BGI: Browser Tips – Cleaning Up Firefox

Do you find that you have the same browser windows open all the time? (All of your Google stuff? Hint! Hint!) Well I certainly do. I have my GMail, Google Reader, and Calendar open all the time, I never close them. Anyway, I found this great hint on how to integrate them more cleanly into the browser.

Original link: Set Up Space-Saving, Permanent Gmail and Reader Tabs in Firefox

First you need to download the following firefox plugins:

• Permatabs Mod: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/7816
• FaviconizeTab: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3780
• Better GReader: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6424
• Better GMail 2: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6076

Install all 4 of those, and restart Firefox.

Now restart and open the tabs pages that you want to integrate, I would suggest:

• Google Calendar
• GMail
• Google Reader

Now right click on the tab and select Permatabs > Permanent tab. Do that with each tab.

Next right click on the tab and select FaviconizeTab. Again do this with every tab. This gives you a very small icon in the top left hand corner where you can always go to get your important tabs.

Now to optimize a little more (unread counts).

Start with GMail.

• Open Tools > Add Ons
• Then select the preferences for Better Gmail 2.
• You will want to select: Show Unread Message Count on Favicon (Bogs)

Now we will do the same with Google Reader

• Open Tools > Add Ons
• Then select the preferences for Better GReader 0.8.
• You will want to select: Show Unread Message Count in Favicon

If everything has gone according to plan your Firefox should now have permanent tabs, that take up no room. Something like this: