10 Best Add-ons to Customize New Tab in Firefox

One time I wrote about wallpaper apps for Linux, and the feedback I got was – almost unanimously – that nobody cares about wallpapers.

In that location'south truth to that criticism. Most people use their computers for work, and don't spend time staring at the desktop, admiring the wallpaper. They do, however, spend a lot of time using the web browser. That'southward why it makes sense to tweak the browser and brand it every bit powerful every bit possible with a smart pick of extensions.

Tab management extensions are incredibly pop for both Firefox and Chrome. Even an empty tab page can be transformed into something useful. Firefox has adopted the "speed dial" format with tiles back in 2012, but its default new tab page is not especially customizable. Thankfully, there are add-ons to set that. We've already shown you some cool extensions for tweaking the new tab page in Chrome, and today we'll see how to do that in Firefox.

ane. Super Kickoff

Super Kickoff is my current new tab add-on, so let'southward showtime with information technology. On the surface, it'due south simply a regular speed-dial-style extension that lets you create shortcuts for your favorite links. Once you dive into the customization options, you'll discover that Super Start tin can practise much more.

You can brandish a to-do listing on the new tab page, grouping bookmarks past elevate-and-dropping them onto each other, and insert placeholders (empty tiles) to arrange bookmarks in any way you want. If tiles look likewise large for yous, at that place'due south the text-simply mode that saves space and lets you lot show more bookmarks on the page.

Optionally, Super Start can display a navigation bar with a search field at the acme of the page. If you desire to use Super Kickoff on another reckoner, yous tin can export (and import) all your links.

Outstanding features: custom CSS; option to quickly add any website to Super Start from the right-click carte

2. Moment

Moment is every bit simple and minimal as information technology gets. At that place are no superficial features – it only displays the time, date, and atmospheric condition information. While it might exist useful to include links to favorite websites, Moment is not that kind of add-on. This is actually a good affair; later on all, there are enough of other add-ons for that. Information technology's only off-white that in that location'southward something for the minimalists, likewise.

Also, Moment is not completely stripped downward: the Options dialog lets you change colors, font, and engagement format. If y'all're confident in your CSS skills, you tin even endeavor modifying Moment in that way.

Outstanding features: lightweight; loads rapidly; lets yous write custom CSS

3. New Tab Tools

New Tab Tools improves upon the default new tab page in Firefox while retaining a similar appearance. You can display your bookmarks as tiles, and each tile can take a custom image or icon. Alternatively, you can let New Tab Tools generate thumbnails for them. New Tab Tools can bear witness recently airtight tabs, as well as create tiles from the browser history. The menu bar with links to downloads, add-ons, and preferences is optional, and you can arrange its position.

The only problem with New Tab Tools is that the Options dialog can be confusing; more than specifically, the "Tiles" section where you're supposed to navigate by clicking the arrows to reach the individual settings for each tile.

Outstanding features: tile transparency; custom images and colors for each tile

4. Viewmarks

The primary purpose of Viewmarks is to visually organize your bookmarks. Since it's possible to brand Viewmarks load instead of the default new tab folio, we're including it in the list. Your bookmarks are represented as thumbnails, and there is a handy visual search feature that lets you look through your browsing history. You tin assign tags to your bookmarks, give each bookmark a star-rating, and keep deleted bookmarks in the Trash binder for a quick restore if necessary. If y'all accept bookmark management seriously, Viewmarks can brand you happy.

Outstanding features: automatic thumbnail creation; quick navigation similar to a file managing director

5. Bookmark Dial

If y'all're i of those rare people whose browser bookmarks are perfectly organized, Bookmark Dial might exist just right for you. Instead of adding links one past one, Bookmark Dial can populate the new tab page with a selected binder from your bookmarks. Thumbnails (images on the tiles) are besides generated automatically, and you tin can rearrange them by simply elevate-and-dropping them around. As with some other add-ons on this listing, information technology's possible to further tweak Bookmark Punch with custom CSS.

