Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts

Mar 27, 2011

HOW TO+REVIEW: Firefox 4 and how it should look like Google Chrome and Opera

Firefox 4 was released less than a week ago and the download statistics can be seen in this interactive page made by Mozilla here. While I was writing this, there was already a whooping 28,726,286 downloads around the world, with Kuala Lumpur having 128,366 downloads and Malaysia having a total of 258,604 downloads. This post will have a review section and followed by a how to section on how to tweak some of the annoying settings in the new Firefox 4.

Review:
At first glance, Firefox 4 looks like Opera 11 (I sometimes use this as I can continue downloads even if I close my browser) and little like Google Chrome (my favourite browser!). It has two new cool functions here. Firstly, it's the new Firefox Sync, which allows you sync with different devices (Firefox for Android/N900 - get it here) and multiple computers. This is great, as I tried Google Chrome's sync with my portable Google Chrome as I go around in uni. Firefox already has a page dedicated to how you can sync your devices here.
The next new thing is my favourite in Firefox 4, is the "Tab Groups" or Panorama. It allows you group tabs together in a tab group according to your interests, like separating your work and leisure web surfings. You can do it by clicking  on the top right corner of your page. All you need to do is drag anywhere in the space to create a new tab group or you can simply drag a tab onto another tab and a new tab group will appear.
 
Tab Groups/Panorama: Awesome stuff

The only thing is that Firefox loads webpages a little slower than Google Chrome (I tried loading up http://www.facebook.com/ with both at the same time 3 times).

HOW TO:
As the new Firefox's new look is a little annoying, you can tweak it below. The numbers will indicate the before and after look, and as an indication of what will be tweaked.

1: That is the "Tab Group"/Panorama button. Click that to see the new function.
2: The new "Firefox menu button is at the top, which wastes some space for surfing the net. All you need to do is Download and install the addon "Movable Firefox Button 1.3" here.
 
After restarting the browser, go to Firefox Menu ---> Options ---> Toolbar Layout and you can drag it to the position in the picture.
3: You can move the refresh button by going to the Firefox Menu ---> Options ---> Toolbar Layout, and drag it to the left of the address bar, just like in the picture.
4: Finally, the most annoying one, for Firefox users, is that the tabs that is now above the address bar. Move the tabs to below the address bar, by going to Firefox Menu ---> Options and uncheck (or click) "Tabs on Top". Enjoy! I hope you can share this with your friends and have a better Firefox experience.
5 (not numbered): Drag the Google Search bar away. Go to Firefox Menu ---> Options ---> Toolbar Layout, and drag the Google toolbar into the "Customize Toolbar" window, because you can now search right at the address bar.

Opera 11 Lookalike (before): A lot of space is wasted with the new Firefox button on the top left corner.

A better look (after): After tweaking the settings, this is how it should look like.
Source for How To: Lifehacker
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Although I like the new Firefox 4's sync and the "Tab Groups"/Panorama function, I still prefer Google Chrome :P To Google: I WANT TAB GROUPS IN CHROME!! I (still a Google fanboy)blog in techknew about stuff in the internet after I have tried them and has guides to problems that we normally face as we use our computers everyday. Check out SOLVED: IE9 Crash and SOLVED: Google Chrome - Aw, Snap! He's Dead, Jim!

Additional tags: How to tweak firefox, firefox settings

Jan 25, 2011

Review: Rockmelt-The social browser

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Rockmelt

Launched at the end of last year, Rockmelt.com was one of the top tweeted trends on December 13, 2010. It is the new social media web browser, built based on Chromium (Google's open-source project). Naturally, it has the usual Google Chrome look. 
Rockmelt's look

Basically, it allows you to browse the web without having to open a new tab specifically for Facebook or Twitter. It also allows you to get feeds from sites by entering the site's URL or manually approving it when you browse a website. These feeds  will appear on the right side of the browser(called App Edge).
Rockmelt's lookRockmelt's look 
On the left side of the browser (Friend edge), you will see your friends who are currently online.

You can easily share stuff online by click the share button just right beside the address bar too!

And, whenever there's updates or new feeds, there will be pop-ups on your taskbar (just like Windows Live Messenger's pop-ups) and it can be disabled at the "Options" tab. If you use Google Chrome on a normal basis, there is not much different from it. 

Just logon to Rockmelt.com and click "Connect with Facebook" and "Authorise it" for their beta invite. Within 48 hours, come back to Rockmelt.com and the "Download" button will be there. Just download and install it. 
Rockmelt's look
After installation, just sign in into your Facebook account (sign in your Twitter account later) and allow for all the request for permission. 

Rockmelt's look

Rockmelt's look

Remember to close Google Chrome if you want to import your Chrome settings into Rockmelt.
Rockmelt's look
Enjoy your new browsing experience with Rockmelt! If you need some guide around Rockmelt, type in "rockmelt://help/" (without the inverted commas) within the Rockmelt browser.

(Some facts are taken from Wikipedia)

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Jul 26, 2010

Droid Does It!

Check out Droid Does.

It is an interactive site for you to check out the new Android phones in 360 degrees.


Jul 8, 2010

Crush the Castle - Of Physics, Catapult and Castles

Try Crush the Castle for free as recommended by Cnet.


Also, browse through the 30 games which you can play on a netbook on Cnet.

May 23, 2010

CNET Tech Review: Apples and Androids