tools

Firefox add-ons site goes on a diet, gets face-lift [video]

This post has been updated from the original. Added: Video interview with Mike Shaver, Technology Strategist at Mozilla Corp.

On Monday, Mozilla launched an updated version of its add-ons page for its popular browser Firefox. The new page has redefined genres, language localization, and snazzy Ajax-enabled previews for screenshots. Mozilla also is adding a user community element that allows users to add their own reviews, complete with a rating system. Previously, you were only able to add comments. Mozilla also has cut hundreds of extensions to make room for the more popular ones, making the updated site more of a &… Read more

Track your online foes with Competitious

Launched last October, Competitious lets you quickly and easily compare your Web site with your competitors' sites. After adding their URLs, you can compare traffic, make detailed comparison charts, and keep track of press (both good and bad). The goal is to get a quick snapshot of your competition and have the tools to keep tabs on them in hopes of making your own site better.

There's a strong emphasis on collaboration, as you can invite others to join your Competitious project. Each of your collaborators can use the Competitious bookmarklet to add stories to each competitor's profiles. … Read more

Widgetbox rolls out Blidgets

Widgetbox has rolled out a new and fun widget-creation tool for blog readers and creators to make their own widgets called Blidgets. A typical Blidget pulls the latest stories or posts from your blog and presents it in a small, customizable widget. All it needs from you is a URL or an RSS feed, and the Blidget maker takes care of the rest. You can even set the Blidget to show pictures and text from a blog's posts. It's all very simple and easy to set up.

When you're done with your Blidget, you can publish it … Read more

8apps: Productivity and social networking come together

8apps is a suite of Web-based collaboration applications. It's got the look and feel of a site made for casual users but is aimed at small groups who need a place to get business and social networking done in the same place.

Right now there are only three applications to play around with, (Handshake, Orchestrate, and Blueprint) but five more are due out by this fall. The eventual goal is to have eight applications that can be used and managed from one place, kind of like what you get with Zoho's offerings, but more experimental.

Orchestrate and Blueprint … Read more

Hot holiday gadget? You'll never guess

One of the best-selling gadgets this holiday season is, in many ways, something a lot closer to the Iron Age than the Digital Age.

Black & Decker's battery-powered adjustable wrench was a quick sellout at Home Depot's 2,127 stores, according to Advertising Age. The item became so popular that it even saw a bit of price gouging on eBay, running up to $58 on some auctions from the $18 price listed on Lowe's online stores, which also ran out of the product. Not exactly PS3 prices, but not bad for a wrench either.

The product's … Read more