As anyone who has turned on television can tell you, “web surfing” on the go is definitely the hip and trendy thing to do. In an effort to stay toe to toe with both the beautiful people and the so-called “in-crowd,” we here at the Free Line dedicate today’s Showdown to web browsers of the mobile variety. Unless otherwise noted, all of the browsers were tested using a Nokia N81 handset running on the AT&T mobile network.

Browser #1: Opera Mini

Website: http://www.opera.com/mini/
Developer: Opera
Compatible Handsets: Various
Rendering Engine: Presto
First Impression: “So … when are we going to get widgets?”
Ease of Use: 9; “It’s that good.”
Positives: Let us start from the top: It’s stable, much faster than the built-in S60 browser, supports almost every format we threw at it (save for Flash, of course), extremely easy to download … we think you see where we are going with this.
Negatives: It’s slightly harder to rotate the screen on the fly.
Overall: 8

Browser #2: Skyfire

Website: http://www.skyfire.com/
Developer: Skyfire Team
Compatible Handsets: Various
Rending Engine: Unknown
First Impression: “It has a really nice interface.”
Ease of Use: 8
Positives: Flash works! Sure, it isn’t the greatest install of Flash were have ever seen, but at least it works. Although it does not exactly reach “Opera levels” of speed, it does feel a bit faster overall compared to the pre-installed S60 browser.
Negatives: Try as we might, we simply could not figure out how to rotate the screen.
Overall: 7; “If I could figure out how to rotate the screen at all, it would have gotten an 8. Some things are just better in landscape mode.”

Browser #3: Bolt

Website: http://boltbrowser.com/
Developer: Bitstream
Compatible Handsets: Various (Including Blackberry)
Rendering Engine: Proprietary
First Impression: “Well it took me to YouTube in record time…”
Ease of Use: 6 “It’s a bit trickier than the rest.”
Positives: Not only does Bolt do Flash, it does YouTube. It’s a tad cramped on our tiny screen, but that doesn’t really matter at the moment.
Negatives: It took us a while to actually find this browser. We quite ran across it at the last possible second. It also has the tendency to be a bit “too careful” when it comes to “protecting” the user — warning messages are nice in moderation, but we really don’t need to see one every five seconds.
Overall: 6

Special Attraction: Mozilla Fennec

Note: The Fennec alpha test is only available for “select” handsets. Sadly, our unlocked N81 is not one of them. Because of this, we were “forced” to use the developer version designed for Windows. While we will give the browser the ol’ “once over,” we will not be comparing it to the other browsers listed. It just wouldn’t be fair.
Website: http://www.mozilla.org/projects/fennec/
Developer: Mozilla
Compatible Handsets: Nokia S180 tablet
Rendering Engine: Gecko
First Impression: “It seems to be designed for touchscreen devices. Oh … and it has tabs.”
Ease of Use: 7; “This score will definitely go up once the official version is released.”
Positives: It’s made by Mozilla and it supports tabs. ‘Nuff said.
Negatives: If you don’t own a phone with a large screen or a touchscreen, you might be out of luck.
Overall (As of now): 7; “I think there is a lot more that they could do with it.”

…And the Winner Is: Opera Mini. There is a reason why it reigns supreme over mobile devices.

PS: For all of those who are wondering why we didn’t cover the likes of Safari for the iPhone or the Blackberry browser, don’t worry. They are coming soon enough…

I know that we are officially a week away from the end from our 30 Days of GNU experiment, but I think it might be best to call it a day right now. We here at the Free Line have a few big projects in the works, and these “specialized” GPL beauties will just end up interfering with them. With that said, here we go:

Our little pulls into port battered, but still surprisingly resilient. Although there are still some parts of this “test run” that gave us a hard time — Evolution and K-Meleon, I’m looking in your direction — it was still a generally worthwhile endeavor.  That being said, there is still one part of this whole ordeal that still seems to be eluding people, and that is the very nature of the word “free.”

On the surface, the word is simple: if you get a legal, full featured application without having to pay anything, then that application is free. If it costs money, then it isn’t. Things get muddled a bit, however, when the words “how much” are thrown into the equation. In the minds of many, only a program that bares its source can truly be considered “free.” Sure, that shiny new copy of  Windows Live Mail or even Garage Band might appear to be free, but the closed off nature of the code is making you rely on the folks at Microsoft and Apple, respectively. A program like Evolution is free, but that is only because I have the ability to “take a peek under the hood,” as they say. In essence, it all breaks down like this:

When a program is given away at no cost to you, said program is considered to be “freeware.”
When a program and its source code is given away at no cost to you, said program is considered to be “free.”
When an organization and/or corporation charges for an application, but still gives the source code away for free, said program is still considered to be “free.”

