Optimizing Firefox Tips Tech Guide

Need help to "fire-up" your fox - Mozilla Firefox? Well, great news! I, Creastery™ 2009, will be sharing a guide on that.
We will be using a freeware (No cost needed software) - Firetune
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According to your specific computer speed and internet connection speed, FireTune will optimize several internal settings of Firefox for better performance.

NOTE: FireTune does NOT modify the Firefox executable, or any other Firefox binary file. Everything can be undone easily at a single mouseclick only.

Features:
-No un/in-stallation required - download, unzip and run. Done!
-Speed improvements according to your computer speed
-Improves browsing speed according to your internet connection speed
-Speed improvements for slow, medium and fast computers / connection speeds
-Enables some hidden tweaks of Firefox for even more browsing speed
Includes a configuration backup and restore function
-Optimizes SSL connection speed
-Optimizes Firefox memory usage
-Works with the installable and the portable version of Firefox
-Multi language user interface: includes language files for more than 30 languages

Supports Mozilla Firefox Versions: 1.x, 2.x and 3.x

After you have downloaded, unzip and run the program - Firetune.exe file.
You will see a pop-up, telling you to backup before you do the tweaking. This is very important, just in case anything goes wrong.

The default language should be English. If you are not comfortable with it, change by clicking the language option at the top navigation bar, select any language (language files are called ".lng" without quotation marks.)

Also, if your Mozilla Firefox is portable, please select the option beside the language option. It will prompt you to specify the location of the portable Firefox.

By the way, I recommend PortableApps.com's portable Firefox. Soon, I would be touching up on that.

Now, back to topic. Select an option out of the six options there.
I'm sure that all of you know whether your computer is fast or slow. Therefore, I'm only going to talk about the Internet speed.

For dial-up connection, please choose slow connection.
This will leave you with the 3_rd option and the last option only.

If you do not know if your internet speed is fast or not, at least check out SpeedTest.net to find out your average internet speed.

For internet speed with 3mbps (3 Megabyte Per Second)-
Please choose slower connection or fast. Both can work fine.

Additional information of storage size:
8 bit (b) = 1 byte (B)
1024 byte (B) = 1 kilobyte (kB)
1024 kilobyte (kB) = 1 megabyte (MB)
1024 megabyte (MB) = 1 gigabyte (GB)
1024 gigabyte (GB) = 1 terabyte (TB)
1024 terabyte (TB) = 1 petabyte (PB)
1024 petabyte (PB) = 1 exabyte (EB)
1024 exabyte (EB) = 1 zettabyte (ZB)
1024 zettabyte (ZB) = 1 yottabyte (YB)

The above table is just some points for your own information.

After you have select an option, backup first before anything. Next, press the Tune It! Button.
Note: You have to close the Firefox application FULLY.

You can use the Task Manager to find out. Press Control + Shift + Escape to toggle.
Next, choose the "Processes" tab. Under Image Name, search for firefox.exe.
If it still exists, that means it is still running. If you want to close it safely, wait for a while for it to disappear out of the list. Else, click on firefox.exe, press the "End Process" button and of course "yes" for the prompt.

When it is fully closed, Tune IT!!

After it is done, run your Mozilla Firefox.
Notice the difference? If not, change the options again.

Last words: Good luck in the tweaking, but don't overdo it!

That's all folks for today! Please comment on tech as we need comments to improve on the tech guide. Don't hesitate to ask any questions. Thanks!
By - WinTechpedia™ 2009 Contributors

Save Ink!

Running out of ink in you're printer is annoying, Do you know how to have that happen less often? Use Ecofont!

Supposedly when you print a document using “Ecofont” it will use up to 20% less ink (a little math, that means that for every 10 pieces of paper that you print using it saves 2 and a half pieces of paper over other fonts) which could save you quite a bit if you're printing lots of stuff all the time. This is because of the fonts design which is modeled off of Swiss cheese.



It looks pretty cool and at a distance it doesn't look any different from other fonts if it's size is set small. I would recommend trying this to anyone that has a printer.

You can get it here:
http://www.ecofont.eu/downloads_en.html
and here's their homepage:
http://www.ecofont.eu/

That's all folks for today! Please comment on tech as we need comments to improve on the tech guide. Don't hesitate to ask any questions. Thanks!
By - WinTechpedia™ 2009 Contributors

Microsoft Powertoys - Virtual Destop Manager

Hi all, this is Creastery™ 2009 here posting here again. Before we start, please be warned that what I am going to share is only for Windows Xp Users.

I know that I have not talk about what I have promised in my earlier posts...I need to find time to prepare...

Note to all: We merely to write this blog to share information. If you encounter problems, please consult us but we would not hold responsibility if there is any damage to your computer.

Before you continue, ask these questions to yourself..
Do you like to have more workspace on your computer?
Do you like to multi-task when using the computer?

If the answers are yes..please continue reading.
If not, take note that this post is not really suitable for you.

