Are you into programming? No problem, you don't have to. If you want to stop scripts from various websites, you don't have to know exactly what JavaScript or other things are all about. Why would you need to stop scripts from running? It's just like flies - to stop them from invading your home, you simply close the windows, you don't have to know anything about them. When surfing the web with Firefox, I am sure you noticed a lot of unwanted popups, sites that automatically redirect you to other pages, load various (noisy!) banners, and so on. To stop most of these from happening, using a Firefox addon like NoScript is a great idea, and that's exactly why I want to tell you more about it.

<-120x240 Vertical Banner - left->Since I can call myself a beginner with NoScript too, because I didn't have the chance to try it with Firefox 3 yet, we'll start with the setup part. Simply go to the addon's page on Mozilla.com and press the Add to Firefox button. Then, press Install Now when asked, and restart Firefox so that NoScript can get ready for action!

Do you want to change all those options already? Patience is a virtue, my friends, or at least in most cases. For us, there's something much easier than wandering through those options, because there are quite a few, as we're going to see a bit later. Now, let's see how to block those banners, shall we?

Here's how to do it - first, be sure to know exactly what to block. This is pretty simple - all you have to do is right click the banner, choose Properties, and check the URL. To be more specific, you have to be careful with the link you see in the Address field, right below Link Properties, in the popup window that appears. Next, right click that banner again, go to NoScript, and choose the domain of origin of your banner. The page is automatically reloaded, and the banner should be gone now. Hooray!

If you can't do it, just let me know, and I'll get back to the subject. Anyway, now we'll leave random content blocking aside and move to an organized attack on banners, popups, and other scripts. How? Well, remember what I just promised? We'll get dirty and learn how to tweak NoScript so that no unwanted content will appear in Firefox again!

Just as a side note, I have to add that, despite the new security features in Firefox 3, NoScript is far from becoming useless. Why? Think about this - you kids are sleeping, and you have to research some data before going to sleep. When opening a site, some LOUD music starts automatically, waking up everyone in the house. As far as I know, Firefox doesn't have a "mute" browsing mode yet, so NoScript could prove extremely useful to avoid such unwanted events. I don't know if this is the best example, but I am sure you can find better ones, if you think about your past experiences as Internet and Firefox user. No, back to the Options part...

To get where we need to be, open the Tools menu, choose Add-ons, and be sure to arrive in the Extensions tab. There, Press the Options button located in the area belonging to NoScript. Now, you should see the window below...

Some of the options present here are really powerful, especially the last one, allowing you to allow scripts to run by default. One interesting option allows you to allow all scripts on sites opened through your bookmarks, and this makes sense, as long as your bookmarks are clean... Anyway, the interesting stuff is only one click away, so let's move to the Whitelist area, shall we?

If "whitelist" sounds like something new, it's enough to say the sites located in this tab are the ones allowed to execute scripts by default. Entire lists can be easily imported or exported, by using the buttons in that window. No need to study any document to change the Whitelist options, it's just "point and shoot!"

The Plugins area, pictured above, everything is obvious - you can simply select the restrictions you need, and that's all. On sites that are not in the whitelist, the selected content won't run. As simple as it gets, don't you think?

For now, this should be enough. Why? Well, I don't want to give you headaches, and I am sure the Advanced area is not really helpful for a beginner, as we are now, while the Appearance and Notifications options are self-explanatory. Just one more hint, before ending this article - in the Notifications tab, you can set an audio file to play when scripts are blocked! ;)

This is everything for today, but that shouldn't stop you from sharing your opinion about NoScript, Internet advertising, intrusive banners and popups, and all that comes with them. I'll be waiting!

A lot has been said about Firefox 3, and even more will be said in the future, I have no doubt about that. As an example, let's take a quick look back at SoftDistrict - first, it was my pleasure to review Firefox 3, then to provide you with 5 quick Firefox 3 tips, followed by the best Firefox 3 plugin of the moment, in my opinion. The problem was that I almost got tired of waiting for the downloads record to become official, but that one has just come to an end...

...because Mozilla just announced that the record has just become official - 8,002,530 downloads in the first 24 hours of release - the Guinness World Record for the most software downloads in that period of time. Hooray!
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According to Mozilla's Vice President of Marketing, Paul Kim, the Firefox fans were "instrumental in achieving this record." He said "Our community members came together and not only spread the word, but also took the initiative to help mobilize millions of people to demonstrate their belief that Firefox gives people the best possible online experience."

