Posts Tagged ‘internet explorer’

Competing For Top Browser: The New Features in Firefox 4

Friday, April 1st, 2011

Last week we discussed the new features of Internet Explorer 9 and the enhancements Microsoft has made to the preexisting structure of the browser. Since the release of IE9 and Firefox 4 were only one week apart from each other, it was bound to initiate an increase in competition. Moments after the new version of Firefox was released the number of downloads quickly began to grow much to the chagrin of Microsoft. It became hard to miss all of the blogs and headlines that are emphasizing how the number of Firefox downloads outnumbered those of Internet Explorer 9.

firefox 4

Firefox 4 from mozilla.com April 2011

Although competition may sometimes seem like a tough aspect of business it can undoubtedly provide certain benefits. For example healthy competition between similar organizations keeps companies innovative, growing, updating their products, and always searching for the next big concept. Having this type of browser competition ensures that the customer will remain the primary focus and will always have the best options made available to them. With that being said choosing a browser shouldn’t be about how many numbers of downloads a browser has it should be about the features it offers and the preference of a user, which seems to be getting overlooked in order to emphasize competition.

Each browser has a particular following so it is not surprising that the users running Internet Explorer will continue to use IE9 and those running Firefox will upgrade to Firefox 4. Each of the browsers has made similar adjustments but at the same time they offer a few stand out and key differences. Comparable to the changes made with IE9 the adjustments made for Firefox 4 can be broken down into categories which include design and layout, security and performance, usability and organization, and personalization.

Design and Layout:

Again with this browser we see an interface that is less cluttered and less complicated. Firefox was able to create more space to view websites by consolidating everything into one main menu, which is now called the “Firefox Menu”. In addition they have also relocated the position of the tabs and are now located above the URL and search bar. This time around the bookmark, home, back, reload, and stop buttons have all been simplified, again to produce a cleaner user interface. Similar to Internet Explorer 9 the browser places more of an emphasis on the web page as opposed to the actual browser.

Usability and Organization:

Unlike Internet Explorer which has consolidated the address bar and search box into one location the Firefox browser has decided to keep both search boxes separated. The address bar which has been given the name “The Awesome Bar” learns and adapts as you use it, meaning if you decide to type only keyword in this space it will provide website suggestions based on both your previous search results and bookmarked locations. In order to receive search results users still need to either navigate to a search engine or do so via the quick search result box as opposed to in IE9 where users can simply search the term in one convenient and space saving search bar.

Tabs work similar to in the previous versions of Firefox but they are in the different location as previously mentioned and can be sorted into small groups using Panorama. Panorama takes small snapshots of your open pages and allows you to drag and drop them into a group. Firefox also lets users create App tabs similar to how IE9 lets users pin websites to the Windows 7 task bar. App tabs are for sites that a user wants to make a permanent fixture and remain in the actual browser as opposed to the Windows 7 task bar. These smaller tabs have a designated position located before the regular tabs along the top of the search bars. Firefox’s Application tab options seems more viable because although IE9’s pinning option can be more convenient it can also clutter a user’s desktop task bar and is only available to people who are using the Windows 7 operating system.

 Security and Performance:

Firefox 4 allows its users to sync their mobile device browser with their desktop browser to preserve the continuity of their web browsing experience. The process of syncing will transfers any tabs, history, bookmarks, and passwords across any mobile platform. Similar to previous versions, Firefox 4 utilizes a pop-up blocker, password manager, download manager, spell checker, form assistant, and a session restore.

It is evident that one of the main priorities for the new version of Firefox was enhancing security. The following are some of the security features that Firefox 4 offers:

  • Instant web session ID – Websites are highlighted as being secure or vulnerable
  • Content security policy – Prevents cross site scripting
  • Anti-Phishing – Firefox updates its records of counterfeit sites 48 times a day
  • Customizable security
  • Parental controls
  • Secure updates
  • Anti-malware
  • Private browsing
  • Antivirus integration
  • Outdated plug-in detection
  • Secure connections
  • Automatic updates
  • Clearing history
  • Forget the site
  • Custom no site tracking

Personalization:

Firefox has a tremendous collection of add-ons which is part of the reason why so many users are drawn to it. Their library now contains over 2,398,145,252 add-ons which make customizing a user experience quick and simple. Users can also personalize their browser by applying personas or skins to the browser window and can also add, re-arrange or eliminate the buttons located on Firefox.