Well..Is that possible and without virus? YES!
With the release of Microsoft Powertoys - Virtual Destop Manager, it is made possible.

Okay...back to topic. As the title says, I am going to talk about having multiple Virtual Destops.
Note before you continue, PowerToys only work with U.S. English regional settings.

With this program, you can manage up to four desktops from the Windows taskbar!
Click here to download (This is officially made by Microsoft)

After the download, run the executable file. Then choose the complete installation and then install. After the done message, it has completed.

Now, do a right click on the taskbar (The above picture shows an example of the toolbar.)
Select the options toolbars, now click Destop Manager. Now you are all done.
Let me explain the icons on the toolbar. (By right you should see something like the picture below.)

You can see the shortform (MSVDM)--Allows you to go to configuration faster.
You see a green button -- That's for viewing all 4 stations (default)
Then you see 4 buttons with 1,2,3,4 respectively -- They are the work station's number.
You can always change the wallpaper settings by selecting MSVDM settings to configure.
Also, you can change the shortcut keys.

That's all folks for today! Please comment on tech as we need comments to improve on the tech guide. Don't hesitate to ask any questions. Thanks!
By - Freedomstar & Creastery™ 2009

Must Have Firefox Add-on

Today, I (Creastery™) is going to share with you a few Firefox add-on.
(Okay..I said that my next post was going to be talking about other things..please be patient)
I wanted to talk about Cooliris but it seems that Freedomstar has already done that.
I will skip that...

15 MOST RECOMMENDED add-ons:
(Notice: This is the most updated for up to this date. [17 April 2009 - +8.00 GMT], please only download from here if you have the version stated in the below list)


1. Webmail notifier - Latest version: Firefox: 1.5 – 3.6a1pre
2. CSS Viewer - Latest version: Firefox: 1.5 – 3.0
3. DownloadHelper - Latest version: Firefox: 1.5 – 3.6a1pre
4. DownThemAll! - Latest version: Firefox: 3.0 – 3.1b3
5. FoxTab - Latest version: Firefox: 3.0 – 3.1b3
6. JSView - Latest version: Firefox: 2.0 – 3.6a1pre
7. Locationbar² - Latest version: Firefox: 3.0 – 3.6a1pre
8. Personas for Firefox - Latest version: Firefox: 3.0 – 3.5b4pre
9. Session Manager - Latest version: Firefox: 2.0 – 3.6a1pre
10. Site Launcher - Latest version: Firefox: 2.0 – 3.6a1pre
11. SkipScreen - Latest version: Firefox: 2.0 – 3.6a1pre
12. Surf Canyon - Latest version: Firefox: 2.0 – 3.1b3
13. Tab Scope - Latest version: Firefox: 1.5 – 3.5b4pre
14. WebMail Ad Block - Latest version: Firefox: 2.0 – 3.1b3
15. WOT - Latest version: Firefox: 1.5 – 3.6a1pre


1. Webmail Notifier:
This is one of the most useful tool I ever came across. It can check mails from: Daum, Naver, Empas, Nate, Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail and many more with scripts.
We can also check mails from multiple accounts at the same domain like Hotmail or Gmail. So if I will to have 5 hotmail accounts and 8 Gmail accounts, it could check mail from all accounts, NOT 1!.


2. CSS Viewer:
Well, this is only for HTML/CSS learners or professional. This give a view of the CSS in the page. Example, Click on the button to activate it.

Then after clicking on it, it will turn like this:
After clicking this, hover the cursor around the area where you want to clearify what CSS has been used there.

3. DownloadHelper:
One of the best tool to download videos immediately. With a click, the video will start downloading when the destination is located. Able to download some music.

4. DownThemAll!:
Best downloading tool I ever saw. Can locate files used in website and links too. Can download with a easy outlook.
You can also filter to massive download a file type. This is very useful to me as I like to download other's skin to examine..xD
Also there is a better function than Mozilla Built-in Download Manager.
It has the speed examiner.
>Comes with a average speed examiner--(This is usually does not give accurate results...)
Most recommended tool to download files.

5. Foxtab
One of the best tool to be recommended. Look through all your tabs with 5 different easy looks.

The above view is the 1 tab per view.

(5th option from the right bottom corner.)

The above view is the 3 tabs per view. - I only have 2 at that time....
(4th option from the right bottom corner.)
The above view is the 6 tabs per view.
(3rd option from the right bottom corner.)
The above view is the 15 tabs+ per view.
(2nd option from the right bottom corner.)
The above view is the 3 tabs overlapping per view.
(1st option from the right bottom corner.)

This allows us to browse through all our tabs easily.

6. JSView - Only for Html/Css/Java users...
This is a great tool for browsing html files/ css files or even javascript. Recommended and please download if you are a Html/Css/Java users only.

7. Locationbar²:
Quite a useful tool to view the subdomains or domain of a website as the address bar will fade off except for the main domain. Eg:

8. Personas for firefox:
Best and most recommendation. Allows the user to change with a live preview before changing a skin.

