Looking at the Internet with Google Chrome & Firefox Scoville Memorial Library Claudia Cayne - ccayne@biblio.org September, 2010
Google Chrome & Firefox are web browsers - the decoder you need to view web pages Other browsers are Internet Explorer (IE), Safari, Opera Within each type of browser, there are different versions - you should have the latest version Basic browser features: Back and forward buttons Reload button Stop button (not in Chrome) Home button (optional in Chrome) Bookmarks
Why Chrome or Firefox? Speed - pages load quickly Stable - less ikely to freeze than IE (Internet Explorer) Flexible - there are many plugins or extensions which add functionality Security - includes phishing and malware protection and has "sandboxing" technology One click bookmarking Session restore feature
Chrome vs. Firefox Best Look - Chrome is slick, speedy and responsive Security - Chrome sandboxes - it protects data on your computer from being accessed if you visit a site that has been hijacked by cybercriminals. Extensions - Firefox has more. They are more seamless in Chrome and selection is improving. Speed - Chrome is 3 times faster than it was and is the fastest browser available (page load time).
GETTING STARTED Chrome is a free download - www.google.com/chrome At the end of May, the stable Mac version was released, although the download button does not list Mac. Big difference between Chrome and other browsers - there is only one box (Omnibox) to type in - use it for searches or typing a website address. There is no pull-down menu across the top. All options are within the Wrench icon on the far right of the screen. Chrome automatically updates behind the scenes.
Back and forward buttons Reload Home (optional) Omnibox Wrench icon - preferences & options
Chrome opens web pages in tabs Clicking on the + sign opens a new tab The new tab page displays your most frequently visited websites. All you need to do is click on the one you want to visit. To go to a site not shown, simply type the address in the Omnibox
To rearrange tabs, simply click and drag To move a tab into a new window, click and drag the tab down past the address bar. You'll see a thumbnail of the tab you're moving. Similarly, to move the tab to a different window, click and drag the tab from its original window to the top of the destination window. The tab should pop in automatically.
If a site freezes, it only affects that tab. All other tabs remain active. If you don't want certain tabs moving, you can pin them to the left of the browser (right click on tab to get menu for that tab. Pinned tabs show just the site icon and are smaller.
Setting Up Chrome Wrench menu - Options - Basics Startup - The default startup page is the new tab page. You can change this to open mutiple specific tabs on startup. You can specify a home page and have that open on startup. You can also choose not to have a home button. Choose your default search from the pulldown menu for the Omnibox. Make Chrome your default browser.
Wrench - Options - Personal Stuff Set Chrome to sync with multiple computers via your Google account. Remember passwords (not recommended). Auto fill for forms You can import data from another browser. You can customize Chrome's appearance by picking a theme.
Wrench - Options - Under the Hood Privacy - where you control images, Java Script, plugins, popups, cookies and location. Recommended choice is indicated. Browsing Data - options to clear Presets allow smart searching in the Omnibox Enables phishing and malware protection. Within all of the choices you have the option to specify exclusions.
Preferences Import bookmarks from another browser. Wrench - bookmark manager - organize - import bookmarks (or export) Place the bookmarks bar underneath the address bar to have easy access to your bookmarks and bookmark folders. To do so, click the Wrench icon and select Tools > Always show bookmarks bar.
Incognito Mode For times when you want to browse in stealth mode, for example, to plan surprises like gifts or birthdays, Google Chrome offers the incognito browsing mode. Wrench - new incognito window A new window will open with the icon in the corner. You can continue browsing as normal in the other window. Browsing in incognito mode only keeps Google Chrome from storing information about the websites you've visited. The websites you visit may still have records of your visit. Any files saved to your computer will still remain on your computer.
Security Google Chrome has security measures in place to help protect you as you browse the Web. Many websites securely transmit information using SSL to guarantee their website identity and prevent anyone else from tampering with what you see or the information you pass along.
Whenever you type in the address bar, the bar automatically shows you matches from your bookmarks and browsing history. These icons differentiate among the items you may see as you type in the Omnibox.
If you come across an interesting website that you'd like to save, click the star icon and the site will be added to your bookmarks. You also have the option to edit the bookmark at this time. The bookmark manager is in the Wrench menu and your bookmarks are searchable. Chrome can limit your search within a website. As you begin typing a website address, you may see the message press tab to search ex. Amazon. Press tab and your search will be limited to that website. Omnibox can do mathematical calculations, conversions and definitions.
Extensions Extensions are extra features and functionality you can easily add to Google Chrome. Sometimes, a feature is really useful for some people, but not for everyone. Extensions let you customize Google Chrome with features you like, while keeping your browser free of clutter that you don't use. https://chrome.google.com/extensions/?hl=en Extensions which you install appear to the right of the Omnibox
For more information on Chrome, checkout their help page http://www.google.com/support/chrome/?hl=en Here you will find keyboard shortcuts plus additional information on all topics covered in this class.