Outstanding features: option to manage bookmarks from the correct-click menu; tiles tin can be resized manually

vi. Blink

Blink looks plain and simple, initially showing only fourth dimension and date. Only what about those icons in the top correct toolbar? You've guessed it – that's where you lot'll find the best part of Glimmer. Integration with the pop news aggregator service Feedly lets y'all come across the latest content from your favorite blogs and websites correct on the new tab page. All yous have to exercise is select the desired sources or topics in the appropriate dialog. This makes Blink great for people who want to bound right into the news when they open Firefox.

Outstanding features: option to choose between latest, trending, or balanced news; neat, Pinterest-like interface

seven. TabTrekker

TabTrekker is often mentioned as the best alternative to Chrome'southward Momentum (which is, sadly, yet unavailable for Firefox). If you're more concerned with the aesthetic features of your new tab folio than with a bunch of bookmark-related options, try TabTrekker. Information technology uses beautiful photographs from all around the world as the background, and rotates them automatically. Of course, this means that TabTrekker won't piece of work properly without an Internet connection. If y'all want, it can besides display the atmospheric condition data, time, appointment, a search bar, and your well-nigh visited websites.

Outstanding features: attractive pattern; simple and straightforward settings

8. SiteLauncher

…and now for something completely dissimilar. SiteLauncher is non your typical new tab addition; in fact, it doesn't actually modify the new tab page. However, the functionality it provides is very like to other add together-ons on this list. Instead of loading in a new tab, SiteLauncher shows upward as an overlay on any website yous're currently visiting when you printing its keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Infinite).

You can change the size, text, and colors of the overlay, add together a bit of transparency if yous wish, and create groups of links. The most important characteristic is that you lot tin assign a letter to every website displayed in SiteLauncher, and open up information technology by simply pressing the desired primal – no demand to click around with the mouse. SiteLauncher can supercede your dwelling page, and there are enough more than features in the Options dialog that arrive worth checking out.

Outstanding features: quick to access; highly customizable appearance

ix. Start.me

Start.me is a godsend for people who adopt keeping their bookmarks in the cloud, accessible from whatsoever computer connected to the Net. Naturally, this requires an account, which is free and which you tin can create with an email address, or log in with your social media credentials.

Kickoff.me integrates well with Google Apps, and lets you lot add email, weather, and social networking widgets to your new tab page. You tin can import bookmarks and RSS feeds, and export everything, including your notes and to-practise lists. Get-go.me can look as decorated or equally minimal as you want – use all the widgets, or but display your favorite bookmarks. It'southward a practiced kind of pick, isn't it?

Outstanding features: dozens of widgets to choose from; the search bar tin can crawl several search engines simultaneously

10. Speed Kickoff

Speed Start sports a classic speed dial look, but with a twist: everything is customizable. You lot're gratis to rearrange and resize items on the new tab page, whether they're single links to websites or groups (folders) containing multiple links. There'due south no need to worry if something goes incorrect, equally Speed Start tin backup and restore all your settings and bookmarks.

Search engines can be added to Speed Start as separate items, so you tin can brandish several at in one case. Of class, background image and colors tin likewise be changed, and adding links to folders is every bit elementary as drag-and-dropping them over the existing folders.

Outstanding features: back up for mouse gestures to load links in a new tab; zooming and scaling for larger/smaller displays

Why settle for a blank new tab when you can use it to heave your productivity, remind yourself with notes and to-exercise lists, or sort your near important bookmarks? If the add-ons nosotros've suggested so far don't adapt yous, take a look at two other pop choices: FVD Speed Punch and Fast Punch. The former is clogged of features, while the latter is focused on doing one thing, but doing it right.

What's that – y'all don't desire to install whatever add together-ons at all, yet you nonetheless want a custom new tab page?

Very well. Consider visiting the /r/Startpages subreddit, where you tin can go inspired past other people's ideas, and in some cases, freely copy their lawmaking. Another fantastic resource for this purpose is deviantART, where people share HTML files for free – all you lot have to practice is download them, then prepare them up to load as your new tab page in Firefox.

SEE ALSO: 8 Best Data Saving Android Browsers to Surf the Web Faster

Do you know of any other cool add-ons for new tab customization? How practise you make sure your new tab page doesn't expect tedious? Share your tips and recommendations in the comments below.

Featured Image Courtesy: Flickr

Source: https://beebom.com/add-ons-customize-new-tab-firefox/

Posted by: ellisoffearmed.blogspot.com

Share this post