Ultimate Top Ten Firefox Add-Ons List

A current advertisement on television features the CEO of a cell phone company holding a phone and saying that we can't really call them "phones" any more - they do so much more.

The same principle applies to web browsers. There are dozens to choose from, each with their own loyal followers, and each with astounding features. We can't call them just "web browsers" because they do SO much more.

In my opinion, Firefox is the best. On the one hand, it's very simple to download, install, and use - even if the user knows very little about computers. On the other hand, it's fully customizable and packs enough features to make any geek ecstatic. The best part? It's free and open source (that means the code is freely available)!

Firefox can be extended with a variety of add-ons. Here's a few of the add-ons I use (and couldn't live without):

#1 - NoScript

NoScript is what keeps me safe on the web. Although I definitely continue using my firewall, antivirus, and spyware checker, it seems like they rarely get to find anything because NoScript finds it first and prevents it from accessing my computer. It adds an additional layer of protection to the mix, by preventing websites from executing scripts that you don't know about. When you access a site with scripts or dangerous elements, you get a warning and can then either exit, view the site without the script, or give site-by-site permissions.

#2 - TwitterFox

Twitter is an amazing service. It's sort of like a combination between microblogging and text messaging with conversational applications. You "follow" people and they "follow" you - it's a way to keep track of friends and make new ones. You can "tweet" (post) from Twitter's website, but it's easier to use Twitterfox. TwitterFox puts a tiny, unobtrusive "T" icon in the statusbar of FireFox. Click on it and you can see recent tweets from those you follow, and send tweets yourself. You can also send messages to individuals who follow you this way.

#3 - ForecastFox

ForecastFox is simple and highly customizable. You can set up your hometown, or places you visit often, and the forecast appears on your browser's status bar. Alerts pop up if there's a severe weather situation. You can have (in theory) as many locations as you like. Want to know the weather in Paris or Jamaica? Just set it up in ForecastFox. It's a great way to determine likely weather conditions if you're going on vacation - just fire up ForecastFox a week or two before going and you'll know what the weather's been like.

#4 - Alexa Toolbar

Alexa shows you the pagerank of the site you're visiting, and using it will increase the pagerank of that site. Their pagerank is determined by the number of Alexa users that access the site. For example, as I write this, Associated Content has a pagerank of #817. Statistics are available on the top 100,000 sites. Alexa also gives you a "similar sites" listing, which can be very handy if you're researching a particular topic.

#5 - FireFTP

I don't know how I lived before FireFTP. Seriously. Before, if I wanted to upload something to my website, I had to open a stand-alone application. No matter which one I tried, too, they seemed to be very crash-prone. With FireFTP, two clicks and I'm "in" - uploads, downloads, permissions, and the like are all available by drag, drop, or click. It's the simplest and most wonderful little add-on in the world.

#6 - Adsense Notifier

Adsense Notifier is a simple little tool for people who use Google Adsense to monetize their blogs. Set it up with you login and password, and your stats will display in the status bar. Easy! If you click on it, you'll be taken to your Google Adsense management pages.

#7 - Colorful Tabs

Colorful Tabs is a simple little add-on. When you have more than one website open in FireFox, they appear as tabs across the top of your screen. All this add-on does is change the colors of the tabs so that they're easier to tell apart. You can even asign a color to a particular tab.

#8 - Shareaholic

Shareaholic lets you do just that - share. When you find a site or page that you like, click the button and you can Digg it, post to Del.icio.us, StumbleUpon, and other social bookmarking sites. You can also Twitter it or post to Facebook, and even add a feed to Google Reader.

#9 - FoxMarks Bookmark Synchronizer

If you use Firefox on multiple computer, you need FoxMarks. Simply install it on all the computers you use. There's even an option to store and share your passwords between computers. If you're travelling, you can access your bookmarks through a website.

#10 - Translator

Translator is an easy way to get any website translated into your native language. Granted, it's "machine" translation (nuance is lost and sometimes garbled, and things like brand names may not be translated). Yet to get the "gist" of what you're reading, it's very handy! It's becoming more and more common for people to need sites translated, as we become more "globalized". I occasionally read Spanish and Russian newspapers, though I'm able to read very little Spanish and Russian! Translator is very easy and helpful.

Those are MY top ten add-ons. What are yours? Post a comment here with a link to your favorite Firefox Add-Ons!!