Thumbnail Zoom Plus Firefox Add-On

If you would like to be able to see large versions of pictures on all sorts of pages on the Internet when you hover your cursor over a thumbnail, this is the Firefox add-on for you.

I bumped into this add-on today and am loving it. I was using it on Google Image Search results, and later on an artist's blog. For pages like a Google Image Search result page, I found I had to hover for a few seconds on some pictures for the large version to pop up, but, considering the amount of pictures loading on these search result pages, it is a minor annoyance.

Go here to get it.

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Google Image Search Freezes In Firefox - Solution

When you run a Google Image Search and the results freeze for a number of seconds before Firefox responds, you may have a problem add-on installed. 

Checking

First, try the search in any other browser. If it runs fine in the other browser, then it is something going on in Firefox.

Next, run Firefox in Safe Mode. To do this, in Firefox, click on Help, then Restart with Add-ons Disabled.

Now try the image search. If it runs fine, then one or more add-ons are the culprit. 

Go to your Add-ons page in Firefox (Tools, Add-ons or Firefox button, Add-ons). 

• Write down all the enabled add-ons
• Disable a bunch (make sure to mark down which ones you disabled) and restart Firefox
• Test an image search. If it doesn't work, re-enable the ones you disabled before and disable a bunch more (marking those ones down) and restart and test again. Repeat this process until you get the image search working
• Once the image search is working, you will know that the problem add-on is in the most recent bunch you disabled.
• Re-enable one add on at a time, restart Firefox and test until the search freezes again. This way you will find which add-on is causing the problem
• Once you find out which add-on is causing the problem, disable it and re-enable the others you want enabled, restart Firefox and do a final image search test. If all is working, remove the problem add-on.

I recently had this problem and found that Linkification was causing the problem, so I removed it and all was well again. If you read up on this add-on at the link, it may seem obvious why this would cause a problem. It was a useful but not necessary add-on.

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Windows 8: Boot to Desktop option coming in Windows 8.1

http://blog.gsmarena.com/boot-to-desktop-option-coming-with-windows-8-1/

It's not clear if this is going to be in a service pack or if it will be a whole new version of the operating system.

But why wait? If you have Windows 8 and don't like/want/use the touch interface and just want to use the Desktop interface, get the Classic Shell Start Menu, that also includes a default setting to boot straight to the desktop (along with some other useful tweaks). It's free. If you like it, they accept donations.

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AVG 2013 Summer Update

Here are my instructions for those using AVG Free 2013 who wish to continue using the free version with the least amount of annoyances.

Starting March 21, 2013 and soon after, you may get a pop-up in the lower right corner of your screen (If you haven't got the pop-up yet, don't worry, you will eventually. If you can't wait to get it, visit my post on Installing AVG Free 2013 to get the latest version, and when installing over the previous version, choose Repair install):

AVG needs to be updated.

Here are the steps you need to take to install the update:
- Click on Update Now
- Accept

- IMPORTANT STEP: Check off Basic Protection (If you miss this, you will end up installing the trial version of the paid version. To revert back to the free version, see the last point in the Tips and Notes section of this post).

- Next

- IMPORTANT STEP: Un-check the 3 check boxes in the lower section of the window (if they are not already un-checked), and, un-check Use The AVG Toolbar... NOTE: if you don't make sure these are all un-checked, you will end up with an unnecessary AVG security toolbar in your browser and AVG will replace your homepage too!

- Next.
Now it will download files and install the update.
- When finished, you will see the Congratulations! window. I normally leave the top check box checked off. However, some may wish to un-check this box. Either way is fine.
- If you need to wait to restart (due to working on things at the moment/files open), click on Restart Later. Otherwise, click on Restart now (recommended) to finish the installation process. (Note: you do need to restart the computer in order for the installation to complete).
Done.

Once finished, if you open up the AVG window, in the bottom left of the Notification area at the bottom, it should be "2013 build 3267" or greater.

If you are not using AVG Free and you wish to install it for the first time, please see my main post on installing AVG Free 2013.

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How To Block Spammers From Your Facebook Page

Here are a few tips on blocking spammers from your Facebook Page.

Make a note of the web address of the SPAM site

Hover over the spam, click on the arrow to the right of it, Mark As Spam.
Then, click on the arrow again and choose Delete. Choose Delete and Ban User.

Up at the top, click on Edit Page, Manage Permissions.
Go down to Moderate Permissions
Type in the core of the address you took note of earlier (example: address.com), and, Save Changes.
Now, anyone (from any Facebook account) trying to spam you with that site will not be able to.

The above info is from this brief video by Mike Mueller.

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Facebook hoax - To all my FB friends…I want to stay PRIVATELY connected…mouse over my name

 http://facecrooks.com/Internet-Safety-Privacy/hoax-alert-to-all-my-fb-friends-i-want-to-stay-privately-connected-mouse-over-my-name.html

 

This is a Facebook hoax that has been going around for quite some time, in various forms. 

 

In case you didn't already know...

Excerpt:
If you follow the instructions in the message, you won’t be protecting your privacy or that of your friend. The only thing you’ll be doing is unsubscribing from any of their Facebook comments and likes. This kind of defeats the purpose of being friends with them in the first place.
...
The best thing you and your friends can do to protect your privacy is to set all of your privacy and sharing settings to ‘friends only.’ As we have mentioned in another blog post, sharing with friends of friends can potentially expose your post to almost 150,000 people! Also keep in mind that if you comment or like items that are public or set to ‘friends of friends,’ then your likes and comments are exposed to everyone who can view the shared item.

 

Click the link at the top for more details.

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AVG Web Protection Pop-Up

For those of you using AVG Free 2013, who have opted out of using the AVG Security Toolbar and Safe Search, you may occasionally get a pop-up in the bottom right of your screen asking you to use these features again. The top of it will begin with:

AVG
Enable Web Protection for a better and safer Internet experience (free).

These features are more annoying than anything else. If you don't want them/don't use them, un-check the 3 check boxes and then click on Decline, to get rid of this pop-up.

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