Instantfox does much more than just eliminate the need for the search box.  You can also get results instantly as you type and loads up content on the fly.  There is some memorization needed to remember the quick search key-letters to type on to the address bar to do your searches.

g » for Google Search
i » for Google Images
m » for Google Maps
y » for Youtube
t » for Twitter
w » for Wikipedia
a » for Amazon
e » for eBay
c » for Calculator

Now, while some might see this as a drawback – I actually see this as a useful feature. This means I can use Instantfox when I see fit and it doesn’t totally replace the way Firefox handles the address bar. In everyday use, the Firefox address bar is the same as it always was.  However, if you type in g then a space and then type out a keyword – you are searching Google instantly.  I like that.

Want to learn more about this amazing little add-on for Firefox? Head on over to Instantfox.net.

Page zooming is a Firefox feature that is often overlooked.  It was a new feature added to Firefox 3, which in turn allowed you to increase or decrease the size of a web page to help improve the readability. So, how can you take advantage of this magnificent feature inside of Firefox?

The most common way would be to hold down the Ctrl key and then scroll up on your mouse wheel to zoom in, and scroll down on the mouse wheel to zoom out.

You can also get the same effect with just the keyboard too.  To zoom in, press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard and then press the + key. To zoom out, press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard, then press the – key.  To reset the view back to normal, all you need to do is press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard and then press the 0 key.

The last way you can zoom in and out via Firefox is through the menu.  You will want to go to View > Zoom.  You can select “Zoom In”, “Zoom Out”, or “Reset” from there.  If you choose “Zoom Text Only” then only the text will change size, and the rest of the web page elements will stay the same.

It should also be said that most of these shortcuts will work on a Mac too. Just substitute the Ctrl key for the Cmd key instead. I hope this refresher in Firefox’s awesome zoom feature comes in handy then next time you find a website with tiny print.

Would you like to have quick and easy access to everything Google with just one or two clicks of your mouse in Firefox?  That is what the Google Shortcuts add-on for Firefox promises to deliver.  The idea here is simple.  This extension will display any or all Google services as buttons next to your address bar or anywhere else you would like for it to show up.

One installed, you can quickly pull up Google Reader, Analytics, News, Notebook, Maps, Mail and anything else that is Google related.  Your shortcuts can also be displayed under a Google icon drop down box, to save on clutter too. 

Now, you might say you do not need access to every Google service out there.  You only need a few shortcuts.  You can easily customize and select which services you can see – and which will be hidden.

Overall, if you are a big Google fan – this is an add-on for Firefox you have to try out.  You can pick up the Google Shortcuts add-on for Firefox on the Firefox Add-ons web site. 

There is a lot you can do with Firefox when it comes to the mouse.  Now, most of the time people focus on all the keyboard shortcuts you can do with Firefox – however, the mouse shortcuts are equally as cool. 

Here are six of my favorite Firefox mouse shortcuts for you to remember:

• Middle click on a link (will open in new tab)
• Holding the Shift key and scrolling down (takes you to the previous page)
• Holding the Shift key and scrolling up (takes you to the next page)
• Holding the Ctrl key and scrolling up (increases text size)
• Holding the Ctrl key and scroll down (decreases text size)
• Middle clicking on a tab (closes that tab)

Have any other Firefox mouse shortcuts you hold near and dear to your heart?  Leave them in the comments and let us know your favorites that you use in your everyday browsing.

You get instant access to recently closed tabs, personalized suggested sites and even shortcuts to your desktop applications. 

The most recent release also comes with 7 built in themes, so you have a few more ways to customize it to suit your needs.

There is no reason why, these days, your new tab should be empty and bland.  With the New Tab King add-on for Firefox, you can make the new tab page and the Firefox browser even more functional than it was before.

So do you want to customize web sites without writing one single line of code?  Check out this video tutorial for a little more information about the Customize Your Web add-on for Firefox.

