Maximize Your Browsing Experience: Toolbars, Bookmarklets, and Extensions
How often do you use the Internet during the day? Two hours a day? Four? Whether you are filing a brief, searching for new legislation in your state, or researching legal information about a particular case you are working on, the Internet has become an integral part of our lives. Traditionally, web browsers are pretty similar in functionality. Out of the box you can bookmark favorite web pages and organize them. That’s about it. There are, however, some great additions to web browsers that can make your experience better, faster, and more efficient through the addition of toolbars, bookmarklets, and extensions.
Security Warning
Security is always a risk when installing any third party plug-ins on any computer. Before installing any new software, extension, or plug-in on your computer, contact your system administrator.
Toolbars
Toolbars are great additions to web browsers. They allow you access to information right from Internet Explorer (IE) and Firefox instead of going to search engines or specific websites. Google, Yahoo!, and now LexisNexis all have toolbars that can speed up your search process and allow you to focus on matters that require more attention.
– Similar in function, the Google and Yahoo! toolbars are among the most popular toolbar around for both IE and Firefox. These toolbars allow users to search the Web, provide a pop-up blocker, auto-fill, access to news, spell-checking and other features.
Yahoo! Toolbar
Google Toolbar
In typical Google fashion, they currently have a beta of their next version available at http://www.google.com/tools/toolbar/T4/. This version offers a more streamlined approach by incorporating additional icon buttons versus text-based buttons. The toolbar also allows you to create custom buttons to your favorite websites or RSS feeds. Finally, the new toolbar allows you to send clips or links to web pages via SMS messaging, or through your Gmail account.
The nicest thing about the Google Toolbar for IE is that you can search Google instantly. Those who use Firefox may not see the need for the toolbar as there is a search bar already built into the browser. The next version of Internet Explorer, IE 7 will incorporate a similar feature.
– LexisNexis released a toolbar for IE in January 2006. Those who have a LexisNexis account can conduct specific searches directly in its databases via this toolbar. The interface is very simple, with a basic search box and then a “Select Source” drop menu where you can drill down to specific areas ranging from Codes and Regulations to Federal Litigation. It even lets you search Shepard’s. Get the LexisNexis Toolbar at www.lexisnexis.com/toolbar/.
Bookmarklets
Bookmarklets are small pieces of JavaScript that allow browsers to access websites or perform specific requests to websites right from your browser. Bookmarklets are usually placed on a toolbar and not in your bookmarks, which make them easy to access.
– There are many bookmarklets available on the Internet, but none are more efficient than TinyURL. Have you ever received a link in an e-mail that wraps to the next line, but it breaks? You then have to copy and paste the URL into your web browser and hope that you got it all in order to open it. A frustrating process to say the least. TinyURL solves that problem. TinyURL is a website that allows you to paste large URLs into its interface, and it will in turn automatically create a shortened (“tiny”) URL that is easy to use and will not break when placing in an e-mail message or posting on a website. This bookmarklet allows you to create that “tiny” URL without having to go to their website. You can create a tiny URL from any web page just by clicking on the bookmarklet link in your toolbar. You can get the TinyURL bookmarklet at http://tinyurl.com/#toolbar.
Extensions
Extensions are somewhat similar to bookmarklets, but they provide more features. Often they work like min-programs or scripts that extend the functionality of a browser far beyond its original framework. Currently extensions are only available for Firefox. Personally, I use Firefox solely for the use of extensions. They allow me to leverage my browser to accomplish tasks and access information quicker than IE. If you use Firefox, here is a short list of extensions that you may find valuable to assist with your tasks on the Internet.
– This extension allows you to use your mouse to navigate, or perform other macros within your browser. Move forward, back, open a new tab or window by holding down your right mouse button and performing a specific gesture. Use pre-defined gestures, or create your own. After using this extension, you’ll never surf the web the same way again (the URL is http://tinyurl.com/cg6xy).
– While Google is the most popular search engine around, it is not always the most relevant when it comes to search results. CustomizeGoogle adds links to other major web and blog search engines to perform the same search you just did in Google (the URL is http://tinyurl.com/df242).
– PDFDownload is a nice extension that gives you options when you click on a PDF in your browsers. You can open it in a new tab, download it, view as HTML in a new tab or cancel the download. These options come in handy when you click on a link that you didn’t realize was a PDF, or when you want to view other pages while the PDF is opening up (the URL is http://tinyurl.com/bfkpy).
– Sometimes we don’t use the best search phrase when looking for certain information. GoogleSuggest adds a list of other suggested search phrases that are similar to the one you are typing in. It dynamically narrows your search phrase as you type it in (the URL is http://www.google.com/tools/firefox/suggest/index.html).
Additional Search Engines
Another advantage to Firefox is that it allows you to load additional search engines into it’s default search box. Do you prefer to search Yahoo! vs. Google? No problem. Do you like to search Wikipedia for certain topics? Adding Wikipedia to your search box is as easy as clicking a link. You can add many different search engines to your Firefox browser by heading to https://addons.mozilla.org/search-engines.php?application=firefox.
