It is not yet another proxy if that is what you thought. The add-on merely lookups the IP of the Rapidshare download page and uses that to initiate the download. If the network administrator has only banned Rapidshare.com in the network then it will work.

If he did ban the IP range as well it won’t. Once installed the add-on adds a toolbar with an option to paste a Rapidshare link into it. Pasting the link into it and pressing the button next to the toolbar will change the url so that the IP is used for accessing the download page.

A Javascript window will be launched once the IP has been converted which will immediately display the download dialog. It seems to also be an excellent shortcut to download Rapidshare files even if the file hoster is not banned in the network.

The Firefox add-on is experimental which means that you have to log into the Mozilla website before you can download it. You find a list of Rapidshare Search engines by following the link.

Access Rapidshare Even If It Is Banned

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And guess what? Google's dependence on advertising notwithstanding, one of the extension examples the company points to is the ability to block advertisements.

The Chrome extensions document, spotlighted Saturday by Google programmer Aaron Boodman, doesn't include a timeline, but it does shed light on why the project is a priority for Chromium, the open-source project behind Chrome.

"Chromium can't be everything to all people," according to the document. "User-created extensions have been proposed to solve these problems: the addition of features that have specific or limited appeal; users coming from other browsers who are used to certain extensions that they can't live without; bundling partners who would like to add features to Chromium specific to their bundle."

When Google launched Chrome three months ago, it promised a Chrome extensions framework. Extensions are a popular feature of Chrome's most likely rival, Mozilla's Firefox, and one very popular extension is AdBlock Plus.

And AdBlock makes a specific appearance on the list of extension uses that Google said it would like to support eventually:

• Bookmarking/navigation tools: Delicious Toolbar, StumbleUpon, Web-based history, new tab page clipboard accelerators.

• Content enhancements: Skype extension (clickable phone numbers), RealPlayer extension (save video), Autolink (generic microformat data--addresses, phone numbers, etc.)

• Content filtering: AdBlock, Flashblock, privacy control, parental control

• Download helpers: video helpers, download accelerators, DownThemAll, FlashGot

• Features: ForecastFox, FoxyTunes, Web Of Trust, GooglePreview, BugMeNot

Demand for extensions is real.

In an unscientific CNET News poll about why people don't use Chrome, about 19 percent pointed to the lack of an extensions feature. And on Google's issue tracking site for Chromium, a Chrome extensions feature is the top-requested item.

"Of all the Firefox plug-ins, this is the one essential one," said Firefox user Ole Eichhorn. "Chrome is faster until you factor in all the cruft that gets downloaded as ads, then it isn't faster anymore. When Chrome supports AdBlock, it will be the winner, but until it does, Firefox is the only choice."

In its document, Google described some of its goals for Chrome extensions. The extensions should silently update, just like Chrome does. They should be isolated for security reasons and only get access to resources it's entitled to use. Installation should be easy, taking only two clicks.

They should permit rich user interface options--rich enough to implement some parts of Chrome as extensions, Google said. Among the interface options should be "toolbars, sidebars, content scripts (for Greasemonkey-like functionality), and content filtering (for parental filters, malware filters, or AdBlock-like functionality)," Google said. Some interfaces will require the user to grant specific permissions, such as "access to the history database" or "access to mail.google.com," Google said.

Google will play a major role in extensions, providing a central service that can be used to issue updates and to blacklist "malicious or harmful extensions" so the browser won't use them.

"It's likely in the future we may want to provide a consumer front-end which would allow users to more easily find the most popular, highest quality and trustworthy extensions," Google also said.

It takes those pages from Google Search History. It’s a service by Google that is recording the web activities of a logged in user. To be honest I have no idea how the random pages are fetched only that they are not necessarily the pages that you visited previously. A quick test with the test search lead to Engadget, BoingBoing and Youtube.

The random site add-on is powered by a small button that has to be moved to one of the Firefox toolbars. This is done with a right-click on blank space of a toolbar and the selection of Customize from the menu.

Once the button has been dragged and dropped to the toolbar it can be used to load a random page in the active tab. If the user is not logged into his Google account he will be prompted to do so after the first start.

This function looks pretty similar to the stumble button of the Stumbleupon toolbar but it is definitely an interesting option as it launches websites that have not been previously visited by the user. If anyone knows additional details about how the websites are selected then let us know in the comments.

Open Random Website In Firefox

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Firefox has gained almost 20% browser marketshare since 2005 at the expense of IE. In late 2004 IE was used by almost 92% of the Internet population, but is now used by around 69.88% of the users - down around 22%. Firefox on the other hand was used by less than 3% of the population back in late 2004, but is now the browser of choice of around 21% users – which is a gain of roughly 18%. The charts above are self explanatory, thanks to Asa Dotzler from Mozilla.

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Related Articles at Startup Meme:

SnapPages has two plans to choose from: a free plan and a premium plan, which costs $50 a year (about $4 a month). The free plan gives you access to lots of great features, but if you want to use your own domain or have access to more themes and options, you will need the premium plan. For a comparison of the two plans, check out the SnapPages site. If you want to try the premium plan before you buy it, no problem—there’s a 30 day free trial.

