All Posts Tagged With: "212"

If you enjoy the social aspect of pictures, then you’ve probably played around with Flickr. Flickr is a social web-based photo service that allows users to upload their pictures to display to the world. You also have the ability to create photo albums by using their tagging feature.

While Flickr is a great service, there is always room for improvement. This is where Greasemonkey steps in to fill the void, by allowing users to make scripts that alter how the website functions so that it can meet your needs. Once you have the Greasemonkey extension installed on your Firefox web browser, start installing some of the following scripts to improve your Flickr experience:

Flickr Greasemonkey Scripts

• Flickr Ad Removal - Gets rid of text ads in Flickr (the ones that show up after using AdBlock to get rid of the graphical ads).
• Flickr AllSizes+ - Access all sizes for a Flickr photo. Copy the code, download the image, etc.
• Flickr Group Search with Google - Replaces poor default search with Google group search.
• Flickr Image Unblocker - A script to remove the invisible image blocking images on Flickr.
• Flickr Link Original Images - Add link to original image on top of Flickr thumbnails.
• Flickr MultiMailer - Lets you send Flickr Mail to multiple recipients from your contacts list.
• Flickr Mail Manager - Adds some options to help manage your Flickr mailbox. Including “Mark all as read” and delete all Notification emails, such as “you are x’s newest contact” and Group Invitations.
• Flickr Quoter - Flickr Quoter adds a “quote” link to Flickr discussions, and Flickr Mail, making it easier to quote people.
• Flickr Photo Page Enhancer - Adds links to different sizes directly to a Flickr photo page, generates HTML code to easily copy and paste thumbnail & description, and automatically loads your 20 most used tags when you click “Add Tag.”
• Flickr PM - Adds icons for mail, profile, favorites, Scout, Interestingness and the user’s photo archive next to user names in forums and on individual photo pages. It also allows you to send Flickr Mails without leaving the current page you are on.
• Flickr Remove Spaceball - Removes the empty image (download deterrent) positioned over some photos on Flickr.
• Flickr Rich Edit - Adds a simple rich edit interface (Bold, Italic, Blockquote, Link) input text area in Flickr where you can use HTML.
• Flickr Tags for GeoBloggers - Add tags for GeoBloggers on Google Maps.
• Google Maps in Flickr - Display Google Maps in Flickr.
• Greased Lightbox - Joe Lencioni’s Greased Lightbox is a Greasemonkey, Creammonkey, and Opera user script designed that enhances browsing on websites that link to images such as Google Image Search, Flickr, Wikipedia, Facebook, MySpace, and deviantART.
• Publish Popular Posts - Lets you publish your most popular photos listed (by views/comments/favorites/interesting) + also your favorites list by other Flickr users on your PHP enabled website.

Know of a good one that I missed?  Let me know in the comments below!

What is Flock? Flock is a social web browser based off Mozilla technologies. It was designed to have all the functionality of Mozilla’s popular Firefox web browser, while integrating itself with some of the most popular social services, including Technorati, Flickr, Photobucket, Shadows, and Del.icio.us. It also has additional conveniences for sharing photos and blogging. Because the Flock build is based on the Firefox web browser, this gives web surfers the added advantage of compatibility with anything Firefox is compatible with (similar to how Netscape pretends to be Internet Explorer when visiting a website for compatibility).

How do I transfer to Flock? First thing you need to do is download the Flock web browser. After the initial download, you are asked if you would like to go through the Flock setup. You will want to go through the setup and import your bookmarks and/or home page from Firefox or Internet Explorer. This will help make it a virtually flawless transition from your current browser of choice. You are then given the option to sync up your web browser with Flickr or Photobucket. Once this is done, you are then allowed to sync up your browser with Del.icio.us for social bookmarking. Next, you have the option of integrating Flock with your blogging platform. The browser appears to be compatible with most of the commonly used blogging services out there, including (but not limited to) Typepad, Blogger, Wordpress, and Movable Type. These are all optional, so if you don’t use one of the above services or don’t maintain a blog, you will still enjoy the web browser.

Why should I switch to Flock? On top of the above mentioned integration with the various social bookmarking websites, photo services, and blogging services, Flock also offers a large number of unique features. If your a Firefox user, your already familiar with Extensions and Themes. As of the day of this post, there currently are not any themes available, but you will be able to find just about any Firefox extension you’ve come to rely on. If you find one that hasn’t been converted, you can use Flock’d. Simply download this extension and restart your Flock browser. Now go the URL of your favorite Firefox extension and right click, and select Flock’d in your mouse menu. It will convert your favorite extensions over and add them to your existing active extensions. I have had success converting a few of my favorites (including IE Tab); however, because Flock uses a different bookmarking system, extensions involving bookmarks will not be compatible.

Here are a few of my favorite extensions that are currently available for Flock:

Google Extensions

• Update Notifier - Notifies you when updates are available for your Flock extensions or themes.
• GMail Manager - Allows you to manage multiple GMail accounts, builds it into your web browser.
• Google Toolbar - Toolbar that adds Google search and additional features.
• Customize Google - Enhances search results and removes advertisements and spam.
• Google Calendar Notifier - Gives you Google Calendar updates.

Download Extensions

• PDF Download - Allows you to adjust how PDF files are downloaded and/or viewed.
• Download Statusbar - Gives you a statusbar for all downloads.
• DownThemAll! - Adds advanced and multiple download capabilities.
• Download Manager Tweak - Changes look of download window and allows you to place it into a tab.
• FlashGot - Improves downloading.

