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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Ness, Photo 365, FEMA and More [Apps Of The Week]

In this week's app roundup: hurricanes, prepared for; pictures, taken everyday; photos, edited by pros; x-men, re-lived; fantasy football, managed; college football, kept up with; malls, tiny tower'd; post-its, geo-triggered; restaurants, picked out and much, much more. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/vDHoyypBYQY/ness-photo-365-fema-and-more

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Firefox 4 rockets to 5% global usage share, IE9 wallows at 1.5%

Firefox 4 usage share graph
Using some early numbers from both StatCounter and Net Applications, Mozilla's noisiest hominid, Asa Dotzler, has illustrated Firefox 4's meteoric rise to around 5% of Web browser global usage share. Internet Explorer 9, which launched two weeks ago, seems to be enjoying a much more casual stroll in the park with just 1.5% of the global Web usage share.

Interestingly, we can see IE9 dipping between March 20 and 21, just before the 'Important' Windows Update rolled out. It's hard to say whether IE9 is only growing because of the installed-by-default Windows Update, but that small dip definitely sticks out -- did excitement peter out? Did people download IE9, try it out, and summarily uninstall it? Perhaps, given their close proximity, the stats show an attention shift from Microsoft to Mozilla?

Numbers-wise, if the bottom left corner of the graph shows 2.3 million downloads for IE9, we can guesstimate that that it has now been downloaded 5 million times. Firefox is clocking in at 37 million downloads after five days of public availability.

We wonder whether Microsoft knew its release schedule would coincide so closely with Firefox 4. Internet Explorer 9 -- a great browser by almost every metric -- was never going to do well against anything emanating from the maws of Mozilla. The main thing, though, is that Microsoft has now shown that it's serious when it comes to the Open Web. If Internet Explorer 10 is good, and 11 and 12, then we might finally see it compete with the zealous Mozillan horde.

Firefox 4 rockets to 5% global usage share, IE9 wallows at 1.5% originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 05:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/28/firefox-4-rockets-to-5-global-usage-share-ie9-wallows-at-1-5/

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Tarzan Ball is a tricky hook-and-pull physics game

tarzanball
So, you're a ball. A Tarzan Ball, to be precise. You've earned the nickname thanks to your astonishing ability to shoot out a lengthy 'vine' (I hope it's a vine) at objects, and then pull yourself towards those objects.

That's a handy ability to have, especially since you've got no legs, no arms, and no other means of transportation. In Tarzan Ball, the rope is everything. But you don't just swing around the screen aimlessly - that wouldn't be much of a game now, would it?

Instead, your goal in life is to collect "targets". Each level has one of these "targets" hidden away somewhere on the screen, usually behind some kind of barrier. Once you navigate close enough to the target, you can shoot your rope at it and just reel it in. That's when you pass the level.

You can't die in this game, but it can still be very frustrating. It's actually one of the tougher games I've posted recently. Still, if you enjoy physics games, this one is quite nicely made.

[This is actually the sequel to IQ Ball, which we covered last year! -Ed]

Tarzan Ball is a tricky hook-and-pull physics game originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/21/tarzan-ball-is-a-tricky-hook-and-pull-physics-game/

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ESPN Bowl Bound, FEMA, Cowboys & Aliens and More [Android Apps Of The Week]

In this week's best Android app roundup, you have two excellent games in X-Men and Cowboys & Aliens. Two sports-centric apps to stay up to date with the college and NFL seasons. And so much more. Check them all out here. Apps will be listed in the side bar More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/mjdSgs4rlWw/espn-bowl-bound-fema-cowboys--aliens-and-more

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The Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 4:30ET!

Howdy all, it's time to round up all of the crazy mobile topics from the week that was and listen to Myriam and Brad chat the afternoon away on the Engadget Mobile Podcast. For our 101st episode, we're starting a tad early at 4:30ET (1:30PT, 8:30GMT), so we hope you can join us. Although it's not like anything happened this week... right?

The Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 4:30ET! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/oRePQEfHlXY/

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Nichicon lays claim to the world's smallest EV chargers with NGQ-202, NGQ-203 models

Although it'll still be hard to misplace in your pile of electronics, a company called Nichicon has launched what it says is the world's smallest chargers for electric vehicles, the NGQ-A202 and the NGQ-A302. By using what the company calls advanced module technology, it was able to shrink its EV charger down by 50 percent to around 59 x 13.8 x 23.6 inches, also reducing the weight by up to 66 percent. Compatible with the ChAdeMO standard, these 20-30kW chargers will work with electric vehicles like Mitsubishi's i-MiEV and the Nissan Leaf, taking between 35 and 60 minutes to fully power your whip. Charging doesn't come cheap, however, as the batteries are said to retail between $24,600 and $27,000 when they launch sometime in October. Next step -- cutting the cord and going wireless, perhaps? Check out the full PR after the break.

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Nichicon lays claim to the world's smallest EV chargers with NGQ-202, NGQ-203 models originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 06:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/iFiAHphMShQ/

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LG unveils S430, S530 Aurora laptops for people who like muted hues

LG has added two new stars to its constellation of Aurora laptops, with the LG S430 and LG S530. Both models are powered by an Intel Core i5 processor, with the S430 boasting a 14-inch, 1366 x 768 HD LCD and the S530 rocking a slightly larger, 15.6-inch display, available in either HD or HD+ (1600 x 900) resolution. Both also feature 8GB of DDR3 memory and up to 750GB of HDD space (5400 RPM), along with your standard WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and USB 2.0 connectivity. Perhaps most notable, however, is their sleek, metallic veneer and crystalline, scratch-free finish, available in both purple and blue. Pricing remains a mystery, but the pair should be available in Africa, Asia and the Middle East by early next month, before making their way to Europe and the US shortly thereafter. Details galore await you after the break, in the full PR.

Continue reading LG unveils S430, S530 Aurora laptops for people who like muted hues

LG unveils S430, S530 Aurora laptops for people who like muted hues originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/lg-unveils-s430-s530-aurora-laptops-for-people-who-like-muted-h/

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Original Apple TV Becomes Elegant Nixie Clock

Way back in the misty depths of 2009, we brought news of Daniel Kurth’s concrete Nixie clock. Now Kurth has been at it again, only he’s using an even more dead and useless base for his clock than the original concrete: Behold, the Apple TV Nixie Clock. Kurth’s project uses the original, giant-sized Apple TV with [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/08/original-apple-tv-becomes-elegant-nixie-clock/

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