Once you’ve selected a plan, you can begin building your site. Don’t know any code? No problem—SnapPages is easy to use. The control panel is simple and aesthetically pleasing, and its WYSIWYG interface makes changing the layout and design as simple as drag and drop. Even if you’ve never used a website builder before, you can figure SnapPages out in a matter of minutes.

Updating your site’s look is a lot of fun - seriously. Browsing for a new theme is done through a really nice coverflow-style browser. All the themes, free or premium, look great so you’re sure to find one to suit your needs. Customizing your site’s look doesn’t end with selecting a theme, though.  You can also change your theme’s colors and fonts, or add a logo, graphic, fill, or background image. All this is done effortlessly through an intuitive interface.

Second, you have lots of options when editing your site’s content. After choosing a page layout, you can drag content blocks where you want them on the page. Examples of available content blocks are photo galleries, YouTube videos, Google maps, a contact form, text, and an iFrame for your own HTML.

One of my favorite features is the customizable flash billboard. This feature lets you create a rotating flash banner on your homepage using images that you upload. You have lots of control over how your billboard looks, including the ability to change transition effects, text, and image order. This feature is great for businesses and organizations, and it adds an extra touch of class to your site.

The best part of SnapPages, though, is its emphasis on design. While there are lots of site builders that can get a site up and running quickly, they usually look like the fast, cheap solutions they are. Not SnapPages. Every one of the available themes, free or premium, looks great and they all have the hand crafted look of a professionally designed site.

In summary, SnapPages is a great web application for those with little or no web design skills, but who still want a great looking site. It’s packed full of great features, and yet it doesn’t compromise usability. I’m convinced that anyone could learn to use SnapPages quickly and have a great looking site online within minutes.  If you don’t believe me, sign up and try it yourself!

Does anyone have another free website builder that they prefer, instead of SnapPages?

(By) Sam Guzmán is a college student studying English. In his spare time he enjoys writing, reading, and running his freelance business, Sam Guzmán web solutions. You can follow him on Twitter.

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XMCP wrote a post this weekend which looks at how Google tracks each of us as we use the net. Last year James Thomas devised a plan to go without using any of Google's services and was able to turn off their tracking as well. XMCP's post doesn't include the mobile point I've noted above but does look at some of the elements of tracking. People talk about how worried they are about national ID cards - does Google know more about us than an ID card ever will? I like XMCP's notes about Google Chrome.

Just how much does Google know? Ok for Google to control these many bits of data on each user no matter if they use it or not? Here's my chart for easy reference:

• If you use Adwords, they know your marketing plan and they know your purchasing patterns.
• If you use Adsense, they know which of your sites makes money (though we know nothing sadly), they know how to target which ads to your site, they know how much to payout and how much to keep.
• If you use Alerts, they know what topics are important to you.
• If you use Analytics, they know which sites you control and/or monitor, how those sites are doing and every trend possible.
• If you use Blogger, they know what you write about. Every word, every phrase, every out and in link.
• If you use Calendar, they know where you have been, are, and plan to be.
• If you use Catalog search/Product Search, they know what items are of interest to you and which items you actually purchase.
• If you use Checkout, they know all of your personal information: name, address, phone, credit card, ccid.
• If you use Chrome, they know everything they didn't already know about your browsing.
• If you use Desktop, they know what you have on your PC.
• If you use Docs and Spreadsheets, they know that you are writing a paper on 13th century france, and your checking account is $30 overdrawn.
• If you use Earth, they know where on the planet you desire to research.
• If you use FeedBurner, they know all about your readers and your readership levels.
• If you use Finance, they know what stocks (and other instruments) you own, which you monitor, and which trends you follow.
• If you use Gmail, they know everything. Yep, everything.
• If you use Groups, they know you have a fetish for rare steaks and love art from Paris.
• If you use Image search, they know that you like Britney Spears and you have a craving for chocolate babaka and cat photos.
• If you use Local search, they know where you are now, and what you are interested in.
• If you use Maps, they know where you might be, where you might be going, where you have been. And as noted above, if you have GPS, they know where you are at this exact moment.
• If you use Reader, they know what you are interested in.
• If you use Search (any Google search), Google knows every search you have ever made.
• If you use Talk, they know who your buddies are.
• If you use Toolbar, they know every web site you visit.
• If you use Translate, they know that you are learning German.
• If you use Video, the same applies as for YouTube.
• If you use YouTube, they know every video you have watched, what genres you like, which naughty videos you have watched, which ones you commented/favorited on, and the videos you have uploaded.

Please add your own Google tracking bits and I will update the post. (added Reader per comments)

XMCP wrote a post this weekend which looks at how Google tracks each of us as we use the net. Last year James Thomas devised a plan to go without using any of Google's services and was able to turn off their tracking as well. XMCP's post doesn't include the mobile point I've noted above but does look at some of the elements of tracking. People talk about how worried they are about national ID cards - does Google know more about us than an ID card ever will? I like XMCP's notes about Google Chrome.

