Zotero is not a sword-swinging hero

Zotero is actually a Firefox add-on designed to “help you collect, manage, and cite your research sources”.

It has features like:

Automatic capture of citation information from web pages

Storage of PDFs, files, images, links, and whole web pages

Flexible notetaking with autosave

Fast, as-you-type search through your materials

Playlist-like library organization, including saved searches (smart collections) and tags

Integration with Word (use the Word extension) and OpenOffice (use the OpenOffice extention)

Integration with WordPress and other blogging software

From the Institute of Museum and Library Services: “Zotero is an easy-to-use yet powerful research tool that helps you gather, organize, and analyze sources (citations, full texts, web pages, images, and other objects), and lets you share the results of your research in a variety of ways. An extension to the popular open-source web browser Firefox, Zotero includes the best parts of older reference manager software (like EndNote)—the ability to store author, title, and publication fields and to export that information as formatted references—and the best parts of modern software and web applications (like iTunes and del.icio.us), such as the ability to interact, tag, and search in advanced ways. Zotero integrates tightly with online resources; it can sense when users are viewing a book, article, or other object on the web, and—on many major research and library sites—find and automatically save the full reference information for the item in the correct fields. Since it lives in the web browser, it can effortlessly transmit information to, and receive information from, other web services and applications; since it runs on one’s personal computer, it can also communicate with software running there (such as Microsoft Word). And it can be used offline as well (e.g., on a plane, in an archive without WiFi).”

FireTorrent add-on for Firefox

Need a BitTorrent downloader? Using Firefox? Then why not put them together?

FireTorrent has been ported to become an add-on for Firefox.

Recommended by PC Magazine, April 2008.

GSpace add-on for Firefox stores in Gmail

Got a Google GMail account?  Okay, then are you using all the space they give you?  Not yet?

Then consider this Firefox browser add-on called GSpace which lets you FTP through Firefox and store files in there.

“Gspace is the FON friendly site that provides FREE Online Storage to access your files everywhere. Gspace turns the 2GB of your Gmail account into free online storage. With Gspace you can manage unlimited Gmail accounts to store all type of files within its simple, user friendly interface. Listen your favourite stored music directly from your Gspace, view your collections of pictures and manage your Gdrive files as well. Download Gspace now and transfer files between your computer and Gspace at anytime, from everywhere!”

Recommended by PC Magazine, April 2008.

Yslow tells you why the site is slow

Yslow for Firebug (a Firefox add-on) analyzes web sites and finds what is slowing them down.

A nice tool for developers trying to improve web site performance.  Y not?

Firefox add-ons continually updated

The add-ons (also called extensions) to the Firefox browser greatly increase it’s usability and let you customize it to suit your needs.

This list will continue to be updated:

• Are you on several IM lists? Using MEEBO to talk with them? Then an add-on to run Meebo in Firefox would help! From Distant Librarian.
• ComputerWorld suggests 20 must-have Firefox extensions.
• For a change of pace, ComputerWorld suggests 10 Firefox extensions to avoid. One of these is Greasemonkey, which enables a number of other extensions, so you may want to consider pros and cons on that one.
• Lifehacker has their Gmail 2 add-on updated for the latest Gmail version.
• Saving Advice has 20 Firefox extensions that will save you money.
• Another money-saver is the Pronto service extension for easy price comparisons.

Tweaking Firefox

Firefox Tweak Guide is available from Tweakguides.

Firefox keyboard shortcuts

Here are some Firefox keyboard shortcuts:
Firefox Keyboard shortcuts

70+ Keyboard shortcuts to move faster in Mozilla Firefox from TechRepublic. Free registration is required for this PDF file.

Firefox tips and links

Here are some tips and links for Firefox users: Firefox Tips & Tricks

Make Firefox faster

How to Make Firefox Load Faster is a step-by-step adjustment from Gizmo’s Tech Support Alert Newsletter.

Google Pack up your troubles in your online software

Google Pack is a group of software helps with some very useful items.  Pick your own pack and download just the items you want.  All freeware, no malware included.

• Google Earth
• Google Desktop
• Norton Security Scan
•  Firefox with Google Toolbar
• Google Toolbar for IE
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Skype
• StarOffice (a complete office suite of software)
• Spyware Doctor
• Picasa
• Google Photos screensaver
• Google Talk
• RealPlayer

Google for Email = Gmail

GMail - Google Email

GMail Google’s GMail is a popular free email system that is accessible from anywhere you connect to the Internet, and has good anti-spam filters too. You’ll need access to a cell phone with text messaging (this is part of keeping out spammers) to receive the confirmation code, but not after that.

To get Gmail on your mobile phone, just go to m.gmail.com on your phone to access your inbox.

Lifehacker has an update on Gmail and a new Better GMail Firefox add-on for it, which adds a menu of the optional features for it.  (Note: the Firefox extension requires you to already have the Greasemonkey add-on installed.)

Firefox add-on: Watacrackaz for SMS text messaging

Watacrackaz  “This is a tool to send SMS messages to cell phones for free. You can also receive messages if you register and have signed in. There is a phonebook of contacts that is accessible once you sign in. The list of carriers is dynamic and is updated whenever you start Firefox or click on the _update_ menu item. *You do not need to get a new version of the toolbar to get new carriers*. Drop by the discussion forum at http://www.watacrackaz.com/forum/.

Please do not send urgent messages via this medium as there is no guarantee of timely delivery. The carrier may queue a message for an indefinate amount of time and that is entirely out of my control.

Alternative download: http://www.watacrackaz.com/autosms/watacrackaz.xpi

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