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October 24, 2008 12:47 PM PDT

Video: Top 5 Firefox add-ons

So you think you know the best extensions for Firefox? Maybe you do. On the other hand, maybe there are some real gems that haven't yet caught your eye.

Compare your list of Firefox favorites with Tom Merritt's as the CNET Executive Editor runs through his ultimate add-ons. Let's see if you agree.

Jessica Dolcourt reviews the latest and greatest smartphone apps, in addition to a healthy dose of Windows software. E-mail Jessica and follow her on Twitter.

Topics:: Browsers and extensions,; Mac Software,; Windows Software

Tags:: Firefox,; extension,; add-on

Share:: Digg; Del.icio.us; Reddit; Facebook

Recent posts from The Download Blog: Tell the time and destroy the Death Star: iPhone Apps of the week; Windows Starter Kit refreshed for 2010; Big changes in Security Starter Kit 2010; Why to embrace Firefox 3.6's new-tab ethos; Sale: CoPilot Live GPS for iPhone, $19.99; Three apps we're thankful for; Mozilla issues near-final Thunderbird 3; eBay opens auction app for BlackBerry

Add a Comment (Log in or register) (32 Comments)


by CraigslistTool October 24, 2008 8:30 PM PDT: This is a sweet review. I didn't know about the all in one side bar. I have another one I wanted to point out. http://www.craigstoolbox.com. It speeds up your Craigslist search results by adding images in the results list.; Like this Reply to this comment

by IE_Fan October 25, 2008 7:19 AM PDT

IE is the best. FIrefox sucks. Ie is also the world best browser and used around the world more than firefox. I have checked the speed firefox slower in loading webpage, but ie has an original look and is way better than firefox in faster web browsing. Even google chrome is better than firefox. HahA

Like this Reply to this comment


by ArmoredCavalry October 25, 2008 10:59 AM PDT: Firefox does not suck, IE is not the world's best browser, the reason it is the most used browser is because it comes installed with the most used O/S, aka Windows. IE has copied many features from Firefox/Mozilla/Opera (tabs, search box). Most people do not use Firefox because it is the fastest, they use it because of the huge amount of features that can be added (yes they had extensions for Firefox way before IE started in using "Add-ons), none of which you have to PAY for, unlike with IE. If you are a power user, like a web author, Firefox can be an invaluable tool. Extensions such as Fireftp makes life much easier. "IE has the original look" , no clue what that means, but you can get countless themes for Firefox to make it look EXACTLY how you want it, not some bland tired theme that Microsoft has been pushing for a few years now..... Chrome is faster, sure, but it is not all about loading email 3 seconds faster.... Features are more important to me than speed, and THAT is where Firefox is king. :); Like this


by gpswayne October 25, 2008 11:50 AM PDT: what planet do you live on? I guess you work for MS. Firefox is 10 times faster than IE. Not a dish, just the truth. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.; Like this


by hotshot982 October 25, 2008 1:18 PM PDT: don't feed the trolls; Like this


by sb1999 October 26, 2008 3:24 AM PDT: It is useless to answer your baseless & bogus point.; Like this


by baddy_3- October 26, 2008 4:04 PM PDT: o man/lady(whatever!)........don't deprive yourself of the best browsers u get here at download.com.
come out of IE, try opera,firefox,maxthon,safari etc.....your perception of speed in browsing is bound to change.
and chrome is yet to be better than firefox, give it some time. chrome is still a beta while the ones i mentioned above r veterans.; Like this


by wyzardofodd October 26, 2008 4:13 PM PDT: IE_Fan ..... HahA? Yeah, but the jokes on you. No self respecting computer aficionado would be caught dead using that piece of garbage M$ calls a browser. The fact that you hold it in such high esteem totally destroys your credibility with those who are somewhat computer knowledgable. I guess ignorance really is bliss! As others have iterated the strength of Firefox isn't how fast the program opens or even page rendering speed (which it is not slow by any means), but the massive number of features it has by way of add-ons. Neither IE or Google Chrome come remotely close to Firefox in this regard. The way I see it, the newcomer Chrome is coming on fast and will be breathing on the back of your neck for a few seconds before it blows by you. Firefox is so far in front the two of you can't even see its dust trail.; Like this


by Petawawa October 25, 2008 8:34 AM PDT: All good add on programs, but one I find extremely handy is "InFormEnter". This auto fill program ads a small blue arrow beside any field fill and saves time when having to fill in personal info. It's simple and easy to use/manipulate. Was very handy for my elderly father who is new to the computer game and has difficulty remembering all the sights he has inadvertently signed up for. He picks a user name and password with a key word to remind him which sight he is on and which combination to use. Recommend this small but useful tool.
Cheers; Like this Reply to this comment

by midu22 October 25, 2008 9:43 AM PDT

Firefox 3.03 is actually much, much faster than IE. The difference in javascript speed is staggering and just keeps getting better.

I couldn't agree more with the top 4, but not in that order. Here's my list:

1. TabMix Plus
2. Adblock Plus
3. All in one Sidebar
4. Cooliris
5. Download Statusbar
6. Session Manager
7. No Squint
8. Colorful Tabs
9. Customize Google
10. Forecastbar Enhanced
11. Fast Video Download
12. IE Tab
13. Grab and Drag
14. Google Preview
15. PDF Download
Gz9. Split Pannel
10. N

Like this Reply to this comment


by jamesk111 October 26, 2008 1:34 PM PDT: AdBlock Plus should be 1st. What about DownloadThemAll???; Like this


by yoyo_bobie October 25, 2008 3:07 PM PDT: it is so pleasure to me to be here; Like this Reply to this comment


by MafiaPenguin October 25, 2008 3:53 PM PDT: My least favorite plug-in?
Flash Player 10.