While the strategy mapped out above might appeal to a programmer or to a person who likes the idea of “community involvement,” it tends to leave the average user out in the cold. It is our experience that “normal people” prefer performance, not the ability to stare blankly at pages worth of source of code. It is for this reason that we have to call our little “run with the GNUs” a marginal failure. Don’t get us wrong: we fully support of using GPL-supported programs. Applications such as Firefox, OpenOffice.org, and even aMSN are standard tools in our arsenals. It’s just that limiting ourselves to only GNU-approved applications left us angry and frustrated. Our advice is simple: use the free software that appeals most to you. It doesn’t matter if the code for it is kept on a website or on some protected server in Redmond. If you like it, use it. It’s as simple as that. Do this, and you’ll be happy. We guarantee it.

As you may or may not have noticed, “smart phones” such as the iPhone and the Palm Pre seem to be the one thing that’s on everybody’s mind these days. Talk of these little mobile wonders seem to permeate throughout all forms of mass media, from print to late night talk shows and beyond. Even highly respected blogs such as this one “believes the hype” from time to time. On today’s action packed episode of the Free Line, we will be taking a look at four tools that will attempt to bring of that “3G style” to your web browser … and vice versa.

iphonesender – For Firefox. This little tool does only one thing — sends a customized link from Google Maps to your iPhone — but it does it well. Sometimes the simplest applications are the best.

PinPoints – For Firefox. This handy little addition sends large amounts of map-based information to the mobile phone of your choice. While any modern phone will work, a working GPS module is needed if you want the “full experience.” Unlike the other add-ons mentioned here, PinPoints requires you to sign up for their service. Although the non-existent price tag isn’t a problem, the simple fact that you have to subscribe to yet another service might bother a few people.

iGtalk – For Firefox. Ever wish that you could use the iPhone Gtalk application without having to break out your phone? Now you can, thanks to iGtalk. When activated, a familiar, iPhone-like application appears prominently in the left hand corner of the browser. While it might seem a bit redundant to some (Gtalk is available for all three major OSes), this is a tool that many could find to be useful, especially if that person is already familiar with the mobile interface. All in all, iGtalk is a great way to bring a little bit of that iPhone magic to the desktop, even if its existence tends to defy all logic.

Zhiing – For Firefox. On the surface, Zhiing appears to be yet another add-on designed to get maps from your browser to your iPhone. Look closer, however, and you will find an interesting little service lying underneath. Unlike the other services mentioned here, Zhiing does more than play digital taxi. It actually turns every street address into an interactive link. From there, you can choose from a variety of options, including getting driving directions and finding nearby attractions. Remember: Zhiing is still considered to be in the dreaded “beta stage.” Not everything is going to work the first time out (if at all). If you think that you can deal with these few minor inconveniences, however, it would be in your best interest to give Zhiing a try. You will be glad you did.

Remember the email clients from Monday? Let’s see how they are holding up four days later.

Client #1: Evolution

Positives: The account setup wizard is surprisingly intuitive. All you have to do is enter your POP3 and SMTP settings and the program does the rest. Specialized ports? Evolution detects them. Security settings? It picks them up as well. It also runs pretty quick for a program that isn’t a fan of Windows 7.
Negatives: First and foremost, the “included” spam filter simply does not work. If you want spam to “disappear,” you have to program it in yourself. Another thing: the automated “email check” is apparently broken as well. While it might not seem like a big deal, it can be bothersome to a person who routinely forgets to press that dreaded “send and receive mail” button. (If you haven’t guessed already, I am definitely one of those people.)
Overall: 3; “It’s alright, I guess. Could be better though.”
Worth a Download?: Sadly, no.

Client #2: Thunderbird

Positives: The ability to load add-ons is a big plus. Nothing says “try me out” quite like the prospect of total customization. The aforementioned setup is also a nice touch. While it isn’t the easier setup we have run into thus far — that award goes to, of all programs, Evolution — it does make life a bit easier.  And since it’s made by a subsidiary of Mozilla, complete and total compatibility with Firefox is a given.
Negatives: Aside from the much lauded add-ons, Thunderbird comes off as rather “basic.” Yes, it checks, writes, and sends email, but that’s all it does … without modification, of course.
Overall: 7; “It’s nice and stable.”
Worth a Download?: Yes.

