Tag: firefox add-ons

Firefox Users Have Downloaded 3 Billion Add-Ons Since 2004

One of the major things that people like to complain about in Firefox is that their add-ons don’t work. An ex-Mozilla staffer confirmed the hate when he revealed that most users complain about their add-ons being incompatible after each new update. Add-ons are also the source of massive memory leaks in Firefox. Despite all the headaches that add-ons give us, we can’t stop downloading them.

The Mozilla team announced today that Firefox users have downloaded a cumulative 3 billion add-ons. The add-on was introduced in 2004 as a way of extending the Firefox experience beyond what we have to come to expect. Add-on downloads got another boost in 2009 when Mozilla introduced them for the mobile version of Firefox.

One reason as to why add-ons are so popular could be that over 85 percent of all Firefox users have at least one installed. Add-on users also have an average of five add-ons installed. As for most popular add-ons, it’s a cavalcade of regulars – AdBlock Plus, Firebug, NoScript, Personas Plus and VideoDownloaderHelper.

To celebrate this undoubtedly momentous occasion, the team at Firefox has created a lovely infographic. Check it out:

July 26, 2012
Yahoo! Axis Seeks to Redefine Search and Web Browsing

Yahoo! today announced the launch of Yahoo! Axis, its new mobile browser and desktop plug-in. The software hopes to redefine how users search and browse the web with “visual” search interaction and by syncing web browsing between multiple devices. Axis is now available as an app for iOS devices and as a plug-in or add-on for HTML 5 desktop browsers.

On iOS devices, such as an iPhone, iPod, or iPad, Axis functions as a stand-alone browser. Once users log into Axis using a Yahoo!, Facebook, or Google account, they can browse, bookmark, save links for later, or search from the URL bar. It is these search results that Yahoo! is banking on to make Axis a success.

“Our search strategy is predicated on two core beliefs—one, that people want answers, not links and two, that consumer-facing search is ripe for innovative disruption,” said Shashi Seth, Yahoo!’s senior vice president of Connections. “With Axis, we have re-defined and re-architected the search and browse experience from the ground up.”

When users search using Axis, the search bar expands and displays thumbnail previews of search results. The results can be intuitively swiped through on a mobile device. Axis’ search function includes what Yahoo! is calling “instant answers,” which are answers to common questions or information such as movie times and local weather. In addition, by tapping a panel button users can switch the web search results to image search results, which are displayed in an easy-to-use, swipe-able grid.

Once users are done browsing on their mobile devices, the Axis plug-in for desktop browsers allows them to seamlessly continue where they left off. The plug-in looks similar to a toolbar, and sits in the bottom-left corner of corner of a browser as a small search box. Hovering over or clicking the search box expands Axis across the browser window, and searching provides the same “visual” search results as the mobile version. Signing into the plug-in will allow users to sync their search history, recent sites, saved articles, and bookmarks with the mobile versions. If users do not want to sync their search or browser history, Axis offers a “Local Only” mode in its privacy settings.

Another feature of Yahoo!’s new app is the Axis Home Page, which gathers all of a user’s bookmarks, read later links, and recently visited sites into an easily navigable interface. This is also the page where users can continue browsing with links to where they left off on other devices. The home page is fully customizable, allowing users to create folders and organize content as they desire.

With all of the turmoil it has experienced recently, Yahoo! needs a fresh outlook and new, creative ventures. The company lost many viewers for its video platform in April, causing some speculation that the company should shift its focus away from content and back to search, or even toward social. Though Axis provides many features that are already available in other mobile browsers, Yahoo! is at least taking a step toward a larger mobile presence, which is a step in the right direction.

May 24, 2012
Firefox Memory Leaks Somewhat Fixed With Patch

If you’re like me, you use a lot of add-ons with your Firefox build. They help make the Web a better, brighter place. Unfortunately, these add-ons occasionally cause memory leaks which can bog down Firefox and generally make the browser slower.

Fortunately for us, Nicholas Nethercote, a Firefox team member, turned us on to a patch from Kyle Huey that should fix the problem. It prevents what’s called an “add-on zombie compartment” which saves a ton of memory in the long run. During Nethercorte’s tests, he found that the patch not only fixed the problem, but sped up Firefox with a four times reduction in memory.

The patch should effectively make Firefox faster in slower machine and stop pauses in Firefox on higher end machines. The latter would definitely help me out as I’ve run into long pauses in the past that completely cripple all the momentum I’ve built up while working.

Unfortunately, it appears that the patch is not all inclusive. Add-ons built using older versions of the Firefox add-on SDK are immune to the effects of the patch. They still cause all kinds of nasty memory leaks. In fact, the patch made them leak even more making the problem much worse. Nethercote says the problem could be widespread because a lot of add-ons were built using the old SDK.

The only solution the team can think of is to encourage add-on creators to rebuild their apps using the new version of the add-on SDK which you can find here.

This couldn’t be made at a better time with Mozilla recently detailing all of its release channels. It’s these kind of problems that they need developer help with on the Nightly builds. Using the patch and the new version of the add-on SDK are a quick fix for now, but testing out new features in Nightly are the only sure fire way to permanently fix these kind of problems from happening again. If you have Nigthly, Nethercorte wants developers to monitor about:compartments to see if add-ons are causing more leaks.

[h/t: @mattcutts]

May 8, 2012
2 Billion Add-Ons Downloaded by Firefox Users

Mozilla has served its 2 billionth Firefox Add-on download. The download rate has been increasing each year, but Firefox also faces increasing competition in the open source browser market.

This week Google actually took efforts to make Chrome more accessible, and introduced a new category of featured extensions.

Mozilla’s milestone is certainly a significant one though, and there’s no question that Firefox has been revolutionary in the web browser space.

"This exciting feat was made possible by the huge community of people who have made and used Firefox Add-ons since we launched in 2005," Mozilla says in its announcement. "Over the years, we remained dedicated to building features and products that make Firefox the world’s most customizable Web browser for consumers and developers."

Mozilla has put up a "Best of 2 Billion Firefox Add-ons" list based on feedback. There are 25 add-ons in the collection, with the top one being Adblock Plus.

July 2, 2010
Digg Launches New Extensions for Firefox and Chrome

Digg has launched new extensions for the Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome web browsers.

"A month ago, we announced new capabilities that let developers create writable applications with the Digg API," says Dig’s Chris Howard. "We decided to put this to work ourselves and update our original Firefox Extension and also create a new Google Chrome extension at the same time. In both cases, you can now Digg stories as you browse the web, without having to come back to the Digg site each time."

The Chrome extension includes the Digg count for any URL. It’s displayed to the right of the browser’s address bar, and users can click it to see the title and comment count for that URL, as well as the button to Digg it. It also comes with ways to share any URL (like through Twitter, Facebook, and email).

There is a little more to the Firefox extension. It improves upon the existing FireFox extension. Digg has moved the Digg count and Digg button to the navigation bar, so the toolbar doesn’t have to be open for users to Digg stories. The toolbar itself is shorter and has added keyboard shortcut functionality to make it easier to hide and show it.

"This makes it really simple to check out the Digg story details for a URL and then close it when you’re done," says Howard.

Digg has also added controls in the toolbar settings, such as notification thresholds and a smaller notification box. These features were designed to make notifications less intrusive to the user.

Related Articles:

> Important Product Director Moving From Google To Digg

> More Stories Get a Shot at the Digg Home Page

> Digg to Get All Twitter This Year?

January 19, 2010