There are several different popular browsers available today for Windows, OS X and Linux. Internet Explorer is the most popular on the Windows platform but Firefox comes in second and now has nearly 20% of the browser market share. One of the great things about Firefox is that you can extend it by installing add-ons. These add-ons add features and fun to to the browser. Here is an overview of some essential add-ons for Firefox.

Google Toolbar

The first add-on for any serious surfer is the Google Toolbar. Provided by the search engine people it adds lots of features to your web browser including a SpellCheck button that hunts out any spelling mistakes whenever you type in a web form, including web-based email and forums. It also makes it easier to use Google’s search engine and has some integration with Gmail. Other features include automatic form filling, a PageRank display (which tells you how Google assesses the importance of the page you’re viewing) and Google Notebook integration.

DownThemAll

If you find yourself downloading lots of MP3, AVI, PDF or image files from the web then DownThemAll is a must add-on. The DownThemAll (or dTa) extension is a download manager that adds simple to use but powerful download capabilities to your browser. DownThemAll lets you download all the links or images contained in a webpage while allowing you to refine what is actually downloaded.

Fast Dial

Fast Dial is a simple but yet effective Firefox add-on. When you open a new tab on Firefox (and I do hope you are using tabs), Fast Dial replaces blank tabs with a panel of thumbnails of your favorite sites. You just click the thumbnail of the site you want to visit and you are taken straight there. No more routing around in your bookmarks!

Cooliris

The add-on with the biggest “wow” factor is definitely Cooliris. Cooliris adds a “3D Wall” to your browser that lets you move quickly through images and videos. With an integrated search for Google Image, YouTube, Flickr and Hulu it lets you see, search and browse Internet images in a way I didn’t think would possible on a browser.

Music

If you listen to music from your iTunes collection while surfing the web then FoxyTunes lets you control (pause, play, skip etc) your music and find lyrics, covers and videos from within the browser. Just click on the orange note icon that appears in the status bar and you are good to go. If you don’t use iTunes then FoxyTunes also supports WinAmp, Windows Media Player, Real Player and many other players.

Shopping

If you like shopping on-line for your gadgets then two great Firefox add-ons are the eBay Companion and the Amazon Shopper.

With the eBay Companion shopping is safer with built-in warnings for spoof or lookalike sites. Being an auction site it is important to keep up to date with your activities. The eBay companion provides an at-a-glance update on all your eBay activities including your what you are watching, buying or selling.

The Amazon Shopper gives you an integrated international Amazon Product Search (including Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.ca, Amazon.fr, Amazon.co.jp), an Instant Price Check feature to price check any selected text or link and an Amazon Price Watcher. It is a valuable tools for those who shop at Amazon regularly.

Others add-ons worth mentioning

There are literally thousands of Firefox add-ons here is a list of a few more which are worth investigating:

• Video DownloadHelper – The easy way to download and convert Web videos from hundreds of YouTube-like sites.
• Forecastfox – Get international weather forecasts from AccuWeather.com, and display it in any toolbar or statusbar.
• Read It Later – Read It Later allows you to save pages of interest to read later. It eliminates cluttering of bookmarks with sites that are merely of a one-time interest.
• meebo – Instant messaging across all major IM networks built right into Firefox.
• AutoPager – Automatically loads the next page of a site inline when you reach the end of the current page for infinite scrolling of content.

Getting an actual iPod is only the beginning of your music experience. Hand in hand with the iPod is of course iTunes and a whole world of music, videos, audio books and educational material. After the initial thrill of using your iPod you might find that you need a few extra things to make your iPod experience perfect.

Power and cables

When you are at home you can charge your iPod via the USB cable provided, but when you are away from home how do you charge it? One of the most useful things for your iPod is an additional charging option. If you use your car a lot you might want to consider getting an car charger. This is a cable that plugs into your cigarette lighter or 12V accessory socket and charge your iPod’s battery during use. This is great when you go an long journeys and you want to use your iPod during the journey and you need it fully charged when you get to your destination.

There are also a range of mains power adapters which allow you to plug you iPod into the mains electricity. You also might want to consider getting a spare USB/Dock cable as this can be useful for connecting your iPod to your computer at work (if you are allowed) or when you are away visiting friends.