Client #3: Zimbra

Positives: Unlike the rest of the clients on this list, Zimbra is more than just a simple “email client.” It’s actually a highly diverse desktop system, designed to eliminate the need for Google Apps a variety of third-party freeware (and in some cases, shareware) applications. Zimbra also gets a few extra points for presentation. As cliche as it might sound, the simple fact that it “looks” nicer than the other clients does wonders for this little underdog.
Negatives: It’s a bit on the slow side starting up. Although the plethora of extra features are nice, they have a tendancy to “get in the way” from time to time.
Overall: 8
Worth a Download?: Yes

Client #4: Sylpheed

Positives: Wait … give us a moment. There has to be something in this program that can be construed as a positive … [Pause] There it is! Sylpheed is the only program that, to our knoledge, allows you look at the source code of your messages. We’re not exactly sure as to why you would want to do that, but it’s always nice to have the option.
Negatives: The words “extremely basic” were bandied about more than once. Furthermore, the following “standard” features are not available in Sylpheed: A spam filter, automatic mail check, the ability to view messages in an HTML format, the ability to send emails at all … I think you get the idea here.
Overall: 3; “Outlook Express 4 that was bundled with Windows 98 First Edition can do more things than Sylpheed.”
Worth a Download?: No

Due to a number of computer-related catastrophes that were completely out of my control, their will not be a full-on edition of the Free Line today. I will, however, give a quick update on my quest through the land of GNU.

On the Email Front: I can honestly say that I love Evolution. It’s quirky, but it’s the kind of quirky that a hip, “man about Cyberspace” such as myself loves to work with. While it lacks a few “basic” tools — a modern spam filter is nowhere to be found, for example — there is enough stuff built into Evolution that makes me want to come back for more. How many other programs offer Pretty Good Privacy protection as a standard feature? If the only thing that I get out of this entire experiment is an appreciation for Evolution, then I will consider it a complete success.

On the Instant Messaging Front: I loaded aMSN for all of my MSN Instant Messenger Windows Live Messenger needs. It’s about the closest you can get to running Live Messenger without actually running Live Messenger. No complaints here.

On the Web Browser Front: I’m still using Firefox. I would like to start using K-Meleon eventually, but that has “weekend project” written all over it. I am seriously considering using Safari, but I have no idea if it should count or not. On one hand, the code behind Safari is completely closed off to the general public. The WebKit rendering engine, on the other hand, is covered under the slightly more liberal “Limited General Public License.”. So I ask: what do you all think I should do? I’m curious to your thoughts on the matter.

…And there you have it. Be sure to tune in tomorrow when we take a virtual trip around the world … in a way.

As you might have heard, Firefox isn’t the only browser that uses the Gecko rendering engine. On today’s browser-centric edition of the Showdown, we take a look at four of the strangest Gecko-based browsers available today.

Browser #1: Sea Monkey

Website: http://www.seamonkey-project.org/
Programmer: The SeaMonkey Council
Special Talent: Looking and acting as close to the old Netscape browser as humanly possible.
First Impression: “No sir, I don’t like it.”
Positives: The nostalgia factor is high on this one. Those who long for the days of Netscape Communicator 4 will find a lot to love here. Everything is exactly how you remembered it, from the low resolution icons to the built-in IRC client.
Negatives: Not everyone was a fan of Netscape Communicator 4.
Overall (Out of 10): 4
Final Thought: “Long live the 1990’s.”

Browser #2: Flock

Website: http://flock.com/
Programmer: Flock, Inc.
Special Talent: Social networking
First Impression: “Oooh … Networks!”
Positives: Those who enjoy social media and networking will no doubt love this browser. Links to all of the major social sites, from MySpace and facebook to Flickr and YouTube, have been given its own frame at the side of the screen. Need to update your blog? Send a tweet? Post something new on Digg? Flock allows you to do all of those things and more without even batting an eye.
Negatives: Remove the social media aspect, and all you’re left with is a slightly modded version of Firefox.
Overall (Out of 10): 7
Final Thought: “Flock is the perfect browser for social networking fans.”

