extensions

Ochs for Chrome makes NYT better to behold

Now that you only get 10 free New York Times articles a month, why not make the most of them?

Ochs, an extension for Google Chrome that just got updated, streamlines the site for your consuming pleasure. It gets rid of most of the clutter (ads be gone! unnecessary toolbars, adios!) and puts the emphasis right where it should be--on the articles.

The extension makes The New York Times so stylishly minimal it almost could have been created by Apple designer Jonathon Ives.

The latest Ochs update, released last week, automatically replaces the story art with the highest-resolution version of the image available. That means a big, crisp, beautiful image accompanies every story. … Read more

Manage RSS feeds in Firefox with Feed Sidebar

Firefox's Live Bookmarks feature does a fine job of keeping track of RSS feeds. Feed Sidebar is a free add-on that opens feeds in a sidebar equipped with a handy toolbar that makes it easy to search and sort feeds, mark them as read, and limit their age. It doesn't replace Live Bookmarks in Firefox; it augments the standard tool. But if you follow a lot of feeds, you'll like what it adds.

After a quick and trouble-free external download, we restarted Firefox. We clicked the RSS button on the toolbar, and clicked Feed Sidebar's left-hand … Read more

Troubleshooting Safari update problems

Like most software updates, the latest Safari update (version 5.1.4) causes changes to the system's configuration that will undoubtedly result in problems for some people's setups. Typically, even if no outstanding issues crop up in the software after an update, some people may find certain Web sites will not work or load correctly, and plug-ins might show odd behavior when displaying content.

If you have updated Safari on your Mac and are experiencing problems after updating, then here are some things to try that may fix them.

Reset Safari Often problems with Safari happen when temporary … Read more

HotSpot Shield's new shine not without blemish

Following the addition of anti-malware protection in January, AnchorFree pulls the covers off a new look for HotSpot Shield, available exclusively today from CNET Download.com.

Both the standard, ad-supported HotSpot Shield (download) and the paid upgrade sport the refreshed interface and easier install options. However, it still has a lot of visual clutter that could make many either upgrade to Elite or uninstall it.

The new version is easier to install. HotSpot Shield 2.5 automatically detects your Internet connection in all instances, can be used on corporate networks and no longer requires administrative privileges to install. It also … Read more

Add a 'pull to refresh' gesture to Chrome, Safari

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The "pull to refresh" feature that is now a staple of any great iOS app has found its way to your desktop via a Chrome and Safari extension. There is one caveat, however: you will need to be using OS X Lion in order for it to work.

Originally covered by Lifehacker, but brought to my attention by Twitter follower @StephToThe, the pull to refresh browser extension only takes a few seconds to install and set up.

Head on over to the developer's GitHub page. Download the ZIP file containing the Chrome and Safari extension. … Read more

How to save your spot when reading in Chrome

Even if you love reading those longer articles on the Web, sometimes you have to pause to take care of other things--like going back to work from lunch. Because of reasons like this (and the large list of other interruptions you may encounter), a developer created an extension for Chrome that will let you mark the last line(s) you read. When you come back to the e-book, review, opinion article, or even research materials, you can pick up your reading from right where you left off.

Step 1: Get the youRhere extension.

Step 2: Once installed, head to a … Read more

How to use Google Chat from your desktop

Google initially supported chat with its client software, Google Talk. Then, it integrated chat right into the Gmail interface, allowing users to chat from any browser, without having to install software.

The official Google Chrome extension, Chat for Google, now lets you conveniently have chat windows outside of your browser. You can even start Google+ hangouts from it.

After installing the extension from the Chrome Web Store, right-click on the browser button to configure its options.

If you're restricted from installing software on your computer (maybe at the office) or you prefer not to use the Google Talk client, … Read more

How to address a constant reboot loop in OS X

When you start up your Mac, the system will generally show a gray Apple logo for a brief period followed by the log-in screen or other user interface elements as the rest of the operating system loads. In some instances, after crashes, power outages, or changes are made to the system, instead of booting properly the system might display the Apple logo and then reboot, repeating over and over.

Once the OS X kernel loads properly, even if there is a problem with background services, the computer will still boot but will just display unwanted behavior such as location services … Read more

Add highlighting or sticky notes to any Web page

If you're reading many different Web sites about one topic, it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of what materials you want on each site you visit. Instead of printing everything out before you've made solid decisions on what to use, just add some highlighting and sticky notes so you'll remember what you needed later. Here's how to get started with an easier way to do research in Chrome:

Step 1: Install Diigo: Bookmark, Archive, Highlight & Sticky-Note.

Step 2: Click on the Diigo icon in the Extensions Toolbar and select "Sign in" … Read more

Schedule e-mails to be sent later with Right Inbox

Scheduling an e-mail message to be delivered at the exact moment you want it to is possible, as Rob Lightner showed you with the freemium browser extension, Boomerang.

Right Inbox is a new extension for Chrome and Firefox, available right now, and is currently free throughout the open beta.

It allows you to schedule Gmail messages to be delivered at the time of your choosing. Installing the extension literally takes under a minute.

Visit RightInbox.com to install the extension for your browser of choice. After installing, when you compose an e-mail you should see a new Send Later button … Read more