Miscellaneous Other Extensions

• Web Developer - Adds a menu with many web developer tools.
• Del.icio.us 1.1 - Adds Del.icio.us menu and bookmarklets.
• Adblock - Advanced advertisement blocking features.
• Greasemonkey - Manages user scripts.
• ForecastFox Enhanced - Builds weather reports into your web browser.
• FoxyTunes - Builds media player controls into your web browser (includes iTunes).
• Performacing for Flock - Builds a blog editor into your web browser. Includes trackback, Technorati, and Del.icio.us support.
• NoScript - Added security. It blocks allows scripts and you manually allow them.
• All-in-One Sidebar - Gives you an Opera style sidebar that gives you access to downloads, extensions, themes, and much more.
• Always Remember Password - Forces Flock to ignore websites requests to not remember passwords.
• Minimize to Tray - Allows you to minimize Flock to your system tray.

It looks like they’re working on getting a compatible version of Google Browser Sync built, which is one of the few extensions I really miss when I’m using Flock. Two other extensions I would like to see converted are:

• IE Tab - Converts the page you are on to Internet Explorer for optimal viewing. This extension is key for that rare website that doesn’t show up well in Firefox or Flock. Update: I was able to use Flock’d to convert IE Tab to Flock from here, but I would still like to see a Flock version.

• GMail Skins - Adds additional settings to your GMail account, allowing you to add HTML to your E-mails, change colors, etc.

If your interested in making a Flock extension of your own, check out these Developers Tips. You can also find additional extensions at the Ultimate Flock Extensions List.

Another reason people will give you for switching to Flock is the unique look. While users have yet to make a Flock compatible theme, I doubt many users would want to switch anyway.

As with Firefox, you can customize it to your specifications, including customizing the toolbars. Flock’s default search options include all the ones you expect, plus Technorati and Wikipedia (two I use a lot).

What features does Flock have? On top of themes (eventually) and extensions, Flock offers a unique My News feature which allows you to subscribe to feeds with one click (the same way you add a Live Bookmark in Firefox), drag and drop items into custom folders, and get notifications in one location. This feed reader is built right into the browser and is based on the Firefox Extension Sage - Feed Aggregator. Simply click the My News button next to your address bar and your feeds will appear in a sidebar on your left. Like any good feed reader, you can customize it to your preferences, seeing full, excerpts, and headlines only. You can also edit out previously viewed documents, and view in a single or double column (similar to newspaper view). You can export your OPML list of feeds, but I haven’t found a way to import my OPML file yet. This is a feature is a must have, so hopefully they will be adding it shortly.

If you’ve loaded your Flock browser, you’ve probably noticed a star button on the left side of your address bar. This neat feature gives you a one click option to remember the webpage. If you click and hold the star button, you can actually categorize and tag the site using your integrated Del.icio.us or Shadows account, saving you the time of ever visiting their website and making your bookmarks accessible from any computer. This is a nice feature for any Del.icio.us user, but particularly useful for bloggers who use the Daily Links feature on their blog or website.

Flock also allows you to make multiple Collections (Flock’s version of folders) to store different types of bookmarks and favorites. The Flock favorites manager allows users to add and edit their collections and favorites to be organized however they like.

If your a photo lover, you can integrate both Photobucket and Flickr into your Flock browser. Along the address bar at the top, you will find a photo icon called “Photos.” When you click it, your account and pictures will appear. You can click them to bring up your account in full view. If you use Photobucket, they allow you to batch upload pictures and will also notify you when one of your Photobucket buddies adds a picture to their Photobucket account. Flock also allows you to drag and drop photo comments on MySpace, eBay, LiveJournal and many other major sites. Photobucket has created a guide to setting up Flock for Photobucket integration.

If your a blogger, Flock offers an integrated blog editor. Their blog editor works with most of the popular blogging services, including Typepad, Blogger, Wordpress, Movable Type, MetaWeblog, and Drupal. It comes with a built in spell checker and you can add sites to “ping” into the settings anytime you post.

Sound good? Well, I haven’t even covered the most popular Flock feature yet. Flock’s Live Search searches as you type, saving you time while aiding you with your search. Once you’ve gotten used to this, it will be hard to go back to a browser without it.

Are you a Flockstar? If you enjoy Flock as much as I do, and you run a website, you may want to help others discover Flock by putting a Flock promotional button on your website. You can also help Flock get to know their community a little better with Flock’s Roll Call.

My favorite part of Flock? The Flock community hands down. The Flock staff is second to none when it comes to participation with its users, and they have Forums setup for questions and discussions. I will recommend Flock to anyone looking for a web browser.

This browser is still in the very early stages and look how far they have come. With that said, there is always room for improvement, and Flock is no exception. Here are the 3 improvements I would most like to see:

Integration with the social news service Digg - If they are going to truly be the social browser of the Web 2.0 generation, this will eventually be a necessity. I can only hope this is something they are working on for a future update.

Built-in Text Area Spellcheck - Firefox 2.0 has this. Does that mean Flock users will also benefit from this in a future enhancement?

Feeds on Flock’s website for Popular and Recent extensions and themes - This is a feature many people enjoy, whether its subscribing to a search feed using Google or Technorati, or seeing whats new on Firefox or Thunderbird.

Based off what I’ve seen from Flock so far, I’m confident they are listening to their users and will continue to do whatever they can to improve their product. Hopefully these 3 things can be added to the list.

If your still not convinced to give Flock a try, check out this 7 minute video demonstration of Flock.

Other Flock related links:

• Flock’s Official Blog
• Definitive Flock Beta 1 Review
• Contact Flock’s Ambassador: Will Pate