I upgraded to it, but IT DOESN'T SUPPORT LOTS OF SITES!
This one included (no fullscreen).; Like this Reply to this comment

by aarkondu1 October 25, 2008 3:53 PM PDT

Where the heck is NoScript? That should have been #1, hands down.

Like this Reply to this comment


by jamesk111 October 26, 2008 1:33 PM PDT: Personally, I dislike NoScript. What's the point of it? Disable javascript... Probably took the programmer 2 minutes to build it; Like this


by The_Computer_Man October 25, 2008 4:08 PM PDT: I agree with the Flash player 10 comment....
My version: 10.0 r12
Version needed for fullscreen: 9.0.115.0 OR LATER

No I know that my math ain't good....but I'm pretty sure that 10 comes after 9. :/; Like this Reply to this comment


by Commanderlewis October 25, 2008 8:20 PM PDT: Great review and ratings of the apps! Now i know of apps that i need to check out thanks~!; Like this Reply to this comment


by MafiaPenguin October 26, 2008 12:06 AM PDT: I used oldapps.com to reinstall Flash Player 9 (http://www.oldapps.com/download.php?oldappsid=flashplayer9r115_win.exe).; Like this Reply to this comment


by ksmani21 October 26, 2008 2:01 AM PDT: Many online trading softwares allow using Internet explorer only and Firefox and Goggle Chrome are disappointed. The software makers never update their ware for using the same through other browsers. Thus the monopoly of Internet Explorer continues for ever.; Like this Reply to this comment

by rlatin2 October 26, 2008 6:29 AM PDT

Cooliris works with Internet Explorer and Firefox, yet people at CNET, don't mention Internet Explorer.
They also give away a program called Cooliris publisher which I use to make my Cooliris digital art galleries. One is at: http://www.itisbygrace2.com/PicLens%20gallery9995/gallery9995.html

Ron Latin

Like this Reply to this comment


by rlatin2 October 26, 2008 1:50 PM PDT: Cooliris Publisher is free from http://cooliris.com and the link is at:
http://cooliris.com/download-all.php
My gallery is nothing without the Cooliris browser add-on. I use the add-ons for both IE and Firefox.
I use Firefox to view my cooliris publisher web pages on my local C drive. you can not do this with IE.
One of my galleries with 506 pieces of digital art is at:
http://www.itisbygrace2.com/PicLens%20gallery9995/gallery9995.html; Like this

by CrackBlack October 26, 2008 7:24 AM PDT

what would u say about Opera...i use Opera n i find it awesome...should i switch to firefox?

Like this Reply to this comment


by baddy_3- October 26, 2008 3:47 PM PDT: opera is equally good as, if not better than, firefox. it is the site "addons.mozilla.com" (firefox add-ons) that makes the difference. limited though, but 'myopera' community does have some decent add-ons. opera themes too r good.
opera browser comes with in-built e-mail client (give ms-outlook a miss, opera mail is lightweight n easy), and torrent support( yippeee!!!!).

performance-wise i found both equal.

but by using both the browsers u won't break any federal law...so try firefox too. for example use firefox on monday, then switch to opera on tuesday etc.
Caution: i find add-ons very addictive!; Like this

by bent_diver October 26, 2008 7:25 AM PDT

***? Ad Block Plus is not compatible with Firefox 3.0.3... way to do your homework guys!

Like this Reply to this comment


by Mr Statto October 26, 2008 11:54 AM PDT: Ad Block Plus works absolutely fine with my Firefox 3.0.3 installation - I wouldn't be without it. It's the main reason I don't use Google Chrome very much; Like this


by jamesk111 October 26, 2008 1:34 PM PDT: It is compatible now =P; Like this


by baddy_3- October 26, 2008 3:56 PM PDT: i hate add-ons ............ bcoz i waste 50% of my surfing time on them. they r f**king addictive..........so beware!!
i just can't stop trying out add-ons randomly.........my firefox crashes at least 4-5 times a day :P.
i don't even remember which add-ons i had last week.............amazing that these cnet guys could actually
sniff-out the top 5 !!; Like this Reply to this comment


by October 26, 2008 5:25 PM PDT: WOW! No offense but I don't care for any of those and they are the "TOP 5". What happened to FireFTP? It should be in the Top 3 at least.; Like this Reply to this comment


by ICHOOSETOTELLTHETRUTH October 26, 2008 7:42 PM PDT: I just bought a Toshiba laptop, and downloaded Firefox for a browser, deleted the new Norton security and downloaded Avast 4.8.
But the errors or far more then anyone would want. What add-ons should i get to stop all the errors?; Like this Reply to this comment


by sartan1982 October 26, 2008 7:48 PM PDT: Wow!!! Exactly what planet was comment 1 on? I'm not even going to address that nonsense. As for my ad-on favorites. Heres some of my favs. in no specific order: 1 Adblock Plus 2 Bettersearch 3 Imagezoom 4 Scrapbook 5 Tabscope 6 Tabmix plus 7 Download statusbar 8 Videodownload helper 9.Colorfultabs Just a few that I find very useful for my browser usage.; Like this Reply to this comment


by daemonizeeee January 20, 2009 5:01 PM PST: I would add also :

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/9508

Enables Firefox to search MSN, Yahoo and Google simultaneously via the http://umibozu.net engine; Like this Reply to this comment


by daemonizeeee January 20, 2009 5:05 PM PST: I would add also :

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/9508

Enables Firefox to search MSN, Yahoo and Google simultaneously via http://umibozu.net; Like this Reply to this comment