Browser #3: Wyzo

Website: http://www.wyzo.com/
Programmer: Radical Software Ltd.
Special Talent: Downloading interactive media of all shapes and sizes.
First Impression: “Are you sure that I just didn’t load Firefox again?”
Positives: Wyzo is designed to make the free exchange of copyrighted intellectual property as painless as possible. Every file — BitTorrent, music files, photographs … the list goes on and on — is downloaded within the confines of the browser instead of in a separate “downloading” box. Not only does this make things a bit easier for the user, it cuts down on the number of open windows. Wyzo also makes good use of CoolIris, a Firefox add-on that specializes in the dissemination of online video. Thanks to CoolIris, getting to sites such as Hulu and Mevio are as easy as pressing a button.
Negatives: Wyzo looks and acts like Firefox a bit too much for our tastes.
Overall (Out of 10): 7
Final Thought: “It’s interesting.”

Browser #4: Kirix Strata

Website: http://www.kirix.com/
Programmer: The Kirix Corporation
Special Talent: Data analysis.
First Impression: “What the heck is this?!”
Positives: Kirix Strata combines the so-called “traditional website experience” with the thrill of spreadsheet creation and cost report analysis. Despite everything, Strata truly is a nice spreadsheet program that many hardcore accountants will no doubt love. It just happens to be attached to a web browser.
Negatives: We seriously doubt that there is a huge market out there for people who wish to read the Drudge Report or CNN and crunch numbers at the same time. Another thing: Unlike the multitude of browsers we’ve reviewed over the past few days, the full version of Kirix Strata costs a mind numbing $249.
Overall (Out of 10): 2
Final Thought: “It costs that much? What were they thinking?”

…And we’re back! On today’s “one day late” edition of the Showdown, we take a look at four “mainstream” web browsers that are trying to take the digital world by storm. After much discussion, we have decided to forgo Firefox at this time. The reason for this is simple: it’s our browser of choice. Expect a full, unbiased Firefox review in a few weeks. What that said, here we go:

Browser #1: Internet Explorer 8

Website: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/Internet-explorer/default.aspx
Programmer: Microsoft
Rendering Engine: Trident
First Impression: “Is this really IE 8? It looks like IE 7.”
Positives: The overhauled “I’m not a toolbar” style toolbar adds some much needed screen real estate. The “safety” menu is now found inside of this toolbar, making it easy for users to change their settings on the fly. On the feature end, there’s the much hyped “Web Slice” option. For those unaware, the Web Slice tool bookmarks specific sections of a website, allowing users to revisit that particular piece of information instead of the entire site. While it might seem a bit odd, the Web Slice option is perfect for sites that are frequently updated, such as stock quotes or auction prices.
Negatives: It’s Internet Explorer. If you didn’t like the previous editions, there is a good chance that you will not be a fan of the new one.
Overall (Out of 10): 7
Final Thought: “It’s gotten better.”

Browser #2: Safari

Website: http://www.apple.com/safari/
Programmer: Apple
Rendering Engine: WebKit
First Impression: “Apple says that Safari is the fastest browser available. That’s great. Do I believe them? I don’t know yet.”
Positives: It’s a solid as a rock, which is unsurprising considering the source.
Negatives: Despite the interesting graphical enhancements and oddball “most visited” sites list, Safari doesn’t really feel like anything special. Now we’re not saying that it’s a bad browser or anything. It just comes off as rather “uninspired” and boring.
Overall (Out of 10): 7
Final Thought: “The Mac version is probably better.”

Browser #3: Opera

Website: http://www.opera.com/browser/
Programmer: Opera
Rendering Engine: Presto
First Impression: “What will I ever do with all of this extra browser space?”
Positives: Opera’s positives can be summed up in one word: widgets. These handy little pieces of programming bliss make Opera less of a web browser and more of an “application platform.” Want to play a little Tetris, both circular and traditional? Opera can make it happen. Want to use a modified version of MS Paint or a Spirograph? That’s available as well. Need a word processor? A calculator? A ten-gallon fish tank complete with digital fish? It’s all here. The browser is great and everything, but let’s be honest here — we’re not running Opera just so we can look at sites. We want the widgets.
Negatives: Not everyone is a fan of widgets.
Overall (Out of 10): 8
Final Thought: “We apologize for being redundant, but this must be said yet again: widgets!”

Browser #4: Chrome

Website: http://www.google.com/chrome
Programmer: Google
Rendering Engine: Gecko and WebKit
First Impression: “Why is it showing me thumbnails? And where did the bookmarks go?”
Positives: Ladies and gentlemen, may we present to you the single most controversial statement ever uttered in a Free Line, whether it be written or spoken: This browser has nothing really good going for it. Sure, it “tries” hard, but it ultimately falls flat on its proverbial face.
Negatives: To say that we were thrown off is an understatement. Everything that one would “expect” in a browser is either hidden, in some foreign menu, or missing completely. As we mentioned above, the programmers are trying so hard to be revolutionary that they essentially “forgot” how to make a usable piece of software. Although the overall experience might improve over time, Chrome botched the “first impression” stage completely.
Overall (Out of 10): 4
Final Thought: “Thanks again for playing. Try again next year.”

