Gfanatic

Since its initial release in November 2003, Firefox has been a popular web browser choice for internet users worldwide, second to Internet Explorer. In fact, OneStat.com recently reported that Firefox now has an increased global usage share of 13.76% (IE has 83.27%, with all versions combined). Mozilla also reported that Firefox has reached 500 million downloads today, February 22.

So what makes internet users choose Firefox? Well, there are several reasons:

• Free download through Mozilla site or Google

• More secure than other browsers - Since I started using Firefox I haven’t experienced any security issues like spyware, and unwanted pop-ups. There was even one time that Firefox protected me from a suspected web forgery. Also, whoever uses my computer, he wouldn’t be able to find out what my saved passwords are, because I protected my passwords with a master password.

• Tabbed browsing - This is one of the features I like a lot. I can quickly open different sites in just one window. And one more thing, if my computer accidentally shuts down while I am browsing different sites, I don’t need to worry about searching for these sites. All I have to do when I start Firefox is click the “Restore Session” button instead of the “Start A New Session”. The video below, which is uploaded by icemaniceman1111, shows how Tabbed browsing works.

• Spell Checker

• Download Manager

• Customizable - I can add extensions and plug-ins I need, and also change the themes whenever I want. I can even move and remove icons, make them tiny or big, and re-arrange my toolbars to my heart’s content.

With all these great features from Firefox, Google certainly had seen how promising this browser can be, that in 2005 Google released a toolbar designed especially for Firefox and promoted Firefox with the toolbar through Adsense referral program.

So, Firefox plus a free Google Toolbar, what do we get? A safer and faster web browsing experience!

With the latest version of Google Toolbar for Firefox, users have these additional amazing features:

• Google Suggest - “as you type in the Toolbar search box, Google will automatically guess what you’re typing and offer useful suggestions in real time. This feature is only available in Firefox edition.”
  

• Translate Page into English and WordTranslate - The Translate button in the toolbar would be a handy tool to an English speaking user browsing foreign pages. While enabling WordTranslate would help non-English speaking users, and even help surfers that are learning a different language like Italian, French, and Korean.

• Google Page Rank - If you don’t care about Alexa ranking but care about the Google PR of a site you are browsing, then there is no need to add an extension in Firefox.

• Auto-fill - If you are tired of filling up forms when you are registering on a site, or making an online purchase, then fill up a form in the Google Toolbar. And when time comes you need to fill up a web form, just click the AutoFill button. However, keeping multiple profiles in AutoFill is only available in Google Toolbar 5 for Internet Explorer. But don’t be sad since you can add the AutoFill Forms Firefox extension.

• Highlight - When you go to one site that appeared in Google search results, the keywords that you typed in the Google search box earlier appeared highlighted.

• Customizable toolbar layout - add, remove, and rearrange the Toolbar buttons, and even move Google Toolbar buttons onto other toolbars in the browser. You can also add buttons that will direct you to your favorite sites like Youtube or Facebook. And you don’t have to worry if installing the toolbar will add another Google search box in your browser because you can remove one Google Search Box easily.

• View all features here or watch the video below.

Some Firefox users argue though that they don’t need the toolbar, and the Firefox features are enough for them. But maybe because they really have no reasons to use the Google Toolbar—like they may not be internet savvy, and just surf the net once in a while. But for people who works with the aid of the internet, they would surely find the combination of Firefox and Google Toolbar perfect for making them more productive in their jobs.