9. Session manager:
Great tool if browser crash. Can restore session like before. Recommended to all.

10. Site Launcher:
A add-on that aids in shortcuts...
Example:
By pressing the key, it will take to shortcuts put there.

11. SkipScreen
A free Firefox add-on that lets you skip all the clicking and waiting on sites like RapidShare, Zshare, MegaUpload, and Sharebee. Your downloads start instantly.

12. Surf Canyon:
Saw a arrow and a target? Yes...that's Surf Canyon similar and recommended site of what you have searched for...It's basically a useful research tool

13. Tab Scope:
This allows a sneak preview of the tab when browsing another tab. A zoom in function is also available.

14. WebMail Ad Block:
Using this, it allows blockage of ads from hotmail, gmail and yahoo mail. It clears up hell lot of space. Recommended add on to install.

15. WOT:
This is going to be the last part..Glad to tell you...WOT is a add-on that can monitor the risk of website that you are visiting. Also, Freedomstar is 14th in the whole world in the ranking and I am currently 4th...(Not deciding to improve my score for now...). It is strongly recommended as the reason is below: (You may have seen this before)
So, having WOT may reduce the 9 days of risk to maybe 1. Protect yourself, do the right thing at the right time.

That's all folks for today! Please comment on tech as we need comments to improve on the tech guide. Thanks!
By - Freedomstar & Creastery™ 2009

Clear Up Junks from your computer

Well Hi everyone..This is Creastery™ 2009 posting a tech guide for the first time...
Okay..let's get start.NOTE: This is only available for WINDOWS USERS!

You may find your disk space getting lesser and lesser, even if you do not save any documents / files. This is because of the program and websites i should say that is causing this problem.

Reason: Web browser tends to let the "useless"(*Note: I say useless as it may not be useful after you visited the sites.) files on your drive. Cookies and some junks are left there.

Just a note before we continue...please follow the instructions below to download.

Click the picture below to download the newest version of CCleaner.


Click the picture below to visit CCleaner official website.


Okay let's start. You have to download it before you follow the steps.
For now, I presume that you have downloaded it with the newest version. (It will prompt you if you do not have the latest version and will ask you to update.)

First, click on the picture below to launch the application: CCleaner.
If you have change the default installation destination, please open it up yourself instead of clicking on it. It will link to C:\Program Files\CCleaner\CCleaner.exe.
Copy paste the link then press the start menu and the run function. Insert the link.
It should be loading by now...

Next, you will see something like this:


Now, let me explain the different functions. To what applications you have, it will be included in the clearing list. By default, under the sub-header (Windows), you can see some unchecked boxes. Some of them are NOT RECOMMENDED.

1) Start Menu Shortcuts
If you are someone who uses the start menu to open applications, PLEASE DO NOT CHECK THIS BOX! This will PERMANENTLY clear ALL the shortcuts there. Eg. I have:

Okay...Please do not ask me why I play MapleStory, Warcraft, whatever applications I have...And the next moment when you click Run Cleaner and this box is tick, ALL GONE AWAY!

2) Destop shortcuts...
Usually people do not tick this one (even the default) as I do have quite a bit of shortcuts on my destop...and the next moment when you click Run Cleaner and this box is tick, ALL GONE AWAY!

3) Advance
For god sake, only if you are advance, handle with care.
DO NOT TRY THIS WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL HELPER.

Let's move on to the applications.
Usually all the box of data will be ticked except for browsers like Firefox and Chrome, etc. (Saved data will not be removed unless ticked.) This clears ALL the useless data.

For people who play games using flash player, I do not advise you to clear data for Flash. This is because saved data will be removed. Example you are playing a game and you are finishing it, suddenly you did this clean up and your saved data is gone. So I will teach you how to clear it instead waiting for it to clean.

Open up "My Computer". Then in the address bar, insert this:
C:\Documents and Settings\-----------YOUR NAME HERE------------\Application Data\Macromedia\Flash Player\#SharedObjects
You may see a few folders. Usually the default is 1. So I shall start with 1.

Click the folder.
Now decide whether your games saved data is important. (Some games played are useless..)
Example the file name is www.youtube.com , common sense tells you to delete the folder.
Do so for all. If you find anything that you are not sure, please consult us or visit www.mywot.com to see the rating of the site. (Top right corner of the page.)
You may see a folder called localhost.
Take note: This means the file has run on your computer. NOT THE NET!

If you need anymore help, consult us or visit http://www.ccleaner.com/help
Remember: If you want to know what files will be deleted, click analysis first. Then run cleaner if it is all right with you. If you do not take much care of your computer, you may have more than 10GB of junk cleared in the process...(The highest I saw was 27GB, please don't disappoint me by beating it!)

All the best!

In my next post (Not Freedomstar's post..), I will include the next software "Defraggler" and my next's next post I will include another software "Recuva".
All programs are proudly created by Piriform™.