State of the Add-ons Report: May 29th
May 29th, 2008There are currently 800+ add-ons compatible with Firefox 3 (3.0+, not including betas) on addons.mozilla.org (AMO). This accounts for roughly 60% of the total usage of add-ons.
Going to mix things up a bit this week. First, I’m going to list the top 5 add-ons that became available in the last week. After that, I’ll list the top 5 add-ons we are still waiting on. Finally, I’ll pick a “communities wish”, which is the add-on the folks who comment on my blog seem to care about the most.
Top 5 add-ons now available for Firefox 3 on AMO
Note, this are the top add-ons that are hosted on AMO, does not include things like Google Gears.
ForecastFox - Weather, now available directly from Firefox 3.
FoxMarks - Start syncing your bookmarks now!
Firefox Companion for eBay - for all the power eBayers.
Gmail Manager - Manage multiple gmail accounts, receive notifications, generally be happy.
translator - translate any webpage with a single click!
Top 5 add-ons not available for Firefox 3 on AMO
Mouse Gestures (bug) - This was updated, but was reverted because of crasher bugs on Windows. The developer has many things on his plate, so we might not see an update for awhile.
Greasemonkey (bug) - Some progress has been made, as it is updated to beta 5. We have had limited contact with the developer, so I cannot give you an ETA at this time. If you know something I don’t, I’m all ears. Update: the development community is asking too, check out this thread.
Tab Mix Plus (bug) - This add-on has made the list pretty much every week. The problem is that we have not been able to get an update from anyone. The development forums seem to be really active, and there are development builds available, but no word on an ETA for landing on AMO.
FoxyTunes (bug) - Betas available, test it out (xpi)! They will need to ship right when Fx3 ships, because their new version is not compatible with Firefox 2.
ColorfulTabs (bug) - Development builds available (xpi). Looks like it will land on AMO once the developer gets back from vacation!
In summary, ColorfulTabs, FoxyTunes, are pretty much ready. Work has been done on Greasemonkey and Tab Mix Plus, but keep your fingers cross. Finally, best wishes goes out to the developer of MouseGestures as he recovers from hardship.
Now for the Community Wish!
From the comments I’ve been receiving, I would say that the most desired add-on to be updated is… drum roll…. Google Toolbar! Good news, the Google Toolbar team has been working really hard to get it updated. It is going to cut very close to the Firefox 3 release — so keep your fingers crossed!
May 30th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I one I am waiting for with BELATED breath is Google Toolbar….has anyone heard if FEBE is compatible with 3?
May 30th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
[...] product manager Alex Polvi’s state of Firefox 3-compatible add-ons report points out that while top extensions like Gmail Manager, Forecast Fox, and Foxmarks are now Firefox [...]
May 30th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I would expect FEBE to be one of the latest things that gets updated
May 30th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Google Browser Sync is an imperative. I’ve been rather bummed that Weave doesn’t work :(
Either way, syncing my bookmarks across work/home in FF3 would make my life so much better!
May 30th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I would like to see Calculator 1.1.11 updated. I really find that add-on useful.
May 31st, 2008 at 3:55 am
once FEBE is FF3 compatible i’ll start upgrading.
May 31st, 2008 at 6:54 am
Morning Coffee Plug-In
May 31st, 2008 at 8:11 am
History Submenus for me. I prefer it to having another window, or worse, sidebar opening to look for one page I’ve visited in the past week.
I’m using Nightly Tester Tools so Greasemonkey, Tab Mix Plus and FoxyTunes have all worked for me. Colorful Tabs, not so much.
May 31st, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Tab Mix Plus - Can’t use firefox without it! A must be!
FaviconizeTab - Really like it.
Smart Bookmarks Bar - very convenient.
Google Notebook - would be nice to have.
Dei.icio. us Bookmarks - would be nice to have.
May 31st, 2008 at 8:01 pm
The one I really mis (and doesn’t work using Nightly Tester Tools) is BackIsClose.
June 1st, 2008 at 4:38 am
Why isn’t there a “check extension compatibility” extension/feature?
I have dozens of popular AND obscure extenions, and its a reall pain to have to mess around finding out which ones are compatible.
Surely a nice little drop-down filter on the extensions page would allow you to easily get a list of YOUR compatible/incompatible extensions.
Mozilla really needs to work out a more effective way to do this… it was a pain when upgrading to FF2 as well, and since then there are a lot more extensions (many abandoned).
June 1st, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I really like the look for FF3, but for me, not having Google Browser Sync is a show-stopper. I have too many online accounts, and too many different computers to access them from, that I really need GBS’s password sync.
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:34 am
@tom:
Just create and set the “extensions.checkCompatibility” setting to False in about:config and it will do.
Then install either “Filter extensions” or “Extension List Dumper” extension, they will allow to list/filter the compatible/incompatible extension (the first does it dynamically in Firefox, the second does export a CSV file with all your extensions and their statuses).
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:58 am
The remaining incompatible extensions I would need are:
All-in-One Sidebar
Console²
Extension List Dumper
Filter Extensions
Get jetable mail
Grab and Drag
gui:config
MinimizeToTray
NoUn Buttons
qtl
Resizeable Textarea
Status-bar Scientific Calculator
TBExtInt
Update Notifier
June 4th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
I really need the Mozilla Archive Format extension. I have many pages saved in that fromat and now not only I cannot save new pages but I also can’t open the ones already saved. :-(
June 5th, 2008 at 12:52 am
Saying “roughly 60% of total usage” is nice, but I think the real question is: What percent of users will find they can’t use an add-on they really want?
We can’t know what add-ons people use, but is there any collection of the add-on profiles for users?
June 5th, 2008 at 9:21 am
BJ - good question. Mozilla does not capture any profile data from users. The best way we can do this is simply by asking.
June 7th, 2008 at 6:37 am
FireFTP, Firebug, Restart Firefox, Torbutton, JavaScript Debugger…
June 7th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I don’t think this is very well known, but FEBE 6.0 has quietly come out as a beta and is available at FEBE’s homepage http://customsoftwareconsult.com/extensions/febe/febe60.html
Now I am just holding out for Google toolbar, Tabmix Plus, and AiOS. My new firefox is really starting to look like my old firefox again.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
I’ve been using the development builds of Tab Mix Plus on Beta 4, Beta 5, RC1 and RC2, and they work just fine. Not sure where you’re getting your (false) info that Tab Mix Plus won’t work - as long as you’re willing to search out the development builds.
June 18th, 2008 at 12:44 am
googlebar? what the foo’s going on wit dat?
June 21st, 2008 at 10:15 am
Internote is a must-have.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Gmail Manager actually does have an incompatibility. It doesn’t play well with Google’s cookies. If you use it, Google will lose your preferences when you restart the browser, or maybe in use.