On today’s special edition of the Showdown, we take a look at four web browsers that are a bit more “specialized” than the average install of Internet Explorer or Firefox. Before we do, however, we should take a look at the muscles behind the browser — the rendering engine. For those unaware, a rendering engine is the program that physically displays a website on a screen. Major engines include:

• Trident – Designed by Microsoft exclusively for Internet Explorer.
• Gecko - Designed by the Mozilla Corporation for Firefox. Several major browsers also employ this engine, including Chrome, Mozilla SeaMonkey, and later versions of Netscape.
• KHTML – Designed by the KDE Team, Apple, Nokia, and Google for use in the Linux-based Konqueror browser. The engine was eventually forked into two separate projects. Project number one kept the KHTML name, while project number two became…
• Webkit – A modified version of the KHTML engine used in Safari. Chrome and Free Line favorite Epiphany also use WebKit, though not nearly to the extent of Safari.
• Presto - Designed by Opera Software ASA for the Opera browser. Unlike the other engines listed, Presto is not usually ported to other web browsers. Instead, developers simply modify Opera itself to suit their own needs. To date, modified versions of Opera can be found in a variety of different hardware and software platforms, including Adobe products, mobile phones, and on various Nintendo gaming consoles.

With all of that said, here we go:

Browser #1: Maxthon

Website: http://www.maxthon.com/
Programmer: Maxthon International Limited
Rendering Engine: Trident
First Impression: “It looks like Lotus Symphony … and the name sounds like a line of bug sprays.”
Originality (Out of 5): 5
Special Features: A Facebook sidebar plugin and an XMarks-style bookmark synchronization service is included in the installation.
Positives: Maxthon is probably one of the most unique browsers we have ever come across. It employs several cutting edge features, including mouse gestures, a built-in feed reader, and a completely customizable interface. It’s also very social media friendly, which could potentially make status updates a breeze.
Negatives: Maxthon likes to refer to itself as “Internet Explorer” a bit too often. While it might be small, it is bound to throw more than a few people off.
Overall (Out of 10): 7;
Final Thought: “It’s a very well put together browser, which is nice. You don’t see that much anymore.”

Browser #2: K-Meleon

Website: http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/
Programmer: Christophe Thibault
Rendering Engine: Gecko
First Impression: “These tools are interesting.”
Originality: 5
Special Features: Instead of utilizing the “standard” XUL interface, K-Meleon relies on the Windows API. The intended result is an experience closer to Safari in OS X and Konqueror in Linux than the everyday installation of Firefox. Like Maxthon, everything from the tab bar to the menus is customizable. There are also some innovative mouse options, including a tool that modifies the scroll wheel. Users also have the option of “saving” sessions for later use.
Positives: K-Meleon makes Firefox look like Internet Explorer. The browser practically begs the user to fool around with it. Users also have the option to activate Opera’s patented Hotlist technology, which adds an entirely new level of usability to the browser.
Negatives: It’s a tad intimidating at first.
Overall: 9
Final Thought: “If I felt like switching browsers right now, it would be to this one.”

Browser #3: Sleipnir

Website: http://www.fenrir-inc.com/us/
Programmer: Fenrir Inc.
Rendering Engines: Trident and Gecko
First Impression: “This is neat … I wish I could get it working right.”
Originality: 4
Special Features: Before starting the browser, the user is asked if they want to use either the Trident or Gecko rendering engine. Although we really have no desire to use Trident, it’s nice to have the option available. Sleipnir also has the ability to run extensions from both Internet Explorer and Firefox in addition to its own proprietary add-ons.
Positives: It’s fast … really, really fast. The native Sleipnir plugins seem to be a bit odd at first, but are extremely useful and powerful.
Negatives: It claims to be “for advanced users only.”  We suggest that you heed that warning.
Overall: 7
Final Thought: “Make sure that you read all of the instructions first.”

