Alexandar Tzanov ~ The Titan

Firefox and DNS prefetching – I read about this being a feature in Google Chrome, but I wasn’t sure if it was, yet, a feature of Firefox. It is in Ff 3.5. Here you can find a list of the new features in Firefox 3.5.

What is DNS prefetching? – It is the process of requesting domain name and IP (Internet Protocol or Intellectual Property) address resolution used in links, images, documents and other content linked to from a page a web surfer is currently browsing. Theoretically, by taking care of the name resolution before a surfer desires to navigate to a file or another page from a link on the current page can save fractions to X number of seconds. Name resolution being out of the way the surfer should arrive at its next destination faster. The former is my definition and understanding of DNS prefetching. In my experience, at leased in Google Chrome, I am able to see performance improvements.

I needed to know how can I tell if it is on or off. In Google Chrome it is in the options menu and it can easily be turned on and with a simple check-mark click.

But, in Firefox this is not a function in the options menu. At leased not at this time.

magitam: Google’s Non-launch of Chrome – do you think we should hold Google accountable for their broken promise? http://life.magitam.org.uk/2008/09/02/google-too-big-to-keep-its-promise/

Google has decided to create their own browser, dubbed Chrome. It is open source based on WebKit and powered by Google Gears. Another browser amongst many others. I don’t particularly care for most of Google’s products, thus I most likely won’t even test drive this product. I think, though, that Chrome will gain popularity, and it will be fast, very fast for couple of reasons.

First reason being – people, for some reason, are just crazy about Google and what it has to offer. They love to use their search engine, GMail and their various other apps. They look forward, with great anticipation, to anything new that the company hints or talks about.

The second reason why Google’s Chrome will gain great popularity is the same reason why Mozilla’s Firefox grew so fast in its user share – opposition to the standard, to the established – Microsoft’s Internet Explorer.

I believe that these two reasons will be the cause for Google’s Chrome to explode in its user share. Talk is all over the web about this. A quick search for Google’s…

I just installed the Reveal Firefox extension. After the sweet interactive tutorial that comes with it, I must say this is a great extension. It has an interactive thumbnail tab bar that can be brought up just with one key stroke, which comes with a search thumbnail function as well. You can choose to search by URL, page or title. It also has a magnifying glass for does of you hard on seeing or just to take a better look at an image. Another great feature is the thumbnail previews on your back and forward buttons. That is not all it can do, there is a lot more so check it out: http://aluminum.sourmilk.net/reveal/

A must have extension for the hardcore Firefox user.