Conclusion:

Firefox 4 adds to the already great reputation of the Firefox name and certainly lives up to the standards of its users. Like anything new it may take some time for users to get comfortable with the display and features but because the browser offers a much better user experience it is well worth the adjustment period. Although the latest versions of IE and Firefox browsers offer a few varying differences both browsers seem to have implemented changes based on similar criteria, making recommending one over the other difficult. Both browsers concentrated on browser simplification, user interaction, tab management, security, and search capability. Whether you are partial to Internet Explorer or Firefox it is clear that they have both delivered new versions that provide a higher performance, better usability, enhanced security, and an overall improved user experience.

These are just a few of the features that Firefox 4 has to offer, to download the latest versions or learn more about Mozilla Firefox 4 or Internet Explorer 9 visit the links below!

Download Firefox 4

Firefox 4 Features

Download Microsoft IE 9

Internet Explorer 9 Features

Have a Great Day!

Dustin

ComputerFitness.com

Providing Tech Support for Businesses in Maryland

 

7 Tips To Increase The Speed of Internet Explorer 8

Friday, December 3rd, 2010

Internet Explorer 8Hey everyone! This is Dustin and welcome to our weblog.

If you’re like me then you probably don’t like to fall victim to a slow Internet Explorer. By using Internet Explorer we are able to access tons of information on the Internet. However, Internet Explorer can often get bogged down by slow data transfers.

Whether you are currently having problems with slow browser speeds, have experienced slow speeds in the past, or even if you want to be prepared for potential future problems here are 7 quick and simple tips that will help you on your way to establishing a quicker and healthier Internet Explorer.

1. Limit Add-ons, Accelerators, and Providers

Customize your browser by limiting the unnecessary add-ons running in Internet Explorer. Leave what you use regularly and disable those add-ons that you don’t use. To do this access the Tools drop down from the file menu and select “Manage Add-ons” (the list is on the right for Toolbars and Extensions). From this menu also click on “Accelerators” and you should also disable any unneeded Accelerators. Similarly click on “Search Providers and disable those that are no longer useful to your Internet browsing (for example I disabled Bing as I am not using it).

2. Clearing Away Junk

It is also important to delete your browsing history and temporary Internet files once a week or once a month. By doing this you are clearing away junk and gaining space and speed that will now be available for more important tasks.

3. Make More Room

Increasing the amount of space available for Internet data storage can be done on this menu also by adjusting the cache disk space option. Increasing the cache enables your computer to remember images this way on the next visit your computer does not have to devote so many resources to download them again. To do this click Tools, then “Internet Options” , under the second section “Browsing History” click “Settings,” increase “Disk space to use” to 250 MB.

4. No Pop-ups Please

One of the most useful tips to increase the speed of your Internet Explorer is to turn on the Pop-Up ad blocker (yours already be turned on). Click Tools, “Pop-up Blocker”, if it says “Turn off pop blocker, yours is already enabled, so skip to the next tip, if not click “Turn On Pop Up Blocker”, and click yes. Not only does the browser use its resources more appropriately but it saves you the time from clearing pop-ups off of your screen.

5. Remove The Food

Internet Explore 8 has a feature called Feeds and Slices and unless you really need this function, turn it off to save time and resources. From the menu select “Tools”, “Internet Options”, click the “Content” tab, in the “Feeds and Web Slices” section, click the “Settings” button. The “Feed and Web Slice Settings” window opens and under “Advanced”, uncheck “Turn on in page Web Slice discovery” click “OK”.

