Special offer

New Twitter extension for FireFox

By
Real Estate Technology with Carmody and Associates LLC

As stated previously, I am new to Twitter and I am enjoying finding third party applications or add-ins that enhance the Twitter experience.

TwitterFox screen shotMy default browser is Firefox, so I was pleased to find an extension for FireFox that checks my Twitter account and provides me with updates to my Twitter status. 

Twitterfox is a free add-in (donations accepted) that places a small Twitter icon in the lower right portion of your FireFox status bar.  Once you provide the preferences dialog with your Twitter account and password, the system will periodically check your status and give you access to your tweets. TwitterFox will monitor multiple Twitter accounts.

I note that if you are displaying the TwitterFox window with your latestest tweets, if you mouseover a tinyurl address in a tweet, it will translate the tinyurl and give you the actual address before you follow the link.  I like to have the opportunity to decide if I know the URL address before I click.  Good job! TwitterFox.

My initial reaction is favorable.  If you use FIreFox, you can obtain the TwitterFox add-in < here >

@webted2

Comments (19)

Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

Ted - this is very interesting. I was considering going to Firefox but wasn't sure what the real advantages were. Could you enlighten me a little? How long have you been using it?

Jan 18, 2009 03:11 AM
Ted Baker
Carmody and Associates LLC - Winter Haven, FL
MidFloridaMediation.com

Connie - I have been a FireFox user since its early days.  They implemented tabbed browsing prior to the other choices (internet explorer, for example).  Also there were, at one time, less security updates for FireFox.  It wasn't that the system was more secure, I think, it is just that there were more users on IE so if a hacker wanter to impact the largest number of people - they attacked IE. FireFox was faster than IE - but with each new generation of browser release, the advantages go back and forth.

I have two situations where I must use a browser that is more compatible with IE.  First, my MLS system requires IE.  Second, I have difficulty placing cut text into the AR editor in a cut and place operation.  So I need to use IE or Maxthon (totally IE compatible) for those operations. But I still like FireFox for normal browsing.

Not to confuse you further, but there are other choices as well.  Apple offers its Safari browser for the PC user.  Google is offering ChromeOpera is an independent offering and Flock (based upon FireFox) is optimized to work with photos and more than a dozen social networking sites. 

 

 

 

 

Jan 18, 2009 04:19 AM
Rene Fabre
ARFCO Media - Renton, WA
Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts

Ted... thanks for the reminder on the Twitter addon for Firefox. I too have used Firefox for quite awhile. For straight ahead surfing, I am becoming a huge fan of Chrome. Yet, as you mention... We're in a time where we need different browsers for different applications.

Rene'

Jan 18, 2009 04:37 AM
George Bennett
Inactive - Port Orford, OR
Inactive Principal Broker, GRI

Thanks Ted. I'm interested in learning more about the uses of Twitter.

Jan 18, 2009 04:43 AM
Carol Swain
Keller Williams Real Estate - Langhorne, PA
Realtor, -www.swainsells.com- Bucks County, Pa

Thanks Ted for letting us know.  I like using firefox but rarely do, because our MLS site only works with internet explorer.   I will have to check it out.

Jan 18, 2009 05:06 AM
Roland Woodworth
Blue Cord Realty - Clarksville, TN
Blue Cord Realty

Ted.. this is great for firefox users. I'm still stuck in the world of IE

Jan 18, 2009 05:19 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

I use Firefox most of the time at home.... I am addicted to Tweetdeck but I also installed Twhirl and it is OK... but I think I will try TwitterFox too.

