Most bloggers spend a ton of time online, time that needs to be used as wisely as possible.  Speed shouldn’t simply be a factor of accomplishing something.  It should be the ability to use time more wisely, combining tasks, in order to have more time promoting and creating content for your blog.  A little known (or used) ability of most browsers including Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari,and Opera, is the ability to add frequently visited sites or bookmarks in a bookmarks bar or through a keyword.

Firefox

While a bookmarks button has its uses, the keyword tool within Firefox has become extremely time saving.  Previously, to access GMail, Google Reader, or any frequently visited site, I would either have to find the shortcut button or else type in the address.  By using a short keyword, you’ll be able to navigate to a website using any words you’d like.  It also comes in hand when needing to open multiple tabs and not having to find the actual bookmark and speeding up “tabbing”.

Other tools: Use the bookmarks bar to add frequently accessed sites.  Additional configurations can also be used for forums and sites without “pretty” URLs.  [Mozilla.org]

To utilize: Right click a bookmark, click “Properties”, then add your shortcut key under “Keyword”.  Type the keyword into the URL bar, and the site will auto-complete.

Firefox Shortcuts 

Internet Explorer

In Internet Explorer, there is less support for easily finding the bookmark that you need on the spot due to the unmovable navigation bars.  However, you are still able to add favorites in the favorites bar and create shortcut keys.

To utilize: Right click on the site you have bookmarked, then click “Properties”.  Under shortcut key, designate the CTRL + ALT + KEY that you wish to use.  As previously stated, Internet Explorer is not user friendly for quick access to bookmarks.

Internet Explorer Shortcuts 

Opera

In terms of speed, Opera has several tools for bloggers to maximize the shortcut abilities of their browser.  First of all, you can use Speed Dial for quick thumbnail-response to the top nine (user-configurable) sites.  In addition, there is also a bookmarks bar (personal bar) which can be used to keep bookmarks.

Searching is also made easier by inputting “g” for Google or “y” for Yahoo! in front of any search from the address bar.

To utilize: Right click on the site you have bookmarked.  Under “Nickname”, define the shortcut key that you want to use.

Opera Shortcuts 

Safari

Safari has the ability to render pages faster than most other browsers, but again lacks any real way of speeding up the ability to quickly get to pages on demand.

In terms of bookmarking, you are able to use a bookmarks bar, bookmarks menu, and an auto-click feature, which opens all tabs within a particular folder.

Safari Shortcuts 

As always, it is more important the usability and functionality you receive from each browser and the tools that you can addon to them.  I have not covered all the abilities to make browsing quicker, such as auto complete or the different levels of bookmark management.  However, Firefox and Opera score the highest in the ability to quickly launch a frequently accessed site using as little time as possible.

A little late on posting this, but Mozilla has introduced lightweight theming for the ever-popular Firefox browser. The new version just released on December 14, 2007 improves upon a prototype that was discussed and tested earlier this year. This new extension will help web designers reach a wider range of users, as no browser restart is required to activate a new theme. ‘The Persona selector is dynamically loaded and populated from a JSON feed and all designs are loaded via URLs to remote resources.’ There is news that an API - which will allow developers and designers to submit themes or Personas, based on web content. Support for HTML, CS, PNG, JPG, Javascript, SVG, and Canvas are supported.

Personas is a prototype that builds upon the ideas that:

• Themes today are too hard to find, install, and use.
• Graphic designers should be able to style the browser without having to code.
• Browsers can be more than just desktop software, they can also include online components.
• People just want their computer to be a little more fun and personal.

Other features include the ability to select a Persona from the dynamic menus and view the theme instantly. No restarting is required after initial install of the extension.

Designers can remove, add or update their Persona without having to update the software.

Visit Mozilla Labs to install the extension.

You receive errors when a page loads or some things don’t look right. Messages say that your browser isn’t compatible or that the page didn’t load correctly. These are just a few of the of the many complaints that people receive when trying to visit a site with Internet Explorer. However, there are many alternatives, with the best alternative being Firefox. As of October 2007, Internet Explorer leads market share at 77.86%, followed by 14.88%, Safari at 5.07%, Opera at 0.87%, Netscape at 0.72%, Opera Mini at 0.39% and 0.20% for other browsers.

This guide outlines the features (mostly taken from the browser download pages) of the top browsers. Included are customized versions and browsers that support multiple operating systems. Switch your browser for a better experience blogging today.

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