Conclusion
Armed with the right arsenal, your browser can be configured to be much more functional than visiting website to website. While Firefox has the most customization possible, using the right toolbar can enhance your experience using Internet Explorer as well. At the end of the day, using a toolbar or extension is about accomplishing the task at hand faster so you can move on to other tasks.
Originally published on my column on LLRX, Faulkner’s Practical Web Strategies for Attorneys, February 15, 2006.
A Company Who "Get's It:" Washington Post.com
Steve Rubel reports that the Washingtonpost.com is allowing visitors to link articles to their del.icio.us accounts. I took a look and I noticed another little Web company is working with Washingtonpost.com too–Technorati. It appears that not only can you add an article to del.icio.us, but you can also see who is talking and linking to the article in the blogosphere with Technorati. Now that shows that the managers and editors of the Washingtonpost.com “get it.” They see the value in the online universe and instead of writing off they are embracing it with open arms.
A Company Who "Get's It:" Dow Jones & Company
I’ve started off this new Web site with commenting on what I call the “Get It” factor. I will be adding a new starting a new segment of From the 21st Floor called Companies Who “Get It”. Here I will highlight companies who I think are adjusting their businesses to reflect the power of the Internet and how it affects their core business.
Dow Jones & Company is kicking off this segment. The New York Times is reporting that Dow Jones is planning on merging their print and online operations and putting L. Gordon Crovitz at the helm of the new division.
“The Internet will not mean the end of the print medium,” Mr. Crovitz wrote in a memo yesterday. “But as people have many more choices about how, when and where they get their news, established media such as newspapers must adapt; we will be the first to adapt by developing a newspaper for this digital age.”
NYTimes.com article Dow Jones Plans to Merge Online and Print Divisions
Well Said Mr. Crovitz. We do have choices on how we get our news and information. I personally rarely ever pick up a print newspaper anymore. It is done all online and through a news aggregator. I know I’m not alone and I can assume the numbers will pick up as RSS, WiFi (or WiMAX), and Web friendly devices become more mainstream.
Now, some of this change comes with the fact that newspapers are driven by advertising dollars and that indeed is a major factor in putting these divisions together. Merging the advertising department will allow better cross-segmentation and reach for advertisers and newspapers like the Wall Street Journal and Barons, and MarketWatch.
It will be interesting to see how much Dow Jones will take advantage of their Web offering. They are already unique in the fact that they are able to charge a heafty entry fee for the Journal Online. Will RSS play an important part in distribution? Will they find a way to develop private feeds based on a subscription? The possibilities are endless for a company like Dow Jones who is a leader in delivering business news.
Those Who "Get It" Monitor the Web and Engage in the Conversation
I’ve started to read Naked Conversations
The “get it” factor is the fact that business can’t continue as usual. Either engage your customers, both the skeptics and evangelists, or be left in the dust. Now, just because the book is about blogs, that shouldn’t matter. Having a company blog, or employees that blog will not make the difference. Rather, engaging your customers in any two-way communications in a public forum is the key. It could be through discussion boards, e-mail discussion lists, or other online-communities. The point is the companies who are putting a human face to their brand is winning customers over left and right.
Want to know what is being said about your company? Head to Technorati or Feedster and conduct some searches on your company, or even yourself if you are a CEO. You might be amazed at the conversations happening without you even knowing about.
If you aren’t monitoring the Blogosphere yet, you should start today. And don’t be affraid to enter the conversation about your company, products, and services. You might learn that the new feature you put on the latest version of Product X doesn’t work like the customer thought it would. Or you might gain valuable feedback on how to improve the product even more. This is market research you can’t buy.
So how do you monitor the Blogosphere? Here are some tips.
- Get a Gmail account (If you need an invite, let me know
- Set up some Alerts in Google for your company, products, services, Senior managers, etc.
- Create a free account on Bloglines or any other news aggregator service
- Set up free accounts at Technorati, Feedster, PubSub
- Create “Watchlists” for the same terms you used for your Google Alerts and add the RSS/XML feeds to your news aggregator
- Start watching
It seems pretty simple once you look at it. But by doing this you can get a quick lay of the land on what is being said about your company by bloggers and other citizen journalists.
The World is Changing. Are you Ready for the What is Next?
No, I’m not talking about the next Apple “super secret” announcement. I’m also not going to sit here and predict what the “next” thing is, but I can tell you it will affect you and your company in ways you can’t imagine today. Why? Because the movement I’m referring to is not digital, though it may be played out in the digital arena. No, I’m referring to a cultural shift from what is “the norm” to what is “winning ______.” That isn’t a typo. ______ refers to whatever business you are in. It could be customers, clients, student admissions, employees, new products—anything. It’s so broad that I can’t define it for you. It is something you will have to figure out for your industry, company, and business. But trust me, the change is coming.
How do I know that change is in the air? Sure I’ve read the books, magazines, articles, blogs that say “it” is coming, but more importantly I’ve witnessed the change. I’ve seen it in people’s eyes. I’ve heard it in corners at conferences. I’ve read it on blogs. Employees, customers, end-users are fed up with “the norm.” They want, we want, something to change from the products and services we use. It could be from the lawyer that helps you buy a home or the server that brings your food to your table at dinner this weekend. We want something more than the usual service.
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