6. Turn off Suggested Sites

You can turn off Suggested Sites by going to Tools, “Internet Options”, “Advanced” Tab, scroll down to the 2nd section “Browsing”, and uncheck “Enable Suggested Sites”.

7. Keep your Disk Clean

In addition to changing the settings of your Internet explorer you can also perform regular maintenance like cleaning up your hard disk as well as performing disk defragmentation. It is recommended that we perform a disk clean up once a week and a defragmentation once a month. See our disk cleanup posts for more information:

Again all of these options can be found under the Tools drop down menu, found on the menu bar in Internet Explorer as well as the Internet options menu in your computer control panel. These are only a few basic tips to help you and your browser.

More Internet Explorer information:

Internet Explorer 8: Help and support: FAQ

Optimizing your computer for peak performance

Have a Great Day!

Dustin

ComputerFitness.com

Providing Tech Support To Businesses in Maryland

Hey everyone! This is Dustin and welcome to our weblog.

If you’re like me then you probably don’t like to fall victim to a slow Internet Explorer. By using Internet Explorer we are able to access tons of information on the Internet. However, Internet Explorer can often get bogged down by slow data transfers.

Whether you are currently having problems with slow browser speeds, have experienced slow speeds in the past, or even if you want to be prepared for potential future problems here are 10 quick and simple tips that will help you on your way to establishing a quicker and healthier Internet Explorer.

  1. Limit Add-ons, Accelerators, and Providers

Customize your browser by limiting the unnecessary add-ons running in Internet Explorer. Leave what you use regularly and disable those add-ons that you don’t use. To do this access the Tools drop down from the file menu and select “Manage Add-ons” (the list is on the right for Toolbars and Extensions). From this menu also click on “Accelerators” and you should also disable any unneeded Accelerators. Similarly click on “Search Providers and disable those that are no longer useful to your Internet browsing (for example I disabled Bing as I am not using it).

  1. Clearing Away Junk

It is also important to delete your browsing history and temporary Internet files once a week or once a month. By doing this you are clearing away junk and gaining space and speed that will now be available for more important tasks.

  1. Make More Room

Increasing the amount of space available for Internet data storage can be done on this menu also by adjusting the cache disk space option. Increasing the cache enables your computer to remember images this way on the next visit your computer does not have to devote so many resources to download them again. To do this click Tools, then “Internet Options” , under the second section “Browsing History” click “Settings,” increase “Disk space to use” to 250 MB.

  1. No Pop-ups Please

One of the most useful tips to increase the speed of your Internet Explorer is to turn on the Pop-Up ad blocker (yours already be turned on). Click Tools, “Pop-up Blocker”, if it says “Turn off pop blocker, yours is already enabled, so skip to the next tip, if not click “Turn On Pop Up Blocker”, and click yes. Not only does the browser use its resources more appropriately but it saves you the time from clearing pop-ups off of your screen.

  1. Remove The Food

Internet Explore 8 has a feature called Feeds and Slices and unless you really need this function, turn it off to save time and resources. From the menu select “Tools”, “Internet Options”, click the “Content” tab, in the “Feeds and Web Slices” section, click the “Settings” button. The “Feed and Web Slice Settings” window opens and under “Advanced”, uncheck “Turn on in page Web Slice discovery” click “OK”.

  1. Turn off Suggested Sites

You can turn off Suggested Sites by going to Tools, “Internet Options”, “Advanced” Tab, scroll down to the 2nd section “Browsing”, and uncheck “Enable Suggested Sites”.

  1. Keep your Disk Clean

In addition to changing the settings of your Internet explorer you can also perform regular maintenance like cleaning up your hard disk as well as performing disk defragmentation. It is recommended that we perform an disk clean up once a week and a defragmentation once a month. See our disk cleanup posts for more information:

· Tweaks To Make Your Windows Machine Run Faster

· Reclaiming Your Precious Hard Drive Space

· DIY Hard Drive Maintenance

Again all of these options can be found under the Tools drop down menu, found on the menu bar of Internet Explorer as well as the Internet options menu in your computer control panel. These are only a few basic tips to help you and your browser.