Some of the other customizations featured include:

• Removal and rearrangement of elements (cut / copy / paste behavior)
  Modifying of elements in every possible way (changing size, color, default values etc.)
• Definition of keyboard shortcuts / shortstrings for any clickable element (shortstrings are multi-character shortcuts, e.g. "SO" for a "Sign out" Button)
• Adding keyboard navigation support for any list of elements  (e.g. for the result entries of search)
• Insertion of arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code
• Definition of small macros which are triggered by a shortcut
• Automatically triggering actions on page load (e.g. for automatic click on a login button or focusing a special field)

I am just having fun playing around with this add-on figuring out all the things I can do with it.  For some, it might seem a little complex, however there is extensive documentation to help you along.

You can pick up the Customize Your Web add-on for Firefox from the Firefox Add-ons site or from Mouseless.de.

You will want to pickup the bug489729 add-on for Firefox.  This oddly named extension comes with two main controls. You can:

• Disable Detach Tab – use this to disable tab tearing
• Enable Drop URL – use this to be able to drag a tab to your desktop to create a shortcut.

Now, what if you want to keep tab tearing, however you would like the ability to undo a tab detachment?  Then you need to pick up the Undo Detach Tab add-on for Firefox.  As the name says, it will add a context menu option where you can undo your tab tearing.

So, for those of you who live the Apple lifestyle, here is the way you can navigate around the navigation bar without having to ever lay your fingers on your one button mouse.  If you know of any more (because as you can see, I am not a big Apple user) please share in the comments.  Would love to build up a database of more keyboard shortcuts for everybody to use.

Navigation Bar Keyboard Shortcuts

Choose Your OS: Windows | Linux | Mac OS

Cmd + [ or Cmd + Left Arrow or Delete = Go Back a Page

Cmd + ] or Cmd + Right Arrow or Shift + Delete = Go Forward a Page

Opt + Home = Go to your Homepage

F5 or Cmd + R = Reload a Page

Cmd + . or Esc = Stop a Page from Loading

Cmd + P = Bring up the Print Options

Cmd + J = Launch the Download Window

Cmd + Shift + H = Open Your History in the Sidebar

Cmd + B = Open Your Bookmarks in the Sidebar

Cmd + T = New Tab

Cmd + N = New Browser Window

Cmd + X = Cut

Cmd + C = Copy

Cmd + V = Paste

For the Apple fans out there, here are a few more bonus keyboard combinations, that should help assist you in getting your browsing done a little faster.

• Cmd + F = Find
• Cmd + Home = Go to the Top of a Web Page
• Cmd + End = Go to the Bottom of a Web Page
• Cmd + Shift + T = Reopen the Last Closed Tab

Know of anymore Firefox keyboard shortcuts that would be useful for your fellow Apple fans to know?  Drop in a comment and share!

To launch, all you have to do is hit Ctrl+Space (or for the Mac users Ctrl+Alt).  If you want to use it without the graphical launcher above, use Shift+Alt (or Shift+Ctrl for the Mac users).

Some of the best features include the ability to customize the appearance, set the launcher to open in current or new tabs, set the launcher up as your homepage and you can add as many sites to it as you need to.

You can get more information about it via the official web site, and download it via the Firefox Add-ons site.  It is nice to see a good looking and well thought out extension – and this one fits the bill.

The idea here is to search right from the search box, rather than be taken to a new page to view your search results.  Inquisitor, over time, will learn to understand you better and tailor your results to suit your needs. 

Keyboard shortcuts, that you can add yourself will help extend the searches to other search engine providers too.

It has pretty written all over it.  Visually, this is one of the best looking add-ons for Firefox I have used in a really long time.  Watch this video tease to see it in action.

For more information, be sure to check out the official site:

• http://www.inquisitorx.com/firefox/

When push comes to shove, I am still a fan of the Firefox search box.  If you want a powerful alternative to Inquisitor though, I would highly suggest the CyberSearch add-on from CyberNet News.