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You see this, and think "Why didn't someone think about this before?"

Tab Mix Plus has had locked tabs for a while now. I'm not entirely sure if this fixes the issue of tabnapping, but it looks like it might.

Can you use HTML or Javascript or CSS to paint a mouse trail?

The short answer is, yes.

The long answer is, you might need the HTML5 Canvas element if you're wanting some sort of line behind the mouse, as opposed to a series of progressively-more-transparent mouse shadows. And of course, Chrome supports Canvas.

Is there anything in the current version of the Chrome API that will allow you to capture mouse movement in high precision (DPI)?

Higher than pixels? Not that I know of, but I also can't imagine when I'd want to, or what kind of Firefox extension would do so.

Tab Mix Plus can save sessions

Yeah, I can do that. I can't necessarily save the state of each tab, but I can certainly save the URL, even the current values of the form fields.

paint the tab with user-specified color, format tab title texts

Probably can't do that yet.

can save tab opening order

What does that mean? The one reference I see to that is actually describing exactly how Chrome tabs work, by default. If that's what you mean -- that is, tab opening behavior -- that wouldn't be terribly difficult.

can do tab mouse gestures (different one than FireGestures).

How are they different?

I could certainly do mouse gestures over the page. I'm not sure I can catch mouse events that wander off into the tabs or navigation bar.

These features are just some features that XUL allows you to do.

Sigh.

Again: Are these XUL or XPCOM?

And is there any reason XPCOM couldn't be exposed to privileged HTML and Javascript?

Show me some XUL to illustrate your point -- otherwise, I'm going to continue with my assumption that XUL provides none of these benefits on its own.

But a pertinent point that you should not forget is that Firefox uses XUL as the layout for its user interface while a peek at Chrome source code shows that it uses C++ or maybe C for its interface.

Probably somewhat true, though not entirely. Opening a new tab currently shows a page called "new tab", which contains a list of recently closed tabs, along with thumbnail links to your most frequently visited websites.

Just for fun, if you've got Chrome installed, visit that page and hit ctrl+U. See? HTML/javascript. Same with about:plugins. Same with chrome://extensions, with a recent build.

Firefox allows you to create an extension that will radically alter the Firefox user interface as you wish, but Chrome will not allow you to do the same thing (unless I missed the memo that I will be allowed to use C++ to write Chrome extensions that will hook straight to the user interface).

You seem to be either misinformed or downright unimaginative about what an API could expose.

Let's pretend the Chrome UI is entirely C++, and let's pretend, for a moment, that there's no way (currently) to customize the settings dialog.

Now let's pretend we can write C++ extensions. What would the C++ API look like? I'll leave this as an exercise to the reader.

Go ahead, I'll wait. Build some sample applications. Use pseudocode, if you like.

Now, look at your API, and ask yourself why this couldn't be exposed to Javascript.

To take another, much simpler example: Webkit is probably written in C or C++, right? It's native code that parses HTML, and native code that generates the DOM, right? But I can manipulate the DOM with Javascript just fine.

And given that there just isn't that much UI -- that much chrome -- to Chrome, I wouldn't be surprised to see a more complete API in the future. As it is, the usual pattern for an extension that wants, say, a dialog box, is to pop up a new window pointing to some page inside the extension.

Oh, and yes, you c

If you like, Tab Mix Plus has that as an option, among many other nice things. Unfortunately, the main version hasn't been updated for 3.5 yet, but you can find the development version here, or simply override the compatibility check, which seems to work fine.

Tab Mix Plus can save tabs. I use it with Fx 3.0.1 under Leopard. You won't get a compatible version from addons.mozilla.org, but there's a dev build that works.

Firefox remembers the state it was in when it has a problem and is restarted

Emm....yes and no. One of the big problems I had with v3 was it would not save the open tabs even with that selected in the options. And this was with a normal shut down. (CNet fortunately had a version of Tab Mix Plus that worked with v3 and solved the problem.) But I left my other machines with v2.x

The 3.01 came out with no mention if the tab problem was solved. Fortunately TMP gurus are working again. Have not tried it but they have a pre-release version for 3.01.

Personally, after using v3, I didn't see any great additions to where I HAD to have it (a lot like Vista). In fact, trying to alphabetize my bookmarks has become a pain.

Also, I might note that web developers like having an older version of the browser to test pages until the usage percentages go down far enough that it's not worth their time. So (if it becomes) a "pushy" browser reminding you to upgrade, it isn't going to be appreciated.

