDavid — April 19, 2006 @ 1:37 pm PST
It’s interesting to see Firefox gaining ground — some of that probably has to do with the generally techie nature of your readers. I switched just last year from IE6 myself. It will also be interesting to see if IE7 wins me back — right now I’m thinking not. I only use IE now if ActiveX is required, because I don’t want to sully FF with it.
For extensions (thanks for your list, BTW), I use:
Greasemonkey
del.icio.us toolbar buttons
answers - alt-click any word for a definition from Answers.com
eQuake - just for fun: shakes the browser whenever there’s an earthquake anywhere in the world (shakes according to magnitude, and gives you the info in the status bar).
Comment by Sterling Camden — April 19, 2006 @ 2:25 pm PST
Myself perfer Opera, faster, more innovative, secure.
So Opera-> IE-> Firefox .. i use Firefox just to see if webpages works correct, else it is Opera all the way.
Comment by Forser — April 20, 2006 @ 1:59 am PST
I use Firefox. Reasons? First and foremost, security. While Firefox can have its share of bugs, it doesn’t support unfettered access to my system via ActiveX controls like IE does. I can’t even estimate the number of malicious hacks I’ve avoided simply by using FireFox. The other primary reason is control via plugins. I can conveniently control (and in most cases this means deny) javascript usage, cookie usage, and ad displays on a per website basis. It really enhances my browsing experience. A good example (TDavid) is that I can let makeyougohmm and sitemeter run javascript while denying javascript to the third party sites linked here that don’t respect my privacy (newsgator, google-analytics, and googlesyndication).
Comment by David — April 20, 2006 @ 9:00 am PST
David - the newsgator rating thing is pretty new and experimental here. How does Newsgator not respect your (or my) privacy? I started to write a response but realized this topic might be better served in its own post. So follow the trackback
abovein the post below and let’s discuss further.Also want to hear what concerns you about Google Analytics and Google Syndication (adsense)?
Comment by TDavid — April 20, 2006 @ 11:01 am PST
[…] Hmm reader David curiously writes (emphasis mine): I can conveniently control (and in most cases this means deny) javascript usage, cookie usage, and ad displays on a per website basis. It really enhances my browsing experience. A good example (TDavid) is that I can let makeyougohmm and sitemeter run javascript while denying javascript to the third party sites linked here that don’t respect my privacy (newsgator, google-analytics, and googlesyndication.) […]
Pingback by Make You Go Hmm: » Newsgator and Google privacy concerns raised by Hmm reader — April 20, 2006 @ 11:08 am PST
Actually you can get full Tablet support in Firefox, Thunderbird, and Sunbird using the geckotip extension:
http://geckotip.mozdev.org/
Comment by Al — May 17, 2006 @ 5:50 pm PST
TDavid, in your sampling did you distinguish between Maxthon from IE? Just heard about it and reviewed it yesterday. Featurewise, an improvement over IE, but slower. I’m sticking with Firefox.
Comment by Sterling Camden — May 17, 2006 @ 6:12 pm PST
Maxathon is (or at least was) Chris Pirillo’s favorite browser. I’ve not checked it out. I saw your review though, nice work and good detail, Sterling. My favorite browser that uses the IE control is probably iRider, see the second ever post at this blog. Setting up “rides” for your favorite paths you want people to follow is a pretty cool idea.
As for the sampling above, and to my knowledge, Site Meter doesn’t break out the various flavors of IE. I’m noticing by the graph above there is no “other” category though. I’m guessing all the other browsers combined wouldn’t make up more than 5% of the overall browsing audience. Purely a guess though.
Comment by TDavid — May 17, 2006 @ 6:27 pm PST
I’ll have to give IRider a look. Thanks, TDavid!
Comment by Sterling Camden — May 17, 2006 @ 7:15 pm PST
I use Firefox and Opera…kinda switch between the two. I’ve noticed lately, after putting Opera to use a little more than in the past, it seems to be a bit faster than Firefox. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me and that there really is no difference.
One of the extensions that I like in FF is called FireFox Showcase. Don’t know if the link will show up or work, but here it is:
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1810/
Also….don’t know if you’ve seen this posted anywhere yet…or even if you’ve posted it yourself here on the site. Bernie Zimmerman has a link for the upcoming release of FireFox 2.
http://www.bernzilla.com/item.php?id=674
Comment by Janine — May 29, 2006 @ 4:01 am PST
[…] - Have a computer with Samuel Jackson’s voice send someone you know a voice message to go see Snakes on a Plane August 18. Only one more week. - This week in Consumer Electronics reports that the somewhat mysterious Zune portable device will cost $299, come with WiFi and be available in three colors. Microsoft has not confirmed. - Limited offer: free Evernote or RitePen software by submitting a handwriting sample. Tablet PC readers might want to tap into this deal. - Frets on Fire is a freeware game similar to Guitar Heroes for PC [thanks Download Squad] - Yahoo and MSN suggestive selling their search when ‘google’ query is ran - reminder link: create photo stories to music with Photo Story 3 (Windows). I used this to create a story out of all our vacation photos taken along with some music. - A favorable, enthusiastic review of diigo by slacker manager has me interested in this bookmarks service. The bookmarking field is crowded but I installed the Firefox toolbar and have been using it this week. - Wanna be the William Shatner DVD club fan spokesperson? Just enter this 90 second video contest and maybe you can go where no spokesperson has gone before. - Will arcade bowling replace the real deal? Never say never. - stream media including podcasts to the PSP and Xbox 360 with TVersity - IE 7 will not be called IE7+. I just peeked at recent visitors here with Firefox and the numbers are actually down to 25% since the last time I checked in April 2006 when it was over 40%. - Get your Sesame Street book for the number 5. AOL is slashing 5,000 jobs, about one quarter of its global workforce and meanwhile is offering 5 GB of free online storage. I think the job security watch for Jason Calacanis at AOL just dropped a couple months. Think I’m already on record for giving Calacanis a max of 18-24 months. I’ll be surprised if he is still with AOL in 2008. I haven’t visited the new Netscape in a couple weeks nor am I seeing links from others to Netscaped stories. Not a good sign. He better hope the top talent he bought changes this trend. - and don’t forget AOL is now free for broadband users. If you are a paying AOL broadband member and need help on how to switch to the free plan Lori at Blogcritics has the details. In September AOL will offer most of their member-area access for free. - physical CD sales are at the lowest point since 1994 - Feedpass tries to auction its entire site, database and code on eBay and draws $4,050 max bid. Reserve not met. […]
Pingback by Make You Go Hmm: » Hmm quickies #37 — August 11, 2006 @ 12:32 pm PST