Essential Firefox Extensions: TwitterFox

Props to TwitterFox. As the name implies, TwitterFox is an extension that allows you to manage a twitter account from within the Firefox browser.

After installing and configuring the extension, TwitterFox works silently in the background aggregating tweets until you are ready to read them. To see all the new activity, just click on the TwitterFox icon located in the status bar at the bottom of the browser screen.

TwitterFox is a simple and clean alternative to twhirl or TweetDeck, which are applications that need to be installed on a local drive. I prefer embedding Twitter activity within the browser as it seems more accessible and efficient than running a separate stand-alone application. The greatest strength of the lightweight application is the ability to manage multiple Twitter ID’s quickly.

As Twitter gains in popularity and the resulting noise gets harder to filter, TwitterFox might not remain as a viable solution, but for now simple rules the day. Give it a try.

Gmail Contacts updated by Google

Google announced an interesting tidbit on Tuesday. Basically they have revamped the My Contacts feature that they added a few weeks ago and .http://budurl.com/8tgg

we’re moving previously auto-added contacts back into Suggested Contacts. Only contacts that you’ve edited, imported or added to a group will remain in My Contacts. This will provide everyone with a clean slate and, we hope, a better point for syncing contacts with mobile devices (for example with Android).

A few observations:

It is fantastic that Apple has a competitor developing a competing Operating System. Having a choice will compel both platforms further and faster. Apple thrives with competition.

Apple and Google have wrestled control of the software on a mobile device away from the network providers and the cell phone manufacturers. The phone as a useful device has languished.

Taking control over how the phone works will accelerate the transition to an all IP environment for mobile and voice data.

It’s interesting that Google left the difficulty with merging contact data from many places deliberately until Android emerged. At least this way, those that are moving to the new phone wouldn’t be dependant on any iPhone based solution that accomplished this kung fu contact mastery. As an aside, I’ve been going crazy trying to figure out the best way to bring several databases, mailing lists, & other CRM related files together under one roof. There IS NO perfect solution. Achilles Heel in the Google Apps office suite of networked web-based applications. Did Google waffle on this decision until Android came out?

Google Labs adds flexibility to Gmail with better IMAP control.

The good folks over at the Gmail Blog announced this a few days ago:

“that gmail users can choose which labels to sync in IMAP — useful if you find your mail client choking on a big [Gmail]/All Mail folder”

In plain English, I now get to choose which labels show up on my mobile device. This is significant for folks that utilize filters to manage their email.

Filters are marvelous little features that allow you to keep up with email easier. Like most email clients, Gmail allows users to set up rules that automatically move emails out of the Inbox and into a pre-determined bucket.

A filter system makes it easier to avoid what I like to call, “Noise”.  Filters save time. Filters cut down distractions.

What does this mean for the iPhone?

Since I have many filters setup on Gmail, what ends up on the iPhone is a large and cumbersome mail folder structure. The announcement today from Gmail removes one big frustration.

Now I can choose which labels stay in the cloud and which end up on the iPhone. This allows the important emails to get through…….and results in much less noise when I’m mobile. Thank you Gmail.

Have a good week.

Regards ~ JB

Gleeking out with Greasemonkey and Blip.fm

I’m a big fan of the Greasemonkey plugin for Firefox. Greasemonkey works by allowing small bits of programmed JavaScript to change the way a webpage displays and acts. These tiny bits of code are installed just like a Firefox add-on and then they run in the background of the browser.

The scripts do nothing until you visit a particular website that recognizes the code as a script that it needs to interact with. All of this is handled behind the scenes.

One word of caution for newbies, Greasemonkey can lead to security issues so use a trusted source. Don’t be the first to install a script if you don’t know or trust the developer. Stick with well-known and recommended scripts until you feel more comfortable with how it all works. Learn more at Greasespot, the weblog for Greasemonkey.

Why should you spend time on this?

The benefit of Greasemonkey is that a user can enhance their favorite websites creating a more efficient or enriching online experience.

Give me an idea of what the heck you are talking about?

There are hundreds of add-ons at Userscripts.org. Despite being a relatively new service I found four scripts written for Blip.fm. Blip.fm Comments Hack 0.2 was written by Lius Fontenelle Carneiro. The script allows comments to be made on any blip (see picture below). Currently this feature isn’t available for regular users. With enough adoption, the Blip.fm developers may look to the GreaseMonkey community for inspiration as new features are baked into the network.

Here is a screen shot. It’s been modified a bit to render in English as the developer coded in good ‘ol Espanol. Aside from that no other tweaking necessary.

Greasemonkey + Blip.fm Commenting Script

Steps involved:

• 1. Get Firefox
• 2. Install Greasemonkey plug-in
• 3. Sign up for Blip.fm
• 4. Install Greasemonkey + Blip.fm commenting script.
• 5. Comment away. Be pithy. Be nice.
• 6. Did anyone catch the title reference?

Obtain and Manage Multiple User ID’s On Twitter

There is buzz in the ‘TwitterSphere’ about managing multiple Twitter ID’s. Multiple ID’s make sense for those using Twitter to microblog both personal and professional audiences.

I manage Twitter accounts effortlessly from within my browser with the TwitterFox extension for FireFox. Other options are standalone applications like TweetDeck or Twhirl. Both are free and both allow you to manage multiple Twitter ID’s.

Twitter sites like TwitterCounter & TweetLater are examples of the extended functionality possible with Twitter data. We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. Twitter is changing the paradigm of dialogue. Teaching us all to communicate with more purpose, efficiency, & effectiveness.

Why Multiple User Id’s?

@jbinfrisco: The primary Twitter account. Used to record thoughts and conversations on both personal and professional topics. A digital vapor trail for what’s on my mind. This ID is also the moniker that I choose for most social networks within which I participate. If the intent of use is not clear or I’m ambivalent at sign-up, I’ll use jbinfrisco. By design, it’s unique has always been available everywhere I want to play.

@jbermangroup: This is a professional Twitter account. It’s primary purpose is to post information to The J. Berman Group website via the Twitter Tools plug-in for WordPress.

This works because Google Reader has been configured to capture any webpage that I want to share with my clients. If I see a good article, it gets added to gReader and from there it is one click to Twitter. Mortgage, Real Estate, & Technology content streamed simply and for free to the J. Berman Group website.

@reblogworld: Event feed to raise awareness and make the case for attending REBlogWorld.

@jberman: Primarily used for blip.fm tweets. It’s a repository for tweet streams generated by websites that I interact with. Sending these tweets to a third account gives your followers an option to take it or leave it and eliminates the possibility of overwhelming those who don’t care that you are a ‘hip-hop gangsta wanna-be’.

Everyone is drowning in noise. Give your followers a break and the choice to filter you. Something to think about if nothing else.

How many Twitter ID’s are you using? What is your philosophy for Twitter?

Thomas Friedman and Charlie Rose: Energy Technology

I wish he’d run for congress. I love the analogy on “drill baby drill” chant heard at most of the McCain-Palin stump speeches of late. {17:30}