New tab button...who needs that? The tabs also belong at the bottom and there shouldn't be an X on each one. Ya, I've been using Opera for far too long. But I still love it. I tried Firefox 3 but they STILL won't let you put the tab bar on the bottom (must be hidden somewhere if the option exists.)

unless you're absolutely on principle opposed to extensions, the add-on tab mix plus (TMP) includes all your feature requests. it lets you put the tab-bar on the bottom (and has allowed doing so for ages), allows removal of the "X" on individual tabs (though i can't remember if that's a TMP feature or just an FF one), and the "new tab" button is made superfluous since double-clicking in any empty space in the tab-bar opens a new tab.

one complication: TMP isn't listed as compatible with the release version of ff3 on mozilla's main addon site, though it works with the betas. This can easily be gotten around with the dev build found here: http://tmp.garyr.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7031

Tab Mix Plus does what TabsOpenRelative does, among other things. The version compatible with rc1 is at http://tmp.garyr.net/dev-builds/ at the bottom of the list.

Also, every time I uninstall firefox 3, I could no longer click links in outlook unless I reset default browser to IE and switch back. This is very irritating.

TabMixPlus dev version works with Firefox 3beta.
it's not available yet from the addon mozilla site.
you have to get it from the official site (see http://tmp.garyr.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=3&sid=622b8acc530f7edda1559748ec4b464c)

A new version of TabMixPlus that works with FF2 will be released within the week according to the author's note here:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1122/

In the meantime, you can install a pre-release version of the extension here:

http://tmp.garyr.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3515

To get rid of the close buttons on all tabs, go to about:config and set

browser.tabs.closeButtons

to 0 if you only want the close button on the active tab

or to 0 if you want the close button only at the right hand side of the tab bar.

Maybe I'm blind and there is a way to switch back to the old tabbing system? This one blows though IMO so someone please enlighten me! Or do I just revert to 1.5?

There is a new Tab Mix Plus version up for testing, and it does work on FF 2.0. So far, I haven't had any problems with it.

Does it provide me with the 'main tab-close button that FF used to have?

I used both the per-tab close button and the main one, and rely on having both. Plus I *really* prefer my bookmarks to open in individual background tabs. I can still open a group of tabs in their own ('Open All In Tabs'), but I want to do individual ones, as well.

Note the extension works for firefox 2, though you have to download it here. The version in the official addons page only supports firefox up to 1.6.

http://tmp.garyr.net/tab_mix_plus-dev-build.xpi This version works in FF 2.

Keep in mind that the new tab handling and session saving makes some of TMP's FF1.5 features irrelevant for FF2.0.

http://tmp.garyr.net/ and look at the dev builds?

I generally get my extensions from the author websites instead of from Mozilla Add-ons because Mozilla Add-ons usually doesn't list the dev builds and because of the approval process, it also tends to lag behind official author sites.

^^(Shit, wrong formatting!)

My Firefox on WinXP has been open about 8 hours and is using only 129 MB so far. I have 16 extensions loaded right now.

Generated: Sat Oct 07 2006 00:57:46 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1) Gecko/20061004 BonEcho/2.0
Build ID: 2006100403

Enabled Extensions: [16]
- All-in-One Sidebar 0.7 RC 4: http://firefox.exxile.net/aios/
- ChatZilla 0.9.75: http://chatzilla.hacksrus.com/
- CoLT 2.2.1: http://www.borngeek.com/firefox/colt/
- Console 0.3.6: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=3181 02
- DOM Inspector 1.8.1: http://www.mozilla.org/projects/inspector/
- FoxyTunes 2.0.2.1: http://www.foxytunes.com/
- Gmail Manager 0.5.3: http://www.longfocus.com/firefox/gmanager/
- Greasemonkey 0.6.5.20060727: http://greasemonkey.mozdev.org/
- MR Tech Local Install 5.3: http://www.mrtech.com/extensions/local_install/
- Saved From URL 1.2: http://www.google.com/search?q=Bon%20Echo%20Saved% 20From%20URL
- Stylish 0.4: http://userstyles.org/stylish/
- Tab Mix Plus 0.3.0.61001: http://tmp.garyr.net/
- Talkback 2.0: http://talkback.mozilla.org/
- Update Channel Selector 1.0.1: http://users.blueprintit.co.uk/~dave/web/firefox/u pdatechannel/index.html
- userChrome.js 0.7: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=3977 35
- XPather 1.0.1: http://xpath.alephzarro.com/

