ABC of add-ons

Add-ons are tiny software that add features or functionality to Firefox. Using add-ons you can change the appearance of the browser and make it work the way you want it to. To install add-ons, launch Firefox and click on Tools and then Add-ons. Most add-ons can be installed by clicking the install button in the window that will open. They can also be disabled or uninstalled from the same place.

Personas Plus

Similar to Google themes, this tool allows you to style your browser. Choose from over 100,000 themes arranged under heads like games, music, sports and movies. Themes can be selected by either visiting the Personas Plus website or through Firefox itself (click Tools, then Personas). The best part: you don’t have to restart Firefox to apply a persona.

Video DownloadHelper

Want to add a YouTube clip to your video collection but don’t see a download option? Try this tool. Install Video DownloadHelper, go to a webpage that has a streaming video you want to keep, click on Tools and follow the menu to download the clip to your hard disk. Works on most common video streaming websites.

Adblock Plus

l the pictures, graphics, text and videos on a webpage but not the ads. This is the Adblock Plus promise. It even allows you to block Flash and Java objects to speed up browsing.

Yoono

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr... too many accounts, too little time? This plug-in tries to cut the clutter. Once you have entered your usernames and passwords, you can update your status on several social networks simultaneously from a single window or pick and choose what message to post where. Supports multiple Facebook and Twitter accounts. Works with chat clients like Gtalk, Yahoo and MSN too.

Xmarks Sync

You don’t need to bookmark all your favourite websites one by one on all the computers you use to surf the Net. Fire up Xmarks Sync, create a free user account and install the add-on in all the computers you use. Voila! You will have the same set of bookmarks on your desktop at work and laptop at home. Works across browsers and stores your passwords too.

PLUS

Learn webcraft

Pick up web development without leaving home at the School of Webcraft, a joint initiative of Mozilla and P2PU. The web-based courses, focused on open standards, are free, globally accessible and powered by learners and mentors. The next semester starts on January 26. Online submission of applications have started on January 12. Log on to http://www.drumbeat.org/p2pu-webcraftor http://p2pu.org/webcraft for details.

P.S. Tired of trolling through all the add-ons in the Firefox gallery? Get AddonFox, the add-on to automatically install the best add-ons!