Firefox is a free download from: http://www.mozilla.com/en-us/ Mac users, click on Other systems link
Setting Up Firefox Tool Menu - Options Need More Info: http://support.mozilla.com/enus/kb/options+window
Options - Tabs
Options - Content
Options - Privacy
Options - Security
Site Verification Symbols to the left of the location bar This site provides verified identity and protects personal information This site provides basic identity and protects personal information This site provides no information and personal data is not protected
Tips & Tricks - Chrome & Firefox Tired of tiny text - CTRL + to enlarge; CTRL - to reduce Add bookmarks with a single click - click on star on in location bar Jump to location bar to type new URL - CTRL + L Jump to search box (Firefox) - CTRL + K Scroll down page (Firefox) - SPACE BAR Scroll up page - SHIFT + SPACE BAR
Bookmarks When you first install Firefox, you will be asked if you want to import data from your current browser; just follow the prompts to import Bookmarks. To create a bookmark using the bookmark star: 1. Click the star: Clicking once will automatically place the bookmark in the Unsorted Bookmarks folder 2. Clicking twice will bring up the Edit Bookmark dialog.
What each field means Name: This is the title of your bookmark, it appears everywhere the bookmark does. Firefox automatically fills in this field, but you can always change it. Folder: This is where the bookmark is stored. It can be in default folders or user created. There are three standard choices: Bookmark Menu, Bookmark Toolbar, and Unsorted Bookmarks. Bookmarks Menu - The drop down menu on the menu bar. Bookmarks Toolbar - optional toolbar which appears above tabs Unsorted Bookmarks - this contains bookmarks that are not shown in your menu or toolbar. Tags: words you choose to help classify bookmarks
Other Ways to Bookmark To bookmark the page you are currently viewing: click on the Bookmarks menu and choose Bookmark This Page OR using the keyboard, press Ctrl + D OR Right-click while holding down the Ctrl key anywhere on the page or tab and choose Bookmark This Page
Where to find Bookmarks Bookmarks Toolbar, located below the main toolbar. Firefox comes with a few bookmarks on the toolbar to help get you started. You can Remove these, or leave them there, and add your own. You can see all your bookmarks, including the bookmarks on the Bookmarks Toolbar, by opening the Bookmarks menu.
Bookmarks Toolbar This is a toolbar with bookmarks displayed below navigation toolbar Firefox comes with some preset To add, just drag and drop from the smart location bar To sort, drag and drop to reorder To delete, right click and select delete If you don't like the Bookmarks Toolbar, uncheck it from the View menu / toolbars / bookmarks toolbar To customize this or any other toolbar, choose customize from view menu / toolbars
Organizing Bookmarks To view your existing bookmarks: Use the sidebar Menus: View / Sidebar / Bookmarks Double click to expand a folder - drag and drop Bookmarks into the desired folder To make a new folder, right click in the sidebar and choose New Folder OR Use the bookmarks library Menus: Bookmarks / Organize Bookmarks Drop and drag as above
Organizing Bookmarks #2 Alphabetize bookmarks in a folder using the sidebar menu by right clicking on the folder and choosing sort by name You can sort bookmarks in a variety of ways using the Bookmarks Library / Organize Bookmarks / Views / Sort To delete a bookmark or folder, locate it, right click and choose delete
Bookmarks Tags & Searching Bookmarks Firefox 3 includes the option to tag bookmarks Tags are words you choose to help you describe and find things When you add a bookmark, there is a window for tags To add tags to an existing bookmarks - find the bookmark in your bookmarks library and click on it When you type tags or words into the Smart Location Bar, it will search and display your bookmarks that have those tags or words
Live Bookmarks Whether it s news from CNN and the BBC, the Web is updated continually. With Live Bookmarks, the content comes to you. When you click on the RSS icon, you will have option to "subscribe" to the RSS feed using Live Bookmarks.
Live Bookmarks #2 Firefox uses the icon (RSS really simple syndication) for Live Bookmarks. This allows you to easily tell which of your bookmarks is a regular (static) or live (dynamic) bookmarks.
Add-Ons Add-Ons are extras that you can download to make browsing easier for you. Not sure what you might want, go to Fashion Your Firefox https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/fashionyourfirefox/ and choose a profile that fits you
Add-Ons If you want to browse and choose your own add-ons, go to https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/ You can search by topic or browse by category. Add-ons cover all skill levels from basic to advanced Find what you want, click on Add to Firefox The add-on will appear after you restart Firefox You can view and delete add-ons by Menus: Tools / Addons
Xmarks Xmarks is an add-on that allows you to access your bookmarks from any computer by logging in with a user name and password
Search Box A search bar is built in to Firefox to the right of the location bar. It comes pre-loaded and you know you can customize it with just about any search engine you want? Just click on the icon to the left of your search bar to see the menu of default options. Click Manage Search Engines to rearrange the list and add additional choices.
Leave No Trace You may be using a computer used by others and you may not want to leave private data behind Menus: Tools / Clear Private Data
Want More? Firefox Tips & Tricks - beginner to advanced, shortcuts and suggestions to get the most out of Firefox http://www.mozilla.com/en-us/firefox/tips/ Firefox support page includes everything about the browser, including videos on topics in this presentation http://support.mozilla.com/en-us/kb/ Bookmark help http://mozilla.gunnars.net/firefox_bookmarks_tutorial.html