Disabled Extensions: [1]
- Free Download Manager plugin 1.0: http://freedownloadmanager.org/

Total Extensions: 17

Installed Themes: [3]
- Firefox (default): http://www.mozilla.org/
- Halloween 1.9.5: http://edhume.googlepages.com/home
- QuBranch 1.0.20060929: http://www.schrade.com/firefox/themes/

Installed Plugins: (10)
- Java(TM) 2 Platform Standard Edition 5.0 Update 8
- Microsoft® DRM
- Mozilla Default Plug-in
- OpenOffice.org Plug-in
- QuickTime Plug-in 7.1
- RealPlayer Version Plugin
- RealPlayer(tm) G2 LiveConnect-Enabled Plug-In (32-bit)
- Shockwave Flash
- Shockwave for Director
- Windows Media Player Plug-in Dynamic Link Library

My Firefox on WinXP has been open about 8 hours and is using only 129 MB so far. I have 16 extensions loaded right now. Generated: Sat Oct 07 2006 00:57:46 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time) User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1) Gecko/20061004 BonEcho/2.0 Build ID: 2006100403 Enabled Extensions: [16] - All-in-One Sidebar 0.7 RC 4: http://firefox.exxile.net/aios/ - ChatZilla 0.9.75: http://chatzilla.hacksrus.com/ - CoLT 2.2.1: http://www.borngeek.com/firefox/colt/ - Console 0.3.6: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=3181 02 - DOM Inspector 1.8.1: http://www.mozilla.org/projects/inspector/ - FoxyTunes 2.0.2.1: http://www.foxytunes.com/ - Gmail Manager 0.5.3: http://www.longfocus.com/firefox/gmanager/ - Greasemonkey 0.6.5.20060727: http://greasemonkey.mozdev.org/ - MR Tech Local Install 5.3: http://www.mrtech.com/extensions/local_install/ - Saved From URL 1.2: http://www.google.com/search?q=Bon%20Echo%20Saved% 20From%20URL - Stylish 0.4: http://userstyles.org/stylish/ - Tab Mix Plus 0.3.0.61001: http://tmp.garyr.net/ - Talkback 2.0: http://talkback.mozilla.org/ - Update Channel Selector 1.0.1: http://users.blueprintit.co.uk/~dave/web/firefox/u pdatechannel/index.html - userChrome.js 0.7: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=3977 35 - XPather 1.0.1: http://xpath.alephzarro.com/ Disabled Extensions: [1] - Free Download Manager plugin 1.0: http://freedownloadmanager.org/ Total Extensions: 17 Installed Themes: [3] - Firefox (default): http://www.mozilla.org/ - Halloween 1.9.5: http://edhume.googlepages.com/home - QuBranch 1.0.20060929: http://www.schrade.com/firefox/themes/ Installed Plugins: (10) - Java(TM) 2 Platform Standard Edition 5.0 Update 8 - Microsoft® DRM - Mozilla Default Plug-in - OpenOffice.org Plug-in - QuickTime Plug-in 7.1 - RealPlayer Version Plugin - RealPlayer(tm) G2 LiveConnect-Enabled Plug-In (32-bit) - Shockwave Flash - Shockwave for Director - Windows Media Player Plug-in Dynamic Link Library

One mis-click on a tab ... and you've just closed an important page with no confirmation dialog.

Tab Mix Plus

Optional individual close buttons on each tab (or current tab, or tab currently under mouse, or...). And if you accidentally close a tab? "Undo close tab". Or open up the closed tab list and find it.

And many, MANY more features. It's like the best of all the tab extensions, rolled into one.

This is an essential plugin for anyone using a lot of tabs.

No Tab Mix Plus?

I've replaced 3 other extensions including Tabbrowser Preferences with this and I will never turn back.

http://tmp.garyr.net/

Tab Mix Plus is an extension that has the "Undo Close Tab" feature, as well as many other useful ones. (The extension's page on the mozilla site is here.)
If you want only Undo Close Tab, that feature is also available in an extension called (what else?) undoclosetab.

And you then get to lose all of your session data. What a wonderful solution. If you are using the internet to research a problem that you are actively working on, a browser that acts like it is the most important process running is a less than ideal solution.

This extension, tab mix plus, has that functionality and a lot more built in (Duplicate Tab). Not sure if you can make it a keyboard shortcut though. Very handy tool for me.