More Internet Explorer information:


Internet Explorer 8: Help and support: FAQ


Optimizing your computer for peak performance

Have a Great Day!

Dustin

ComputerFitness.com



Providing Tech Support To Businesses in Maryland

Internet Explorer 9 (ie9) – A Quick Look at Some Upcoming Changes

Friday, October 1st, 2010
Internet Explorer 9

Image from http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/ October 2010

Hey, everyone, Josh from Computer Fitness back with another award-winning article to help you with your computer conundrums.

Microsoft is releasing a new version of Internet Explorer, version 9 to be specific. Now, there are a lot of claims about how fast and amazing this new version of IE is. Currently, IE9 is in beta, which means it is out for public testing. Users can relay their experience with Microsoft and inform them of bugs and other issues they’ve come across.

Hardware Acceleration is a big part of many websites looking to use HTML5 and make their websites look and feel even better. Hardware Acceleration means that IE9 can use your graphics card and more to make the browser run smoother and do more impressive things. This is a cool proposition for programmers looking to create exciting content like interactive games.

IE9 will load quicker and run faster. According to their website, it will start up quicker and handle updates quicker. Microsoft is working to take the updates out of your hands so you don’t have to worry about them.

Popular Sites is something that is a part of most web browsers these days, and IE9 will support it. When you open a new tab in your browser, you will see tiny boxes with images on your most visited websites. This is handy for when you use the web for a few select sites and frequent them often. .

All in all, IE9 is promising an improvement over past versions of IE as well as over other browsers in general. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, considering that while IE has a large share of the market, that piece is slipping.  IE9 might be just what Microsoft needs to breathe life back into the software, or it could be the final iteration of the series. For more info check out Microsoft’s IE9 website.

-Josh

ComputerFitness.com

Browser Maintenance: Out with the Old…

Friday, January 15th, 2010

Hey everyone! It’s Josh from Computer Fitness, again. This week I want to talk about basic browser maintenance. There are a lot of programs out there that claim they can solve all your Internet woes, but in reality, many of them (usually the cheap ones or the ones advertised on shadier websites) really just automate things you can do on your own. And before you panic, this is some really simple stuff!
Internet Explorer Logo

A great way to get your internet browser of choice to speed up a little is to clear out some various files that it keeps on hand. Things like Cookies (which you cannot eat) and Cache are two things that really tend to build up over time. They are just files that accumulate over time. They aren’t inherently dangerous or anything, but can clutter up your browser quickly. A quick warning: After doing this, sites that save your login information, for example Facebook or Hotmail, will ask you to log in again. Make sure you know your passwords before you do this! Otherwise, you have to go through the whole “lost password” thing; and no one wants to do that.

According to statistics, most people use Internet Explorer. And so, we’ll go through how to clear these items in the latest version, Internet Explorer 8. First, open Internet Explorer. Next, click on “Tools” located on the bar at the top of the window and select “Internet Options”. Once in “Internet Options”, on the “General” tab, you should see a segment called “Browsing History”. Underneath there is a button labeled Delete. Click it. Don’t worry; you haven’t gotten rid of anything yet.

Now that you have the Delete window open, you have a lot of options and check boxes. There may be several options checked already. The only ones you want to check are “Temporary Internet Files” and “Cookies”.  A little window will pop up letting you know Windows’ progress completing your task. If you’ve never done this before, it may take a while. It should close automatically after it finishes. Then you can close the “Internet Options” window and restart Internet Explorer.

You may now notice an increase in Internet Explorer’s performance. The results will vary depending on how often you perform this maintenance and how cluttered it was before. I recommend doing this about once every two weeks just to keep Internet Explorer running smoothly. That’s all for now, folks. Be sure to check back every week for a new article!

-Josh
Computer Fitness