Sound

The iPod comes with some good in-ear headphones but there are a whole range of other ways to hear the music in your iPod. A top seller on Apple’s iPod accessory store are the in-ear headphones with remote. These headphones include a control capsule (located on the cable of the right earpiece) that lets you adjust the volume and control music and video playback (including play/pause and next/previous).

There are also a variety of external speaker which you can buy for your iPod. Generally the iPod slips into a combined speaker/dock system which allows you (and others) to enjoy your iPod music with a sharper sound and greater bass.

If want to wake up to the tunes on your iPod you can even get an alarm clock with an iPod dock which also charges you iPod for you.

Scratches

If you carry your iPod around in your pocket you might want to invest a protective case or cover. There are a whole range of these available in everything from leather to silicon and in every color imaginable! They also have they benefit that they are cheap!

Sport

If you want use your iPod while running or working out then a getting an armband is essential. These armbands allow you to insert your iPod into the pocket provided and you can then wrap the band around your arm or wrist, and secure it with the adjustable strap. These armbands are designed for the iPods which use flash memory (and specifically due to its size, the iPod Nano) so don’t try and use these with your iPod Classic!!!

It is of course worth mentioning the Nike+ Sport Kit which turns your iPod into your personal coach. By using a wireless sensor, which goes into a special built-in pocket beneath the insole of a Nike+ shoe, information is sent to your iPod (nano or 2nd generation touch), tracking your time, distance, pace and calories burned.

Finally

There are also different iTunes plugins, applications and utilities which you can install on your computer to enhance your music experience while at your computer. Look out for a post on those soon on TFTS.

If you want to see the latest iPod accessories look in the TFTS MP3 player category.

With the holiday season only a few weeks away you may be considering buying your Christmas presents online. Shopping online is easy and you can often find good bargains especially for hi-tech gadgets. But you need to be aware of a few things before your buy to ensure your online safety. Before you start your online shopping spree, make sure you are using the latest version of your browser and if possible use Firefox 3 or IE 7 as they contain anti-phishing technologies.

Check the Seller.

The first and most important thing to know is who are you buying from. If you are using a big well known online retailer then your don’t have much to worry about. But if you are using a smaller shop who also has an e-commerce solution you need to be sure they are reputable. A couple of ways to verify the seller’s reputation is to Google their name and see if you find any horror stories about them. Also you can try calling them and ask some pertinent questions about their returns policy and and delivery. If you are using eBay then make sure you check the seller’s feedback.

Web Site Security.

At some point in the transaction you will need to enter some personal information and pay for the items you have purchased. This information will be sent over the Internet and you need to be sure that the seller’s web site is secure and that the information is sent over an encrypted connection.

When the time comes to enter your personal information or payment details,  make sure that the Web address begins with https and check to see if a tiny locked padlock appears at the bottom right of the web browser window. Also if you are using Firefox 3 then you can click on the web site’s icon at the left side of the address bar and you will get a small report about the site’s security.

Some websites offer to store much of your personal information for you to make it easier to buy from them the next time you use their site. Therefore make sure you use a strong password (preferably mixed case and with some numbers or symbols) and don’t reveal your password to anyone, including their customer support people.

Payment

The safest way to pay for your gifts is by credit card. Most companies offer insurance and indemnities against Internet fraud. But you need to check with your credit card company first.

Never use cash or a money-transfer service because you’ll have no way to get your money back if something goes wrong.

Only ever enter the details that can be found on your credit card. Don’t enter any PIN numbers or bank account numbers. Don’t give extra details like your mother’s maiden name.

Keep a Record

Once you have purchased your gifts make sure you keep a record of what you have bought and where. Most online stores will email you a receipt of your purchase. Don’t delete it. Check your monthly statements to make sure that the right amount was charged to your account.

If the item doesn’t arrive, is damaged or isn’t as specified call the seller immediately. You don’t need to go straight to your credit card company and lodge a complaint, most problems can be solved with the seller simply enough.

Log off!

Once you have finished buying make sure you log off from the site and don’t make purchases from Internet cafes or from public Wi-Fi hotspots.

Conclusion

If you follow these tips online shopping can be a rewarding and money saving experience.