Browser #4: Lunascape

Website: http://www.lunascape.tv/
Programmer: Lunascape Co., Ltd
Rendering Engines: Trident, Gecko, and Webkit
First Impression: “Now I know where Sleipnir got its look from.”
Originality: 4
Special Features: Think “Sleipnir,” but with added Webkit support. It makes a bigger difference than one might think. The browser “skin” can be switched out at a moment’s notice — a nifty feature for anyone who can’t decide on the “perfect look” for their browser. Your favorite RSS feed can also be turned into a “news ticker,” which runs parallel to your tabs.
Positives: The rendering engine can be changed on the fly, similar to the IE/Safari Tab extension in Firefox. The actual viewing window can display several web pages at once, making it easy to compare different sites or products.
Negatives: For some reason, all of the proprietary extensions are in Japanese. Like Sleipnir, it ca be a tad intimidating to those unfamiliar with alternative web browsers.
Overall: 6.5
Final Thought: “It has a lot of potential, but still has a way to go.”

- Popular online movie rental hub and video streaming service Netflix has decided to enter the burgeoning web app game in a big way. The company has rolled out several gadgets, tools, and extensions, all designed to expand and enhance your renting experience. Several major players in the worlds of tech and entertainment are already making their proverbial presences felt, including Facebook, Twitter, and movie review meta-site Rotten Tomatoes. Like with most sites of this nature, each app is able to be sorted by name, ranking, and overall popularity. While it isn’t exactly major of an upgrade, the Netflix App Gallery does add some much needed interactivity to the otherwise “by-the-numbers” site. The new Netflix App Engine is available now for all subscribers. For those who wish to try their hand at programming for the rental giant, a free to use API is also available.

- When discussing modern technology, it’s easy to overlook Silverlight. Although it can’t exactly be considered a “dud” at this point, it’s not a mainstream powerhouse by any means. Microsoft, however, is attempting to rectify that situation … sort of. In a recent press release, the computer giant claimed that Silverlight has been loaded nearly three hundred million times, surpassing the download rates of the Firefox, Safari, and Chrome web browsers. It’s an interesting tidbit of knowledge, provided that you overlook one tiny, little fact: Silverlight is not a web browser. It’s actually a real time multimedia platform, similar to Adobe Flash. While the actual reasoning behind the cryptically worded hype piece is unknown, many within the industry believe it’s a roundabout way to tout the success of Silverlight’s “brother in arms,”  Internet Explorer. Neither Adobe nor any of the browser developers mentioned above have responded to the release at this time.

- As you might have guessed by the multitude of news stories, celebrity comments and late night comedy sketches, Twitter is the “it” web application in the US right now. In its two years of activity, the service has been used to do everything from report on earthquakes in China to insight an Eastern European revolution. Billionaire Mark Cuban uses it to complain about the NBA. Oprah uses it to keep in touch with her fans. President Barack Obama employed it in his most recent campaign. So who is the latest Twitter sensation? Hint: it’s not Moldovan revolutionaries or President Obama. It’s a cat named Sockington. Sockington uses his small corner of the web to discuss topics that truly matter — eating, sleeping, and running from the attic to the dining room and back again. The animal world’s favorite microblogger currently has over 500,000 followers, which is more than controversial baseball star Alex Rodriguez, Vice President Joe Biden, and Neil Diamond have combined. We at the Free Line congratulate Sockington on the achievement. Your catnip is in the mail … possibly.

Browser Extension Friday is back! On today’s edition, we take a look at five browser add-ons that truly embody the phrase “cutting edge.” First up, our “featured review:”

Xmarks – For Firefox. Once upon a time, bookmarks were lonely web links that lingered in an obscure folder somewhere on your hard drive. Moving your bookmarks from one system to another usually involved a flash drive (or before that, a floppy disk), a rudimentary knowledge of file structure, and a little luck. Xmarks attempts to change all of that. Instead living on your hard drive, the Xmarks-based bookmarks live on a central server. Because of this, your bookmarks are now available to every computer that you call home. The bookmarks can also be split into several profiles, insuring that those “for home only” links never actually see the inside of your office. As an added bonus, Xmarks has the ability to suggest sites that you might find interesting. Fairly unique and surprisingly easy to use, XMarks is perfect for anyone who wishes to liven up the once boring bookmark menu once and for all.
…And now, the rest of the story:
SmarterFox – For Firefox. Add some serious speed to several common tasks, including organizing bookmarks, copying and pasting text, and even searching Wikipedia.

Tab Sidebar – For Firefox. Turn the innocent looking tab bar into a powerful “preview pane.” Interesting, but not recommended for anyone with a smaller monitor.

Speed Dial – For Firefox. Turn your number keys into bookmark receptacles in no time flat.