Just how much does Google know? Ok for Google to control these many bits of data on each user no matter if they use it or not? Here's my chart for easy reference:

• If you use Adwords, they know your marketing plan and they know your purchasing patterns.
• If you use Adsense, they know which of your sites makes money (though we know nothing sadly), they know how to target which ads to your site, they know how much to payout and how much to keep.
• If you use Alerts, they know what topics are important to you.
• If you use Analytics, they know which sites you control and/or monitor, how those sites are doing and every trend possible.
• If you use Blogger, they know what you write about. Every word, every phrase, every out and in link.
• If you use Calendar, they know where you have been, are, and plan to be.
• If you use Catalog search/Product Search, they know what items are of interest to you and which items you actually purchase.
• If you use Checkout, they know all of your personal information: name, address, phone, credit card, ccid.
• If you use Chrome, they know everything they didn't already know about your browsing.
• If you use Desktop, they know what you have on your PC.
• If you use Docs and Spreadsheets, they know that you are writing a paper on 13th century france, and your checking account is $30 overdrawn.
• If you use Earth, they know where on the planet you desire to research.
• If you use FeedBurner, they know all about your readers and your readership levels.
• If you use Finance, they know what stocks (and other instruments) you own, which you monitor, and which trends you follow.
• If you use Gmail, they know everything. Yep, everything.
• If you use Groups, they know you have a fetish for rare steaks and love art from Paris.
• If you use Image search, they know that you like Britney Spears and you have a craving for chocolate babaka and cat photos.
• If you use Local search, they know where you are now, and what you are interested in.
• If you use Maps, they know where you might be, where you might be going, where you have been. And as noted above, if you have GPS, they know where you are at this exact moment.
• If you use Reader, they know what you are interested in.
• If you use Search (any Google search), Google knows every search you have ever made.
• If you use Talk, they know who your buddies are.
• If you use Toolbar, they know every web site you visit.
• If you use Translate, they know that you are learning German.
• If you use Video, the same applies as for YouTube.
• If you use YouTube, they know every video you have watched, what genres you like, which naughty videos you have watched, which ones you commented/favorited on, and the videos you have uploaded.

Please add your own Google tracking bits and I will update the post. (added Reader per comments)

One way of dealing with this situation is to run a traffic balancer to ensure that the other activities are not affected by the downloads or uploads.

Netbalancer (via To The PC) is not limiting the bandwidth of the applications directly. It is instead changing the network priority of applications to control the Internet traffic. The network priority of a software that is demanding lots of bandwidth would be reduced by Netbalancer to ensure that other applications with a higher priority get their share of the bandwidth.

By default all network priorities are set to normal and it is up to the user to modify them. This usually means that applications like P2P clients, ftp clients or others that download and upload files continuously are reduced from normal to low. It could also mean to raise the network priority of an application to high to prioritize it.

The main interface looks similar to a process viewer. It displays all running processes of the computer system, their priority, incoming and outgoing traffic, the number of connections and additional information.

A right-click on any row will bring up a menu with options to change the network priority of a process or to allow or block its Internet traffic completely. There is also a handy button in the toolbar for all of these options plus the ability to block all network traffic.

A severity level can be configured in the options. The speed difference between low, normal and high priority can be set. Netbalancer might be the right application for users who regularly download or upload data while working with other applications that need bandwidth as well.

Network Traffic Balancer

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A bookmarklet can be a good alternative to a FireFox addon as it is easier to organize and backup (as a usual bookmark), faster to install (all you need is just grab a link and drag it into your bookmarks toolbar) and usually compatible with multiple browsers.

As one who searches daily (and I’d even say constantly), I am mostly interested in various ways to customize my searching and using search bookmarklets is one such way.

Easily switch between search engines: if you failed to find anything in Google, for example, switch to Exalead or Yahoo (all opens in the same tab):

• @Google - perform Google search;
• @Yahoo - try Yahoo search;
• @Exalead - search on Exalead.

Search for the selected text: select a term on a page and send a query to one of the search engines (opens in the same tab):

• Google;
• Google Blog search;
• Yahoo!;
• Exalead;
• Ask.

Search dictionaries and reference sources: select text on the current page and search its meaning and definitions:

• Wikipedia - find a wiki article for the highlighted term;
• Acronym finder - learn what a highlighted acronym stands for;
• Urban Dictionary - find a slang variation of the highlighted word;
• Google definition: highlight a term on page and get the definition from Google

Customize your Google search - just a few tweaks specifically for Google search (there might be more but I failed to find them useful enough):

• Gf=0: change number of search results to 100;
• filter=0: removes Google result clustering;
• Search within this domain - for sites that lack the search option of their own (based on Google site: advanced search operator) select a term and it will search for it in Google within current domain only.

Create your own search bookmarklet: use this cool tool that allows you to create a search bookmarklet and customize its behavior.

Note: the site allows to create a bookmarklet for an impressive number of search engines (many of them do not work though).

Sources:

• Search bookmarklets;
• Jesse’s bookmarklets;
• GoogleSystem.

Note: all the above bookmarklets have been tested on FireFox 3.0.4. Please let me know in the comments if any of them failed to work on any other browser.

Please share your favorite search bookmarklets that I missed out!

(By) Ann Smarty, Search Marketing Consultant and SEO blogger

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