On Twitterfox some of the features:

  • Auto extract is.gd and bit.ly links.<---- Huh?
  • Added Mark all as read menu item to main context menu. < ----  I might use
  • Increased contrast of background color of read/unread messages.<---- that is neat
  • Added in-reply-to-status-id parameter for status update. <-----  that could be useful
  • Added da-DK, th-TH, vi-VN, ar-SA, ar, and kw-GB translations.<----  Huh?
Jan 18, 2009 05:49 AM
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Thanks for the info, Ted. I'm going to try this because to make twitter easier to keep up with. :)

Jan 18, 2009 07:15 AM
Jim Lee, REALTOR, CRS, ABR
RE/MAX Shoreline - Portsmouth, NH
Buying or Selling? Ann & Jim are the local experts

Firefox is a great choice of browswers.

18.3% of my website visitors this month have used it compated to 73.8% with IE and 5.7% using Safari.

The only occasional issue I run into is that not all websites are optimed for Firefox yet. If yours isn't it's time to think about doing it.

 

Jan 18, 2009 07:16 AM
Ted Baker
Carmody and Associates LLC - Winter Haven, FL
MidFloridaMediation.com

Thanks to all for stopping by.

Several of you indicate that, like me, you are new to Twitter.  May I recommend a series of articles on AR by Paul Chaney.  Here is a < LINK > to one of his articles - You will find links to several of his other articles there also. Paul offers excellent advise and experience along with some basic video tutorials concerning set-up and use.

I have also written a an earlier article which described basic Twitter functions and third party companion applications which I have found useful:  < link >

 

Jan 18, 2009 08:14 AM
FAJARDO DELACRUZ
Century Homes Realty Group LLC. - Flushing, NY

ted

 Great information; But one web browser that we can still use is (Netscape) oldie but still good for me now and than.

Jan 18, 2009 08:20 AM
Randy Hooker
Dreamcatcher Realty / Greater Phoenix Area - Gilbert, AZ
Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek

Hi Ted!  Thanks a million for this post.  I totally LOVE FireFox, and now use it about 98% of the time.  I'm still new to Twittering (or is it tweeting:), so anything that helps me get more comfortable and aware is a definite help.  Nice post!

randy

Jan 18, 2009 08:22 AM
Brian Madigan
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto) - Toronto, ON
LL.B., Broker

Some good points. I haven't used it yet myself, but I have bookmarked this blog.

 

Jan 18, 2009 10:31 AM
Tara Jones- Atlanta
Reel Productions TV- Real Estate Video - Dacula, GA
GA

Thanks, Ted.  I am new to Twitter as well and am still trying to learn the in's and out's.  This will help!

Jan 18, 2009 12:46 PM
Broker Nick
South Florida Real Estate & Development, Inc. - Coconut Creek, FL
Broker Nick Relocation Broker Service

Congratulations Ted Baker on the feature in AR.

As always, you bring information to all in such a way that any one can understand, even us novices.

Thanks for your hard work and again great job!

Jan 18, 2009 01:27 PM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

TED - Looks great.  I'll have to check it out soon!  Thanks for the tip -

Jan 18, 2009 02:04 PM
Kris Kombrink ~ The Kombrink Team
RE/MAX Excels - Chicago's Western Suburbs - Geneva, IL

Ted, excellent tip about the add on.  I don't use Firefox but I'm sure others will appreciate your advice.  I'm new on Twitter too and you're right, there's SO much out there.

twitter

Jan 19, 2009 03:28 AM
Ted Baker
Carmody and Associates LLC - Winter Haven, FL
MidFloridaMediation.com

Thanks to all for stopping by...

 

 

UPDATE:

applause

 

I note that AR member Paul Chaney has released his E-book on business applications for Twitter this morning.  I have bought it - and I have read it (35 pages) and find it to be filled with useful information, resource links and Paul's own experience and suggestions. 

WOW !  You can get it < here >

 

Jan 19, 2009 05:24 AM
Shane OnullGorman
Eau Claire Realty, Inc. - Eau Claire, WI
Eau Claire Wisconsin, Real Estate Agent & Realtor- Buy or Sell

There are a lot of Twitter apps out now. I cant use FF so I havnt tried this but it looks good.

Jan 19, 2009 02:53 PM