The Firefox Web browser is quickly becoming one of the most prominent Web browsers available. The fact that it is cross-platform makes it a comfortable browser for users who have to use more than one OS. There are, however, a number of hidden gems that you can enable that make Firefox even more powerful than it is out of the box.

To increase the speed of opening Web pages, there are two options you can tweak. The first is to enable HTTP pipelining, which allows Firefox to request multiple files simultaneously rather than one at a time. To enable this, type about:config in the address bar. Scroll down the list until you find network.http.pipelining and set it to true. You can also enable network.http.proxy.pipelining as well.

To speed up rendering speeds, you can tell Firefox not to wait the default quarter second before drawing Web content. The option to look for here is the nglayout.initialpaint.delay, but it may not be displayed in the preference list by default. If not, right-click on the screen and select New Integer. Type nglayout.initialpaint.delay as the preference name and the number 0 as the value. By default, Firefox uses a value of 250 (in milliseconds).

Source - Vincent Danen, TechRepublic

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Andy Wibbels has a great site that will teach you all about blogging. Visit EasyBake Weblogs and download his Free Special Report that will get you going. Andy also has written a book and runs teleclasses on blogging. Let me know your new blog address!

Me Want!
iPod wireless headphones now available from Logitech.

You can save some typing when you are entering web addresses (URLs) in the address bar in Internet Explorer. For example instead of typing 'www.dell.com' and then ENTER, you can just type 'dell' and then hold down the CNTRL key and press ENTER. The www. and .com bits will be filled in for you. Here are three more IE browsing shortcuts
Go to your Home page - ALT+HOME
Go to the next page - ALT+RIGHT ARROW
Go to the previous page - ALT+LEFT ARROW or BACKSPACE
Every little bit helps!

According to HP:

The abuse use of "always-on" office technology has led to a nationwide state of "Info-Mania" where UK workers are literally addicted to checking messages. Mobile technology offers massive productivity benefits in the hands of those who know how to use it, but irresponsible use means that workers are not seeing the benefits they should. New research, commissioned on behalf of technology experts Hewlett Packard, reveals that 62% of adults are addicted to checking messages out of office hours and whilst on holiday. Half of workers will respond to an email immediately or within 60 minutes and one in five people are "happy" to interrupt a business or social meeting to respond to an email or telephone message.

You may find this HP Guide to avoiding Info-Mania helpful.

Here on the BBC Technology is an introduction piece on Voice over IP (VOIP) or making phone calls from your PC over your internet connection. Check it out if you'd like to understand a little more about what is happening. You can also watch the BBC ClickOnline feature on the subject by clicking the Video links on the page.

I have used a number of Desktop Search applications over the last year to help me find what I am looking for in my overstuffed hard drives. For the last couple of months I have been using Copernic. Definitely the best all round. Slate magazine's Review of five offerings agrees. Try it, you'll save loads of time.

When I started using Skype I was using an old headset that came with a voice recognition programme. Sort of worked OK but I had to plug it into the back of my computer and disconnect my speakers. But I play music a lot so didn't really want to have to keep plugging and unplugging. I thought about buying a USB connected headset but I am now using the Motorola HS 850 bluetooth headset via a Belkin F8T003 USB adapter. Works a treat. Auto connect et al. Headset works with my mobile as well of course and is not more expensive than some of the USB headsets. And I can stand up and walk around the room when coaching.

I've been using Skype (rhymes with tripe) a fair bit recently and definitely recommend it. Skype is free Internet telephony that does work. Skype is for calling other people on their computers or phones. I won't give you all the details here, check them out at Skype. Suffice to say it's saved me money on international calls and it works fine calling my brother-in-law in rural France who is on dial-up. If you are on dial-up, do refrain from browsing/downloading at the same time as talking of course.
Feel free to Skype me on my id of johnmiles!

Well here's something to keep you busy during the windy winter months. Philip Torrone tell you how at Endgadget. The article is in two parts: Part 1 -The Camera and Part 2 - The Kite and Pictures.