I’ve actually been planning to do a post on some of the cooler features of Firefox via the plugins. Darshit gave me the perfect opportunity to add.

 

If one really looks at it objectively, with web based services taking more precedence, the browser has become the default gateway for users to the world of ‘computing’ – at least to those who are net savvy. So I believe the importance of the OS has dwindled and will dwindle even further over time.

 

Here’s a look at a few cool Firefox plugins that give some of the best operations a run for their money in terms of innovation and creativity. (If you thought the guys at Apple are super geniuses – you will love some of the plugins – admittedly its easier to make a web based plugin. But appreciate the UI and creativity – not the technicality).

 

So my Favourite Plugin is Web Search Pro.

 

It basically allows a user to highlight any word while browsing and drag it. The end result is an imaginary second screen. You can then drop the word off in a bucket which indicates the preferred search engine, and boom – you’re ready to go.

 

 

Another Plugin that I like is Interclue.

 

Interclue works in a variety of ways. It works as the normal snapshot tool (like Cooliris preview) – so the link ou want to open, can be opened without really going to the website and clicking through. Other than that it gives some handy augmentations such as surfing stats and allows you the option to put a value on your time and gives you the exact figure that Interclue has saved for you (its quite gimmicky actually).

 

 

Thumbstrips and Split Browser are pretty cool as well.

 

 

Thumb strips gives me a Graphical collection of previously closed tabs and allows me the option of opening them after they have been closed (basically you don’t need to go back to the history page and it looks neat). Split browser basically lets the user open multiple screens. The user has the option of opening screens horizontally or vertically. You can open multiple tabs et al in both browsers.

 

 

This reminds me of what Apple did with its recent version of Leopard.

 

 

Incidentally Firefox also has a plugin that lets you view tabs as separate Windows within the browser – just like the ExposÉ for the Mac. (forgot which one - please educate me!) 

 

 

There’s tons of plugins – if I sit to write about them all then I will probably finish by the time the new version of Firefox releases or the browser is dead or something. Here are a few videos that will take you through some great plug-ins.

 

 

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