Mozilla publishes name and shame list of slow Firefox add-ons, cracks down on tardy devs

Firefox slow-addons list

Mozilla, continuing its year-long crusade to speed up Firefox startup and shutdown times, has published a name and shame list of the Firefox’s slowest add-ons.

The list is just one part of Mozilla’s new efforts to highlight slow add-ons, and to help developers make their add-ons more efficient. Over the next two weeks, ‘slow performance warnings’ will be introduced in the add-on gallery so that users can see, before installation, which add-ons will slow down their browser. If that isn’t enough to spur developers into cleaning up their add-ons, Mozilla has also begun reaching out to developers of slow add-ons with tips on how to improve add-on performance. Finally, add-on developers will soon have the ability to perform ‘on-demand performance testing,’ so that they can test their add-on before it’s deployed publicly.

Mozilla reports that the average Firefox add-on slows down Firefox’s start-up time by 10% — which means, if you install 10 add-ons, you will double your start-up time. On fast desktop PCs that kind of slowdown might be negligible, but on older computers, laptops and smartphones, it could be the difference between a 5 and 10 second startup. Mozilla has obviously realized that while massive performance gains might’ve been made with Firefox 4, the addition of third-party add-ons can destroy any user-perceived improvements.

In other news, Mozilla says that a future build of Firefox will block the installation of add-ons (such as toolbars) by third-party software. Add-ons and toolbars that are bundled in this way will require explicit approval when you next open up Firefox. Hooray!

Mozilla publishes name and shame list of slow Firefox add-ons, cracks down on tardy devs originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 05:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/04/mozilla-publishes-name-and-shame-list-of-slow-firefox-add-ons/

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Android Central 96: HTC stuck in Customs, multitasking mayhem, Google Music drama

Podcast MP3 URL: 
http://traffic.libsyn.com/androidcentral/acpc96.mp3

Thing 1: EVO 4G LTE delayed

Thing 2: Sense 4 and multitasking

Thing 3: Google Music drama

Thing 4: More than one Nexus?



Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/710Zlu9J8Yo/story01.htm

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New iPad Battery Life

The new iPad has the same battery life as the iPad 2. This may strike some as peculiar because the iPad 3 has a new more highly-powered battery. However, although the battery does carry more juice, this is offset by the new features of the iPad 3 which require more power, for example the high-definition Retina display and the 4G connectivity. That said, the new iPad battery life is still perfectly reasonable and is suitable both for casual at-home use [...]

Source: http://tabletbuzzblog.com/new-ipad-battery-life/

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200 movies available to rent for 5p in the UK on HTC Watch this weekend

HTC Watch

If you're in the UK and have a high-end HTC phone or tablet, you'll want to check the bundled HTC Watch application this weekend. HTC has 200 movies available to rent for just 5p this weekend, as part of its HTC Watch 5p Weekend Special. HTC Watch has grown considerably since it first appeared on the Sensation last year, which means there's a surprisingly good selection of flicks on offer as part of the 5p deal (we've got the full list after the break.)

Unfortunately we're not seeing any sign of any similar deals on our US-bound HTC devices, but if the promotion proves a success on this side of the pond, there's a chance we may see it expanded to other territories.

Check past the break for the full list of movies on the 5p rentals list.

Source: MoDaCo

read more



Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/jXF9_oF1YRY/story01.htm

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Forums: AppleCare+ vs Squaretrade, Do you want the next iPhone to be thinner?



Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/KHgdd3rCYSo/story01.htm

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Get yourself a new Android smartphone just for eating at Chili’s

Chili's

We've seen some pretty interesting Android promotions in our time, but Chili's latest takes the cake for sure. They have a new app out and they really want you to try it out. In fact, they want you to try it out so bad that they'll give you a free Android smartphone to do so.

The process is fairly simple of course, visit the Chili's website and order up $25 worth of food and you'll get be able to collect a free Android device and then download their app onto it. The fine print is where you may get caught up though, it shows it's with a new 2-year contract and subject to terms but that's just how it has to be. Interested? Check out the link below for the full details.

Source: Chili's; Thanks, Cory!



Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/u3hEpALF2zE/story01.htm

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Firefox 4 Friday: 25 million downloads, anti-aliasing, and how to make it look like Firefox 3

Firefox 4 racks up 25 million downloads in 3 days

If you’ve had your head under a rock for the last few days, here’s this week’s Firefox news in brief: Firefox 4 was finally released.

Yes, 13 months after the initial release of Firefox 3.7 alpha 1 and four more alpha builds, a renumbering to 4.0 and 12 beta releases, and finally a release candidate (or two), Firefox 4 has been released into the wild.

Just like every other Firefox release, initial reception for the new browser has been nothing short of insane. 7.1 million downloads were registered in the first 24 hours and the download rate continued to accelerate, clocking in more than 15 million downloads after two days. At the time of writing, three days in, Firefox 4 has been downloaded over 25 million times. In case you’re wondering, the United States accounts for 7 million of those downloads, just beating out Germany’s Firefox-downloads-per-capita.

But now that you’ve installed Firefox 4 (you have, right?), what do you do now? Well, obviously, in true Download Squad fashion, it’s time to tweak Firefox 4 using add-ons and about:config hacks!

First up is an add-on called Stratiform that lets you change every aspect of the Firefox 4 browser chrome — including the color of that orange button!

Continue reading Firefox 4 Friday: 25 million downloads, anti-aliasing, and how to make it look like Firefox 3

Firefox 4 Friday: 25 million downloads, anti-aliasing, and how to make it look like Firefox 3 originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/25/firefox-4-friday-25-million-downloads-anti-aliasing-and-how-t/

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Flip-Book Business Cards Are an Incredibly Tedious Way To Promote Yourself [Video]

Handing someone a well-designed business card that’s clever, even humorous, is a great way to promote yourself. But handing someone a giant poster and asking them to slice it up into 100 cards to create a flip-book animation? That all but guarantees you a spot on the unemployment line. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/EdbRrzeEFI0/flip+book-business-cards-are-an-incredibly-tedious-way-to-promote-yourself

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