extensions

Chrome extension replaces YouTube comments with Facebook comments

Sure, you can hide YouTube comments, but with the Facebook YouTube Comment extension, you can replace YouTube comments with those made about the video on Facebook.

The extension adds a Facebook comment section below the video player on YouTube. You can still get to YouTube comments on a video. The extension simply collapses them; they're still there and just a click away if you're interested. A quick scan revealed that most videos do not have Facebook comments, but I found a few that did, and they had a decidedly international flavor.

If you are logged into Facebook, you … Read more

How to balance the white space in the redesigned Google+

If you use your browser in a small window, you may have not noticed the extra white space that the Google+ redesign introduced. Maximize your browser window, and you'll see that the layout of Google+ is justified to the left and a whole lot of white space exists to the right.

Apparently, the design was intentional to allow flexibility for future use, but for those of you who dislike the imbalanced layout, there's a solution.

Whitespace Remover for Google Plus is a Chrome and Firefox extension that centers the layout so all the white space isn't on … Read more

Automatically close Private Browsing sessions with a Firefox extension

If you have ever got up and left a Private Browsing session unattended, your private information is sitting there for any passer-by to see. With PB Exit, a Private Browsing window will close after 10 minutes of inactivity, either the last page load or tab switch.

This Firefox extension could not be easier to use; simply install it and let it run in the background. In my trial, it worked as advertised, closing Private Browsing tabs after I let them sit idle for 10 minutes. There are no settings to muss with, though the developer has a note on the … Read more

Save a step when googling with Search Highlighter

The Google search bar saves you the step of opening a new window or tab to search for something, should you endeavor to copy and paste or type a search term into it. With Search Highlighter, you save another step between you and your Google results, needing only to highlight a word in Chrome and hit return.

The extension adds a menu bar below your bookmarks bar with either a Google or Bing search bar (your choice). Any word you highlight shows up in the search bar; hit return or click the magnifying glass button to initiate a search.

If … Read more

See where you've browsed with MozillaHistoryView

NirSoft's MozillaHistoryView reads the history DAT file in Mozilla-based Web browsers such as Firefox as well as Netscape and displays your browsing history under a wide range of useful column headings. The built-in History feature in the latest version of Firefox also displays lots of useful information, it's true. But you must have Firefox open to use it. MozillaHistoryView is a standalone tool that reads history DAT files directly, whether your browser is open or not. You can save and export the data in various ways, too. The program also gives you greater flexibility in accessing multiple browser … Read more

Run portable apps and more from a USB drive with AutoRunnerX

Sometimes it takes a little effort to figure out even the simplest tools, at least when you go by the documentation. So it was with AutoRunnerX, a free tool that launches portable applications, folders, and other stuff stored on a USB drive or portable hard drive when you insert the drive in your system. That's simple enough and useful, too; but it took some mental translations calling upon high school German classes to figure it all out.

Installing AutoRunnerX requires a reboot. The program runs in the background, though it has a compact user interface for adding and removing … Read more

Ochs for Chrome makes NYT better to behold

Now that you only get 10 free New York Times articles a month, why not make the most of them?

Ochs, an extension for Google Chrome that just got updated, streamlines the site for your consuming pleasure. It gets rid of most of the clutter (ads be gone! unnecessary toolbars, adios!) and puts the emphasis right where it should be--on the articles.

The extension makes The New York Times so stylishly minimal it almost could have been created by Apple designer Jonathon Ives.

The latest Ochs update, released last week, automatically replaces the story art with the highest-resolution version of the image available. That means a big, crisp, beautiful image accompanies every story. … Read more

Manage RSS feeds in Firefox with Feed Sidebar

Firefox's Live Bookmarks feature does a fine job of keeping track of RSS feeds. Feed Sidebar is a free add-on that opens feeds in a sidebar equipped with a handy toolbar that makes it easy to search and sort feeds, mark them as read, and limit their age. It doesn't replace Live Bookmarks in Firefox; it augments the standard tool. But if you follow a lot of feeds, you'll like what it adds.

After a quick and trouble-free external download, we restarted Firefox. We clicked the RSS button on the toolbar, and clicked Feed Sidebar's left-hand … Read more

Troubleshooting Safari update problems

Like most software updates, the latest Safari update (version 5.1.4) causes changes to the system's configuration that will undoubtedly result in problems for some people's setups. Typically, even if no outstanding issues crop up in the software after an update, some people may find certain Web sites will not work or load correctly, and plug-ins might show odd behavior when displaying content.

If you have updated Safari on your Mac and are experiencing problems after updating, then here are some things to try that may fix them.

Reset Safari Often problems with Safari happen when temporary … Read more