In the end, it seems the "Download Day" was a success. It helped Firefox enter the Guinness Book, get a higher market share with minimum effort, and also a lot of public exposure. Brilliant, that's all I can say for now. What do you think, how much time must pass until IE finally loses its crown to Firefox?

Tired of paying for software over and over again? I know - for many people, Microsoft software is expensive, and since there are also free alternatives...but no, wait! I happen to know a lot of people that consider switching to a different word processor or spreadsheet application too hard, but they also complain about Microsoft software being too expensive. Well, here's one for you - cheap Microsoft Office is just around the corner!

Discount, Microsoft, Office? How come these words can be found together? Well, Microsoft thought of releasing a package of products including the Office suite, Internet security software, as well as other services, all coming for an annual subscription fee. Considering that you'll get Microsoft Office and a bunch of other tools for $69.99 per year, I guess we can call this "discount Microsoft Office," don't you think?<-125x125 Button - right->

Formerly known as "Albany," Equipt includes the following applications/suites: Office Home and Student 2007, Windows Live OneCare, Office Live Workspaces, Windows Live Mail, Live Messenger and Live Photo. The plan is to start selling it in the US on the 15th of July, via Circuit City, and other outlets being expected to follow soon afterward.

I know that $69.99 per year doesn't really sound like a deal, but the good part is that you can load Equipt on up to 3 PCs for the yearly subscription fee, so $20 for a PC isn't that bad, after all...

I know, I know - there are always free alternatives around, but if you want to stick with the commercial products, why go for some discount Microsoft Office deal, when more interesting things are waiting just around the corner?

Currently, on Mozilla.com are no less than 5170 add-ons available for Firefox, but I guess there are only a few hundred able to work properly with Firefox 3. Even more, out of those 5170 Firefox add-ons available in all, less than one thousand can really be useful, but that still leaves us with an impressive amount of them to check out. When talking about useless extensions, here you have a few descriptions - "Report the duration of your current browser session," "Change the product name in various parts of the browser. Random name generation ensures perpetual humor," or "This extension allows for customization of the Add Bookmark dialog. The bookmarks tree can be automatically opened and elements can be hidden." Anyway, today I have only one add-on in mind, and its name is PicLens...

<-125x125 Button - left->You know what are those features making some people use Flock instead of Firefox? I don't think it's about blogging features, although they are a good addition, but that excellent Media Bar, turning YouTube and other similar sites into a real show! Now, you should forget about that, because Firefox 3 and PicLens are the only tools you need to turn your YouTube, Google, Flickr, Photobucket or deviantART experience into a unique one. Obviously, you're not limited only to these sites, PicLens supporting virtually any site that has an image gallery inside.

Because images can say more than words, let me tell you something that images can't, in this case. I know it may seem strange to start talking about a bug in an article about the best Firefox 3 plugin, but it's a minor one, and can be easily avoided. Here's what I noticed...
When you open PicLens, and everything works fine, you suddenly press Alt+Tab to check something in another application. So far, so good, but when you try to get back to it, you end up with a blank screen. All you can do is press Esc, and then open it again. The solution to stop this from happening ever again? Well, forget about Alt+Tab while using PicLens, and use the Minimize button located in the upper right hand corner.

To "effortlessly search and zoom your way around thousands of images, videos, news feeds, sports feeds, and more," with PicLens, as nicely described by its producers, all you need is a decent computer running Firefox 3, some 3D graphics card, onboard ones should also be fine but, most of all, a good Internet connection.
Using PicLens comes natural, since you can type in something in the search box, or pick a domain from the list and see all images, news and videos related to it. These are coming from a lot of notorious sources, like MSNBC, ESPN, IGN, and so on.


To maximize a video, be sure not to miss the button in the lower left hand corner. It took me a few hours to spot it, but it may just have been the lack of focus I have sometimes...;)<-125x125 Button - right->

At last, for those scared of setting up things, it's going to be an absolute joy finding out that PicLens doesn't have any preferences to mess with, but I hope to get some 3D and media playing options in the future, and some data buffering ones, too. Anyway, everything works as a charm for now, so I would be rude to say PicLens is really missing something.

Need I say more? I know there are a lot of good add-on for Firefox out there, and some may show up saying "that one is better," and I can't deny the fact that they may be true, but PicLens is the best Firefox 3 plugin that can prove to be useful for the largest mass of users. Am I right with this, or not?